Wheel Alignment Angles and Parameters
Wheel Alignment is the process carried out after balancing all four wheels and mounting them to the vehicle. When all four wheels are mounted to the vehicle, it must run on the road in a straight line with dynamic stability. For this, the vehicle manufacturer has specified certain angles at which each wheel has to be mounted onto the vehicle axles. These specified angles are called Wheel Alignment Specifications.
If the wheels are mounted conforming to these specifications, the vehicle will travel on the roads without any vibration and with less friction.
The following are the Wheel Alignment angles for Light Vehicles.
1. Camber
2. Toe and total toe
3. Kingpin angle
4. Caster
If the wheels are mounted conforming to these specifications, the vehicle will travel on the roads without any vibration and with less friction.
All the above four parameters are angles measured in degrees and minutes. Among these angles, the Camber and Toe are the angles pertaining to the wheel position and therefore called Wheel Angles. The Caster and Kingpin angles pertain to the angle of the Steering Axis, which is the axis located in front of the vehicle and acts as a fulcrum for the front wheels to turn during steering. These are called Steering
Axis Angles.
The above four angles are considered to be very important angles for Wheel Alignment. Apart from the above four angles, the following angles/parameters also pertain to Wheel Alignment geometry.
1. Included Angle
2. Toe out and Turns
3. Lock Angle
4. Ride Height
5. Track width and Wheelbase
Now let us understand all the above angles and parameters in detail.
Camber
When we view the front wheels of a vehicle standing in front of the vehicle, though the wheels seem to be standing perpendicular to the road, in reality they are not. They will be inclined to the true vertical position either towards the inside or towards the outside of the vehicle. This inclination is called Camber. As seen in Figures 1.1 and 1.2, the inclination towards the outside of the vehicle is called Positive Camber and the inclination towards inside the vehicle is called Negative Camber. For all vehicle models, the specification of the Camber is decided by the vehicle manufacturer based on the weight of the vehicle and the maximum number of persons proposed to be travelling. Therefore the Camber can be called a Load Bearing angle. If the Camber is not set as per the specification in a vehicle, it will lead to tapered tire wear either on the inner side or on the outer side of the wheels .
Fig 1.1 Negative Camber Angle
Fig 1.2 Positive Camber Angle
Toe and Total Toe
If a vehicle is viewed from its top, the left and right wheels of both the front and rear sides will be seen inclined either towards the inside of the vehicle or towards the outside of the vehicle. This inclination with respect to the Geometric Centerline (GCL) is called Toe angle. As shown in Figures 2.1 and 2.2, if the inclination is towards the inside, it is called Positive (+) Toe and if the inclination is towards the outside, it is called Negative (−) Toe. The Positive Toe is also called Toe-in. Similarly, the negative Toe is called Toe-out also in sign. This means if the left Toe is positive, the right Toe will also be positive and vice versa.
Total Toe
Total Toe is the sum of the Left Toe and the Right Toe
Total Toe = Left Toe + Right Toe
The vehicle manufacturer determines the Toe specification considering the tractional friction and the Dynamic Stability of the vehicle during its motion on the road. If the Toe is not as per specification in a vehicle, the tires will wear out rapidly. For this reason, the Toe is considered a very important and critical angle of Wheel Alignment.
If the Toe is not within limits, it will result in the following bad effects.
1.Abnormal tire wear.
2.Vehicle pulling to one side while driving.
3.At high speeds, if the brake is applied suddenly, the vehicle, instead of stopping in the same line of travel, will get dragged to one side and then stop. This may lead to accidents.
4.Steering Cross (crooked steering) after alignment.
5.Improper Toe leads to feathered wear at the edges of tires.
Reason: Excess Toe-in or less Toe-out
Reason: Less Toe-in or excess Toe-out
In a vehicle, if the Toe is not within specification, it leads to abnormal and severe tire wear. Therefore, extreme care must be taken to ensure that the Toe is set within the specification in a vehicle.
