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Auto Tip November 7, 2009 Checking Wheel Alignment: Part II B>Signs of Bad Alignment Detecting signs of poor alignment aren't difficult. Most of them have to do with the tires, wheels and steering wheel. The following are some common warning signs. Take a close look at all of your tires. If one or more of them has excessive wear on one side, or wear in a cupped, scalloped or diagonal strip pattern at edges or across the tread, or uneven wear on the treads, then your vehicle may need an alignment. If the steering wheel feels stiffer than normal, or if it does not return to the center position when released, if it is cocked to one side when the front wheels are pointing straight ahead or if the car feels skittish, your wheels may need alignment. Also, you should have your mechanic check out your alignment if your car pulls to one side, tends to wander or weave or if you car wants to move with the rear end cocked off to one side while moving straight ahead. Be aware about a vehicle that pulls to one side. This is not always related to wheel alignment. It could be caused by a problem with tires, brakes or power steering. A good alignment technician should be able to determine the cause. Proper Wheel Angles Three basic wheel angles determine whether a vehicle is properly aligned. All three of these angles need to be properly set for alignment to be correct. Camber is the inward or outward tilt of a wheel compared to a vertical line. If the camber is out of adjustment, it will cause tire wear on one side of the tire's tread. Caster is the degree that the car's steering axis is tilted forward or backward from the vertical as viewed from the side of the car. If the caster is out of adjustment, it can cause problems in straight-line tracking. Caster has little affect on tire wear. Toe refers to the directions in which two wheels point relative to each other. Incorrect toe will cause rapid tire wear to both tires equally. Toe is always adjustable on the front wheels and is adjustable on the rear wheels of some cars. Return tomorrow for Checking Wheel Alignment: Part III For more daily tips: Health Tip by HealthScout.com Romantic Tip by LovingYou.com Frugal Tip Garden Tip by Garden.com  SEARCH THE WEB   Vehicles Campers Luxury Cars Minivans Motorcycles RVs Sports Cars SUVs Trucks   Car Parts Car Accessories Car Parts Garages Mechanics Repair Tires Used Parts   Resources Auto Finance Car Care Car Maintenance Defensive Driving Detailing DMV

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