If you’ve ever done a quick internet search for “How do I know if my wheels are aligned,” then it’s likely that you’ll see a few different terms thrown around with some variation of these words: camber, toe-in, or toe-out, caster, etc… But how exactly does this affect your driving experience? And more importantly, can you even check whether your tires are properly aligned or not? In short, yes! Let’s take a look at each of these components in detail so we have an understanding of how they all work together.

What Does Your Car’s Alignment Mean

To understand the importance of having proper wheel alignment, let us first break down each component individually. We will explain what camber, toe-in/toe-out, and casters mean when describing a vehicle’s alignment. Then, we will explore how changing any one of those three factors can impact your vehicle’s performance both positively and negatively.

Camber refers to the tilt angle of the tire tread relative to the road surface (or centerline). It describes how much pressure is applied by the suspension system to the ground through its contact patch. 

When looking from above, it should be perpendicular to the pavement. If the tire has too little camber, meaning the bottom edge of the tire sits closer than the top edge to the road surface, it forces the tire sidewall inward toward the inside of the rim, which increases rolling resistance and decreases fuel efficiency. 

Too much camber causes excess wear due to uneven distribution of force across the width of the tire as well as increased chances of hydroplaning during wet conditions. The ideal amount of camber depends on many variables such as load type, speed, weather condition, etc. 

For example, less camber may help increase traction while maintaining stability if you’re going downhill. So, like most things in life, there isn’t just one right answer here – it varies depending on the situation.

Now, let’s talk about toe-in or toe-out. This term relates to the position of the front axle (and rear axle) relative to your direction of travel. Properly adjusted steering angles allow the wheels to face straight ahead without hitting obstacles along the way. 

Even though the exact measurement may vary slightly depending on your particular setup, cars with too much toe-in are harder to drive fast and maneuver sharply. On the other hand, vehicles with excessive amounts of toe-out are often easier to handle since their weight is better balanced over the two axles.

The last factor we want to discuss is caster. Caster basically measures how far forward or back the front wheels point when viewed from directly overhead. Larger vehicles with bigger wheels typically require greater amounts of caster because the wheels need enough space to turn freely. 

Vehicles with smaller wheels tend to use less caster but also rely heavily on adjustments made elsewhere to ensure adequate clearance between the fenders and corners of the frame and bodywork.

So now that we know our terminology, let’s move on to how to measure them ourselves.

What Is A Wheel Alignment?

Getting a wheel alignment means lining up all of your tires to the proper height, depth, and width on the axles. It’s ensuring that everything is symmetrical or exists in the proper location to promote optimal driving conditions. 

Three Major Aspects of Alignment: Camber, Toe-in, and Casper

Once you finish checking your car’s dimensions, it’s time to begin exploring the three main aspects of alignment. Let’s go over cambers, toe-ins, and casters separately.

Cambers

As mentioned previously, the purpose of adjusting the camber is to distribute the weight of the vehicle equally between the front and rear tires. Adjusting the camber helps improve handling characteristics, reduce braking distances, and maximize gas mileage. 

Since modern roads aren’t perfectly smooth surfaces, imperfections exist beneath the rubber of your tires. By lowering the lower edges of the tires further away from the road surface, you apply extra downward pressure on the tires’ inner sides, resulting in tighter turns. 

Conversely, raising the upper edges of the tires lifts the outer sides of the tires, causing them to lift off the road, making tight maneuvers difficult.

Most drivers utilize adjustable shocks or springs to achieve this effect. Some manufacturers install special shock absorbers specifically designed for this function. Other owners opt to replace worn-out factory equipment instead. 

Although this solution usually works just fine, it does add cost to the repair. Moreover, replacing original equipment doesn’t always yield positive results either. 

Depending on the age and quality of the old shocks, sometimes you can accidentally damage other parts of the vehicle after installing the new ones. 

Toe-In & Toe-Out

When turning, the majority of torque generated by your engine gets transferred to the outside wheels. The correct toe settings allow these wheels to remain pointed straight ahead, ensuring maximum grip. 

Excessive toe-out creates difficulty when cornering quickly or attempting sharp turns. Additionally, large gaps between the fender and corner of the frame cause unsprung masses to vibrate excessively, increasing drag.

Adjustments related to toe-in and toe-out happen automatically via a stabilizer bar device. Manufacturers place this rod diagonally behind the suspension control arms to provide leverage to counterbalance lateral movements caused by bumps and potholes. 

If the stabilizer bars become misaligned, it becomes necessary to adjust them manually. Because the adjustment range of these bars is quite small, it requires great care when trying to balance the vehicle correctly. 

 Furthermore, the process of adjusting toe-in and toe-out can easily lead to inconsistent results among similar vehicles. That being said, adjusting the toe setting is relatively easy. Simply loosen the bolts holding the stabilizers in place, rotate them 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise, reattach them securely, and tighten the nuts again.

Casters

While the primary role of the front wheels is to steer, they also contribute significantly towards providing support for the vehicle’s mass. Large wheels require wider spaces for rotation. 

Without sufficient clearance, the wheels can rub against the surrounding areas creating friction. This reduces acceleration rates and makes high speeds uncomfortable. Wider wheels also occupy valuable cargo space, reducing the total carrying capacity of the vehicle. Lower casters offer improved agility since the front wheels inherently swing farther from the rest of the vehicle. At higher speeds, low roll centers also prevent loss of stability.