Fig 2.1 Toe In Angle
Fig 2.2 Toe Out Angle
Kingpin Angle
When the steering wheel of a vehicle is turned, the front wheels turn using an axis as a pivot. This pivotal axis is called Steering Axis. In practice, it is also called Kingpin. There is a Steering Axis on the left side and also on the right side fitted on the Front Axle. In each Steering Axis, there are two bush bearings, one at the bottom and the other on top of the axis. The wheels are mounted to these bushes, and hence these
bush bearings enable easy turning of the wheels while steering the wheels. When viewed from the front of the vehicle, both the left and right steering axis will be seen inclined towards the inside as shown in Figure 3.1 This inclination with respect to true vertical is called the Kingpin Angle. The Kingpin angle is always inclined towards the inside of the vehicle. Kingpin angle is also called Steering Axis angle. Kingpin angle is a load bearing angle. It guides the vehicle for smooth traction, particularly on curves. The Kingpin angle is a fixed angle and cannot be corrected during Wheel Alignment. But this angle is measured during Wheel Alignment. If the Kingpin angle is deviating from the specification, it can be corrected only in the workshop and not in the Wheel Alignment Center.
Fig 3.1 Kingpin Angle
Caster
Caster is the angle between the true vertical and the steering axis when viewed from the side of the vehicle. As shown in Figures 4.1 and 4.2, if the inclination is towards the back of the vehicle, it is called positive (+) Caster, and if the inclination is towards the front of the vehicle, it is called negative (−) Caster.
The Caster angle helps in guiding the vehicle to travel in the desired direction. This is a direction control angle. For example, let us take a bicycle on the road the extension of the pipe connecting the handlebar and the wheel center touches the ground, little ahead of the point at which the wheel is touching the ground. This aspect guides the direction of the wheel when the handlebar is turned or makes the bicycle travel in the direction which we desire. The same principle is applied for Caster angle in cars and other four wheelers.
Besides directional control, the Caster is also responsible for the steering wheel to come back to the straight position after turning the steering wheel in curves. Generally, the Caster will be a fixed angle in vehicles and cannot be changed. But in some vehicles, the Caster angle can also be changed. If the Caster is not proper in a vehicle, then hard steering will be felt. Caster will not change due to the normal wear and tear of the vehicle parts. Only when the vehicle meets with an accident, the Caster is likely to get affected.
Fig 4.1 Positive Caster Angle
Fig 4.2 Negative Caster Angle
Included Angle:
Included Angles is the sum of Camber and Kingpin angles. It is measured and parameter given during alignment. It has left side included angle and right side included angle both must be equal other wise it must be corrected in the workshop.
Included angles = Camber angle + Kingpin angle
Toe Out on Turns:
The Turning radius of the inner wheel will be smaller than the turning radius of the outer wheel. The differenence between the turning angle of the inner wheel and the outer wheel is called Toe Out on Turns (TOOT).
Left TOOT = LT – RT / Right TOOT = RT – LT
Lock Angle:
If the steering wheel of a vehicle is turned to one side fully, it will stop at a particular point. Beyond this point, it is not possible to turn the steering wheel. The angle between GCL and the wheel plane at this point is called Lock Angle.
Ride Angle:
The distance between the lowermost part of a vehicle and the road is called the Ride Height. If the Ride height is less when the vehicle crosses short radius speed breakers or downs on a road, the vehicle lower part may touch the road causing damage.
Wheel Base and Track Width:
Track width and Wheel Base represent the overall dimensions of a vehicle and these parameters will not affect the wheel alignment but for three dimensional (3D) Wheel Alignment designer , these parameters are more important. It helps to determine the specification of the camera and lens to be used in a 3D Wheel Aligner.
Conclusion:
It is very important to maintain our vehicle angles as per the vehicle manufacturer recommendation for long duration and easy of use.
Difference between Wheel Alignment and Wheel Balancing
While pronouncing the word it looks similar which are often confused to be same, but not for everyone if you have a little bit knowledge about the tyres and its maintenance means you know the exact difference between Wheel Alignment and Wheel Balancing. But there is one common thing to know both will ensure the safety.
