What Does Wheel Alignment Actually Mean? Plus Answers to FAQs About Vehicle Alignment

Have you ever been cruising around town and noticed a vibration coming from your car? Unless you're driving a dazzling lowrider with hydraulics, you're probably worried that something is seriously wrong. Stay calm. It'll be OK.

While there could be a significant issue to worry about, it's most likely something pretty standard. Your vehicle's alignment is a primary suspect.

You'll often hear people refer to wheel alignment, but it's actually your vehicle's suspension that is out of alignment, not the wheels or tires. In a separate post, we cover wheel balancing.

Let's do a rapid-fire question-and-answer post to debunk some common misconceptions regarding vehicle alignment and help you better understand what's happening.

What Does 'Alignment' Mean When Talking About Vehicles?

When maintaining an automobile, alignment is one of the most important aspects for ensuring smooth handling and even wear on your tires. Alignment refers to the positioning of a vehicle's wheels and suspension system.

Proper alignment ensures that the wheels are pointed in the correct direction, which helps to reduce tire wear and improves handling and stability.

What Are Car Misalignment Symptoms?

Misalignment can cause a range of issues for any vehicle. Some common symptoms of misalignment include uneven or rapid tire wear, a crooked steering wheel when driving straight, pulling to one side when driving, and poor handling and stability on the road.

Misalignment can sometimes cause vibration or shake in the steering wheel or throughout the vehicle.

What Does Front-End Alignment Mean?

Front-end alignment focuses on the front wheels and suspension system of a vehicle. This is important because the front wheels bear the brunt of the weight and stress of the car while in motion. Front-end alignment involves adjusting the front wheels' camber, caster and toe to ensure they are correctly aligned.

What's the Difference Between Front-End Alignment and Four-Wheel Alignment?

Four-wheel alignment, also known as all-wheel alignment, is a more comprehensive process that includes all four wheels and suspension system components. This type of alignment is usually recommended for vehicles with independent rear suspension or all-wheel drive, as these systems can affect the alignment of the rear wheels.

Will Alignment Fix Vibration?

If you are experiencing vibration or shaking in your vehicle, bad alignment can cause vibrations, but other factors can too, such as worn or unbalanced tires, damaged suspension components, or worn-out steering components.

Have a professional mechanic diagnose the issue to ensure that the correct problem is being addressed.

In some cases, getting an alignment can fix vibration issues. This is because misalignment can cause uneven tire wear, which can lead to vibrations in the steering wheel and throughout the vehicle. By correcting the alignment, the tires will wear more evenly, which can reduce or eliminate the vibration.

However, if you've let it go on too long, it may be time to replace all four tires. 

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What Does It Mean If You Get an Alignment and Notice More Vibrations?

It is possible for an alignment to cause more vibrations if it is not done correctly. This can happen if the alignment is not done to the proper specifications or if the technician performing the alignment does not take into account other factors that could be contributing to the vibration.

Again, if the misalignment went on for too long, and your tires are unevenly worn and imbalanced, a front-end or four-wheel alignment won't fix the alignment. In fact, you might feel a different kind of vibration.

Does Tire Rotation Affect Alignment?

No, tire rotation should not affect your car or truck's alignment. However, rotated tires or tires in need of rotation may have similar side effects as a vehicle whose suspension needs alignment. So, if you rotate your tires and still notice the vibrations or pull in steering, have your suspension's alignment checked.

So, What Exactly Does an Alignment Do?

In essence, a car or truck alignment ensures that the wheels and suspension system are appropriately positioned and adjusted to help the vehicle handle and drive correctly. This involves adjusting the camber, caster and toe angles of the wheels to ensure they are pointed in the correct direction and checking and adjusting other suspension components as needed.

Proper alignment is critical for handling, stability and tire wear. Misaligned wheels can cause uneven tire wear, which can lead to premature tire failure and the need for costly replacements.

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