The Influence of Front and Rear Wheel Toe Alignment on Car Handling

 

Usually, people only pay attention to the toe alignment of their cars only when there are vehicular malfunctions. There are many such instances when even an experienced driver does not realize how much impact the toe alignment has on their vehicle’s performance and safety. It is time now to raise the standard and improve your drive quality. 

If your vehicle has a misaligned toe, there is a possibility of risky situations, especially if a vehicle starts pulling to one of the sides due to a curb or large pothole. The vehicle’s steering shaft can bend due to such incidents and affect its tire alignment. Slowly, you have diminishing control over your car.

Additionally, if your steering shaft is damaged, there is a possibility of the skidding or sliding of your vehicle. Do not procrastinate the issue and correct a misaligned toe. 

Understanding how a vehicle’s toe alignment functions

The answer to this question is not as simple as it appears. First, do not get shocked to know that the wheels of your vehicle are not parallel. The fact is that they are slightly toed-in. You may have a query why do manufacturers design their cars this way?

To get the answer, think about what happens to an FWS vehicle’s front wheels as it accelerates. All wheels of a car generate a specific amount of force that attempts to pull the vehicle in its direction. The state frequently appears stable because the forces are balanced on the car’s sides.

 However, when a car passes a bump, there is a high chance of one of the wheels getting more grip which causes instability.

Gradually, it begins swerving and needs fixes to remain on its course. Both the wheels are slightly turned inwards to rectify the direction on all occasions. The entire process is stable as the wheels create opposite forces.

Plus, each element of the tires and car suspension system are pre-loaded, which influences handling. The system is not without its share of flaws because you can feel slight understeer while tackling curves and corners.

Signals of misaligned wheels 

A car with a front toe-in may straighten the wheels while in motion. It is particularly noticeable while you are driving the vehicle at a very high speed. The vehicle tends to remain straight even though you remove your hands from the steering wheel.  

By the same logic, leaving the steering wheel is perhaps the easiest way to detect any alignment problem. If your vehicle pulls marginally to the right or left, it shows it is time to tweak the toe alignment.

To put it simply, the wheel toe of the vehicle is asymmetrical, and it should be tweaked to an intended symmetry.

Likewise, if a driver must continuously move the steering wheel of the vehicle to keep it on track, they should schedule an appointment at a diagnostic station. It is also true when the vehicle moves to the left more easily than the right, and vice versa.

If you continue to drive with a misaligned toe, the tires’ edges will wear out faster, and lead to nonuniform tire wear for all the wheels. The durability of a vehicle’s tires would diminish as well.

Can the adjustment enhance car handling?

It is interesting to note that if a car does not have any history of accidents, it can still have toe misalignments. That is because there is a change in the alignment over time because of the wearing and replacements of suspension systems. These elements can be bushings, steering shaft joints, or ball bearings.

You need to always check whether the toe alignment of your wheels is within the suggested range or not while getting the periodic diagnostic work done. We have to also mention that the symmetry between your car’s wheels is more significant than its numerical toe value.

Also, the same principle applies to the toe alignment of the car’s rear wheels. It is imperative to note that symmetry is the primary concept here.

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Finally

Do you check your front and rear wheel alignment regularly? Or do you overlook the suggestion of a mechanic when they tell you that it is time to correct the alignment? It has been often seen that although many vehicle owners know that there is a need for a toe alignment, they ignore the issue.

Opt for QuickTrick’s portable and pocket-friendly automotive tools to check your toe alignment and tire alignment now and enjoy safe and hassle-free driving.