There are lot of accidents occurs in our country due to improper tyre maintenance which causes
Tyre burst
Tyre wobbling
Steering pull problem
Humanity depends on the vehicles deployed for mobility. This is relevant, not only for the mobility of human beings but also for the movement of goods and materials that are involved in their day-to-day life. Life will come to a standstill if mobility is stopped.
In the past few decades, extensive research has taken place in the transport segment, and innovative products, such as the electric vehicle and driverless vehicle, have come up. Every vehicle manufacturer is brewing up new features and technologies in their vehicle in order to attract customers. In due course of time, technology will transform drastically, and it will be no wonder if we witness a day when human beings would fly.
It is known that every vehicle needs wheels to run on the road, be it the most expensive vehicle or an electric vehicle or even the age-old bullock cart. To make the travel a smooth and pleasant one, the wheels are fitted with tyres that are filled with air to offer the necessary cushioning effect. These air-filled tyres bear the entire load of the vehicles and also absorb the varying forces and vibration that arises during the movement. Since tyres are the interface between the road and the vehicle, they withstand these forces and, hence, are subjected to abnormal friction. This friction causes the tyres to wear out. Consequently, these worn-out particles of the tyres get dissolved in the air in the form of ‘Particulate matter’ and increase the pollution levels in the air.
Causes of Tyre wear
- Excess or low air pressure in the tyres
- Improper wheel alignment and wheel balancing in the vehicles.
- Rough roads.
- Frequent applications of brake by the driver
- Poor quality of tyres
If all the above causes are eliminated, a tyre can last for more than a hundred-thousand-kilometres (62,100) run before it wear out fully.
Among the above-listed causes, wheel alignment and wheel balancing are considered to be the most important causes of tyre wear. Although the owner of the vehicle can control and mitigate the other causes of tyre wear, he must depend on the services of a technician for the wheel alignment and wheel balancing of his vehicle. Therefore, it is advisable that the vehicle owner also learn the basic principles of wheel alignment and wheel balancing.
Wheel Alignment and Wheel Balancing
Wheel Alignment and Wheel Balancing are two different subjects and involve two different activities. Wheel balancing must be done first and balanced wheels must be fitted to the vehicle prior to Wheel Alignment.
Wheel Balancing:
Wheel Balancing must be done for every wheel of the vehicle. It is the activity of removing any unbalance in a particular wheel and making it a balanced one. If wheel balancing is not proper in a vehicle, the following problem will be faced;
- The vehicle will travel with Vibrations.
- Patch Type of wear can be seen on the peripheral surface of the tyres. These patches will soon tear the tyres.
- All the suspension parts of the vehicle will get rattled and affected.
- Driving will be uncomfortable. Vibrations can be felt in the steering Wheel.
Wheel Alignment:
Wheel Alignment is an act of making all the wheels of a vehicle travel in a unified direction. This is achieved by maintaining the wheel alignment angles such as Camber, Toe, Caster and King Pin as per the specifications of the vehicles. In other words, the activity oof wheel alignment can be defined as below.
The process of measuring and ensuring the various wheel alignment angles specified by the manufacturer in all the wheels of a vehicle, both individually and collectively, to achieve unidirectional running, is called Wheel alignment.
Nowadays, this is done with the help of wheel alignment computers. These computers measure the various wheel alignment angles and tell us which angles are within limits and which angles are not. The angles that are not within limits will be corrected during the wheel alignment process and made alright for the unidirectional running of all the wheels in the vehicles.
If wheel alignment is incorrect in a vehicle, the following problems will be encountered:
- The vehicle may not travel straight. It may get dragged to one side.
- The steering wheel may be squinted instead of looking straight.
- The tyres will be subjected to abnormal wear and tear, resulting in decreased tyre life.
- When the brake is applied at high speeds, the vehicle may get dragged to one side before halting, thus leading to accidents.
- Increased fuel consumption.
If every vehicle in a country is maintained with proper wheel alignment and wheel balancing, there will be huge saving in tyre expenditure, fuel efficiency, and road safety. Also, pollution levels will decrease, thus indirectly protecting environment.
