Can I get just a rear wheel tire alignment done?

Question

When you get tire alignment's done, can you do just a rear wheel, or do all the tire need to be done at the same time? Also, what would be an average cost to do the alignment in the United States?

Thanks!

Answer 1

You can have just the rear aligned, but it's not reccomended. Most places won't even do just a rear alignment because even if the front is in alignment, adjusting the rear will throw it out, so it will need to be adjusted anyway. You'll already be paying 40-50 dollars for a 2 wheel alignment anyway, just spring the extra 15-20 and get a four wheel.

I love it when you ask people if they want an alignment and they say something ignorant like "no thanks, my steering wheel is straight". They don't realize that an alignment is so much more than that. If your alignment is out, it automatically voids any tire warranty you may have because it destroys the tires, decreases gas mileage and a host of other undesirable side effects.

But whatever, it's not my car.

It's not a 'tire alignment' or a 'wheel alignment'. It's actually a 'steering and suspension alignment'. These people telling you you can only do a front end alignment are, for lack of a better word, idiots. Some vehicles do have non-adjustable rear ends, but most you can do 4 wheel alignments on. You line up the tires by adjusting the tie rods and adjustment sleeves, so aligning the front end and rotating the tires to the rear will have no affect on rear alignment.

I wish people would only answer when they actually know something.

Answer 2

Rear Wheel Alignment

Answer 3

so if you don't or can't do rear alignments then what causes a rear tire to wobble? My tires and rims are fine but one wobbles a the tire was flat. and I was told I needed a rear alignment. I asked if they mean a front end alignment. They say my front is fine, and told me to check it simply drive and let go of the steering wheel, if it pulls to one side front needs alignment. Front is great no problems, no pulling to either side no matter how fast or slow I am going. Yet, my drivers back tire is wobbling my nephew says when he stands over the car the tire looks crooked and the other 3 look straight... Hum. wonder what it is if not a rear end alignment, I never even knew there was such a thing, I thought an alignment was for all four no matter what. So if there is a rear end alignment who does it properly and where is it done for 40-50 dollars? I don't believe in getting something fixed that isn't broken, nor can I understand why fixing the rear will only unalign the front!? I'm NOT a mechanic but fixing one messing up the other sounds so weird to me... Just curious. Thank you very much for any information.

Answer 4

Rear End Alignment

Answer 5

Yes, the rear end alone can be aligned on a front wheel drive car.
The actual savings you will have by not making any front end adjustments is going to be minimal, probably less than $30.
A 4 wheel alignment with adjustments is typically under $100.00
Most of the expense of an alignment is tied up in racking the car, hanging the alignment heads on the wheels and taking the measurements. Unless the suspension is severely rusted, making adjustments difficult, an alignment is not an expensive procedure.

Answer 6

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RE:
Can I get just a rear wheel tire alignment done?
When you get tire alignment's done, can you do just a rear wheel, or do all the tire need to be done at the same time? Also, what would be an average cost to do the alignment in the United States?

Thanks!

Answer 7

It depends on the car. On some car with independant rear suspension, you can do this, although it's only really a good idea if you are getting funny wear on your rear tires and have no problem up front, or are setting up a race car.

However, on many cars - and on virtually all trucks and truck based SUV's - it's not possible to do a rear wheel alignment. Often, there's nothing in the rear supension you can adjust, shim, or align. At least not without bending the suspension parts in a hydraulic press, which of course is not something the factory would recommend!

Answer 8

some cars have adjustable steering and suspension parts at the front and rear. if your car has adjustments at the rear, you need to have all wheels checked for proper alignment. if the rear is out and all you set is the rear, the front will be out as the rear wheels will steer the front through the thrust angle. if the rear isn't adjustable, you align the front to the rear so the car drives straight. what the thrust angle is. consider if the rear wheels are pointing slightly to the right. as you drive, the rear wheels are "pushing" the car to the right. this is especially true of front wheel drive cars. as the rear pushes to the right, you have to steer the front wheels to the right as well to make the car go straight. hence, the vehicle will be going down the road at a very slight side angle while driving. hurts fuel economy and wears tires quicker then. and we're only talking about maybe a quarter of a degree.
at out shop, most four wheel alignments for say a honda or like car run $84.97. not expensive if you consider what tires cost. european and some "exotic" cars run up to $220 as long as no parts are required such as tie rods or shims.

Answer 9

If the repair place says it's out of spec it means something is still bent, and can't be put within factory specifications, and/or they are incapable of fixing it. The "thrust angle" is what is likely eating your tires. It's the alignment relative to the direction the rear wheels roll in the rear to the front. If you have ever seen a vehicle "dog track" down the road, what you are seeing is the thrust angle being all screwed up. Front wheel drive cars, and the advent of energy absorbing car bodies, and the lack of a rigid frame make todays cars have wheel alignment problems more often even if they're in the slightest fender benders. You need to take it to a body shop that has a frame machine, and have it straightened.

Answer 10

If you came into my shop and told you wanted just the rear wheels aligned, I would try to explain to you that only front tires are aligned, since only the front tires are used to steer the vehicle and that the rear wheels are just straight ahead and not usually adjustable.

As to cost, it varies depending on what is needed. If for example we found you also needed new shocks or struts, the price would obviously go up with more parts and labor involved.