Assuming that a tyre manufacturer produces high quality tyres, but fails to ensure proper alignment and balancing in the vehicles, thus the tyres will wear out quickly, tarnishing the reputation of the tyre manufacturer. For this reason, all the tyre manufacturers include alignment and balancing in their dealership points to ensure compliance with these activities. This is essential for the survival of the tyre manufacturer in a competitive marketplace.
Conclusion:
This is equally important for the vehicle manufacturers also because when a customer buys a vehicle, his expectations are smooth running and minimum maintenance. All the vehicle dealers also have alignment and balancing services in their facilities.
How to choose a Best Wheel Alignment machine for Workshop
If you are planning to buy an alignment machine for your workshop, then you must ensure the following 5 points before choosing the alignment machine.
1. Ensure they are Local Manufacturer
2. Quality of Service & spare support
3. Upgradability
4. Whether they can provide training about the product to your technicians
5. How quick you’ll get ROI
Local Manufacturer
It is very important to ensure the machine brand is local manufacturer to avoid unnecessary problems like
1. On time delivery issue
2. After sales service
3. Spare availability
It is very important to choose a product who is manufactured localy, but I don’t say local manufacturer who compromises quality and performance in their products.
To ensure the product is full fill all your requirement like,
1. Fastest calibration time
2. Quick alignment angle measurement
3. Conventional height adjustment during alignment
4. Less laborious
5. Highest no of alignment
In India there are several garage equipment dealers, but they are not a manufacturer, To achieve all above requirement there is one company called Manatec Electronics Pvt Ltd who manufacture a world class Automotive Garage Equipments in India and distributed to every location India through a proper channel network and also exports to 70+ countries including major countries like USA, Europe, Australia etc.
So, choosing a company is very important to get all the above benefits.
Quality of Product, Service & spare support
It is very important to choosing a product in best-in-class quality standard. The machine should meet a standard quality certification and authorized by various organizations.
The Best Alignment machine should meet all the Quality check before shipping from the Manufacturing unit.
The Best Alignment machine should have a latest 3D imaging Technology.
Instead of using Sensor technology to measure the alignment angles in wheels it has to possess a Target plate for easy use and portability.
Product support encompasses everything that can help maximize the customer’s after-sales satisfaction, which include on call service, warranty, periodic maintenance etc.,
Make sure while choosing the brand which provide all the above services.
After sales service support and spare support is one of the important part, if you are choosing a export brand product means the waiting time for spare availability is high they took so many days to ships your product in the meanwhile it will affect your business directly and indirectly. So local supplier means you can be able to get spare support immediately.
Upgradability
Product upgradability aims to replace only those components that devalue the product over time. Therefore, it enhances product value and avoids whole product replacement, thereby realizing a sustainable society.
For example, if you are choosing a wheel aligner which can align only up to 4 axles vehicle, but after some time you can be able to see there are 5 to 6 axle vehicles also coming for alignment.
At the time it is very difficult to do alignment for those vehicles by using the same machine, your potential is increasing but you can’t be able to achieve the profitability. You don’t have an option to choose another machine.
In this case if the product is not an upgradable product means it is useless to buy.
Let see one example to choose a best wheel alignment machine which is having an upgradability option, Manatec Jumbo 3D Super 6A is a World’s 1 3D wheel alignment machine which can be able to measure all the 6 axles simultaneously.
It has a various options like Jumbo 3D Super 5A, Jumbo 3D Super 4A, which means number of axles align simultaneously. If you are buying Jumbo 3D 4A at the initial part and later, you can able to upgrade into 6 axle alignment. Which means you need not to buy a new machine, instead of that they provide upgradable option in the software and hardware part to make sure the changes easily.
So, choosing an upgradable product is very necessity to avoid unnecessary expenditure.
Whether they can provide training about the product to your technicians after sale.
It is very important while choosing a brand product while provide a proper knowledge about the product to the technicians who are going to handle the product.
The one who given a product should share proper knowledge about the product to the technicians by providing a in hand training.
Then only the technician can be able to operate the machine without any fear. Which increase the life of the machine also improve the quality of work by the technician.
How quick you’ll get ROI
The prime objective of any business is profit, to achieve the profit we need to get back the invested capital amount first which is directly proportional to ROI.
How quickly to get back your ROI is very important while choosing a product.
Let see a comparison of two-wheel alignment machine with two different technologies.
Conclusion:
Choosing the best wheel alignment machine is nothing but choosing latest and innovative 3D technology wheel alignment machine to achieve standard growth in a business.
5 Must have Tools and Equipment for any Wheel Alignment Workshop
If you are planning to open an alignment centre, then you must have the following Equipment in your alignment centre.
Air Compressor
Tyre changer
Wheel Balancer
Wheel Aligner
Nitrogen Filling station
These are the five important must have tool and equipment needed for any alignment centre
1. Air Compressor
Why Air Compressor needed in Alignment centre?
Air compressor is a pneumatic device which forcing the air into the compressor tank and pressurizing and save the air at a particular pressure level when it was needed means the pressurized air will be release through a pipe. When the tank pressure reaches its lower limit means again the compressor turn on and pressurizing the air for future use.
In a workshop most of the tools and Equipments are working with the help of pneumatic air energy with the help of compressor.
Small tools such as nail guns, impact wrenches and some Big Equipments like Tyre changer, air inflator also using pneumatic energy only.
So, for an alignment centre Compressor is a must having tools and equipment.
How to choose a perfect compressor for my workshop?
Before choosing the compressor for workshop, we must first understand the potential then select the compressor.
If you are having a small car workshop means the max pressure needed for the car is up to 75 PSI so it was better to go with 10 HP/ 12 Bar compressor.
In market there are so many models are available, but the above combination is better to full fill the complete need for a workshop.
In 10HP / 12 Bar compressor can quickly pressurized the air into the Tank with less amount of time and power otherwise if your go with 5HP / 12 Bar it took High time and power to generate pressurized air.
Or else, if you are running a Truck wheel alignment centre means better go with 15 HP/15 Bar Air compressor to full fill all the needs in that workshop because normally a heavy commercial vehicle having multiple tyres and for a single tyre it required 140 – 180 PSI to fill a single tyre. If you are choosing a 10 HP or less compressor means you need not be able to fill a single tyre at a moments.
For a Heavy commercial vehicle alignment centre means it is better to go with 15HP / 15 Bar Air compressor.
2. Tyre Changer
What is Tyre changer and its uses?
A Tyre changer is a mechanical machine which help the technicians to mount and demount the tyre from wheel.
Previously we normal mount and demount the tyre in a wheel manually with the help of wrenches and some tools. It requires some physical strength to do that.
To make this process easy the mechanical tyre changer is introduced in the market, it was automatically mount and demount the tyre from the wheel without any physical strength needed.
Now a days the tyre changer is usually pneumatically operate which means with the help of compressor it will work.
What happen if we mount or demount the tyre from the wheel manually?
As we discussed above for manual mounting or demounting of tyres require some tools and equipment and physical strength is also needed.
While we are demounting the tyre from the wheel rim, we must use wrenches to loosen the corner of tyre so at the time because of our physical strength scratches or damage will may happen for tyre and wheel rim as well.
We must use hammer and some other tools for beads breaking and it is very difficult if the tyre condition is worst.
Advantage of using Tyre changer.
- No damage to allow and steel rims
- No damage to Tyre beads
- No usage of hammer & physical strength
- Effortless bead breaking and Tyre removal
- Less laborious and High productivity
How to choose a best tyre changer for your workshop?
Tyre changer is a machine which helps the technicians to mount and demount the tyre from the wheel rim.
To choose a best tyre changer it will full fill the following requirement.
- Fully automatic
- Mount and Demount both Tube and Tubeless tyres
- Operating pressure will be within 6-8 bar
- Bead Breaker with at least 2500 Kg power
- Pneumatically operated twin cylinder for firm clamping
- Four Jaw self centering chuck
- Having built in Inflation gun for air filling.
3. Wheel Balancer
What is Wheel Balancer and its uses?
Wheel balancing is the process of balancing the weight of a tyre and wheel assembly so that it travels evenly at high speeds.
What happen if the wheels are not balanced?
Due to improper wheel balancing leads to following issues.
1. Tyre Bust
2. Alignment problem
3. High Vibration
4. High Tyre pressure and temperature
5. High Tyre wear
6. Shocks & suspension bush defective
7. Excessive Run out on wheels
How Tyre Balancing done?
The main goal of Tyre Balancing is to distribute the weight equally around the entire circumference of Tyre. It is very necessary while changing tyre or during tyre rotation.
Balancing requires putting a mounted wheel and tyre on a balancer, which centres the wheel and spins it to determine where the weights should go on wheel.
Benefits of Wheel Balancing 
- To avoid jerk at high speeds
- To avoid bumping or wobbling
- To avoid patch tyre wear
- To avoid damage to the bearings
- Smooth & comfortable ride
- Longer Suspension Parts Life
- Long Tyre life
4. Wheel Alignment
What is meant by wheel alignment of a vehicle?
Wheel alignment is a process of correct the angles of the tyre so that only they came into contact with the road as per the vehicle manufacturer standard.
In a vehicle there are so many angles are available.
Types of angles available in Car:
In a car the most commonly available angles are
1. Caster angle
2. Camber angle
3. Toe angle
To adjusting the above angles to achieve the alignment in a vehicle.
Types of angles available in Heavy commercial vehicle:
In a Heavy commercial vehicle, the following angle are available
1. Thrust Angle
2. Scrub angle
3. Toe angle
4. Parallelism
5. Setback
By adjusting the above angles to achieve the alignment as per the vehicle manufacturer standards.
How 3D wheel aligner working? How it was better than CCD?
The new 3D wheel aligner is working with the help of 3D imaging technology with the help of digital camera to acquire the data from the vehicle.
Previously everyone using CCD technology, in that the process of doing alignment took more time and it was very difficult to lift and jack up the vehicle.
CCD technology usually uses sensor arm and it was attached to the vehicle wheel for calculate the alignment angle. It was time taking process and it require more manpower as well.
In the new 3D technology, the digital camera uses high resolution image capture technology to recognize the angles in a tyre with the help of Wheel Bracket and Target plate fixed on tyre.
It was very easy to fix and remove from the wheels and it’s also requiring very less manpower for entire operation.
The maintenance cost of CCD machine is very when compared to 3D technology because of there is no sensor using in 3D technology.
There is no need of frequent calibration is required for 3D technology wheel alignment machine. But in CCD machine periodic calibration is required.
When compared to CCD technology, alignment done through 3D technology wheel aligner is very easier and more productive.
How often wheel alignment is needed for a Heavy commercial Vehicle?
- Usually for a Heavy commercial vehicle every 10,000 KM wheel alignment is required.
- During Tyre replacement or rotation.
- During after suspension work.
- Before long journey planning
- Whenever vehicle pulling towards one side.
5.Nitrogen Filling station
Nitrogen filling machine is nothing but generating Nitrogen air by extracting or separating nitrogen air from normal air from the compressor through some internal process.
Here we can see why Nitrogen air is important and its uses.
46% high speed car driving accident was caused by tyre problems over-inflation takes its 70%
Nitrogen filling tyres will make correct inflation which will highly reduce the over-inflation accidents
20 years ago, developed countries uses NITROGEN for extending the tyres life and performance.
Tyres of airplanes, formula cars, racing cars, saloon cars, heavy duty trucks and small vehicles were inflated with nitrogen to maintain the high speed and high duty transportation.
What are all the advantages of Filling Nitrogen air into the tyres?
The advantages of filling Nitrogen air:
- Low absorber of heat
- Low expanding coefficient
- No Air loss
- Improves the ride quality
- Increases tyre life
- Keeps tyre pressures more constant
- Reduces the tyres running temperature
- Nitrogen doesn’t cause corrosion due to oxidation.
Conclusion:
A completely filled Equipments in a workshop give a complete solution to the customer. Choose the right machine for your alignment centre with advance and futuristic technology.