Should I go into a garage and ask for all 3 of these to be done to my wheels: Alignment, Balancing & Tracking?

Question

Do any of them overlap the others? eg. If I get the tracking done, would that mean I wouldn't need one of the other 2 done? Also, should any of these 3 ONLY be done on one set of wheels (eg. front or back) or is it ok to get them all done on both the front and back wheels. I know nothing about cars and am sure I don't ask for the right things when I go into a garage and I sometimes think I ask them to do stuff that doesn't need doing (eg. would tracking be done to the back wheels?)! I'd like to have the definitive guide on what should and shouldn't be done please!! Thank you.

Answer 1

Tracking and alignment will be done only on the steering wheels. Balancing is done on all four.

xxB

Answer 2

Tracking and alignment are done only to the front wheels. Ask to see the results on their equipment before you commit to having it done. Either will cause excessive tyre wear so check your tyres to see if there is any wear yourself before you go to garage. Balancing if wrong will show as a wobble on your steering wheel at about 40-60mph but the amount will depend on just how out of balance they are. Have all wheels done if necessary. Go to a tyre specialist for these items as they are less likely to take you for a ride and they are cheaper. Garages charge between £75 and £100 per hour for work so be very careful. Get quotes first. If you are buying new tyres they will, if pushed a bit, include all these adjustments but you have to push them by being prepared to walk away if they will not. Play one off against the other even using a bit of fiction. Best of luck.

Answer 3

Alignment and tracking are as good as the same thing. Only get the wheels balanced if you think the need it (any vibrations?)
Get a garage that has a 4-wheel aligner as it does the whole car, not just the front end.
4-wheel align includes front and rear tracking and camber, and front castor measurements.
The most important thing overall is keeping the tyre pressures correct as no wheel alignment will be right with soft tyres.

Answer 4

#1. While driving you feel a vibration in the steering wheel or seats at any speed? Wheel balancing is necessary. #2. If you have a front or all wheel driven car please consider the following: There may be uneven tire wear on one or more tires, a full four alignments necessary to correct the combined problem. #3. As you drive you may feel the steering wheel wandering to the right or left if you release the steering wheel momentarily or If the wheel pulls to right or left is felt in your hands as you drive it's important that a four wheel alignment is done as soon as possible. If you encounter one or more tires loosing tire pressure constantly the offending tires should be dismounted resealed and re-pressured with nitrogen. The reason for nitrogen: It's molecules are much larger (less likely to leak or expand or contract) than normal compressed atmosphere. Nitrogen by itself is an inert processed gas which means it contains no water or other impurities to damage the inner tire and wheel. The following is my thought about your vehicles tire pressure: If you notice more wear on the inner and outer edges of your tires consider the following: Note the maximum tire pressure listed on the tire, compare it with the suggested pressure on your door post. Split the difference and increase tire pressure while tires are cold. Many tires today have a 44 max. tire pressure rating. In this case it's perfectly fine to split your doorpost pressure and max. pressure. The vehicle will handle much better as understeer will become more neutral.

Answer 5

Hi, If you are having new tyres fitted? then they should be balanced at the point of fitting, tracking is also strongly recommended as this will allow even tyre ware, Alignment is also another feature that should be done. Always remember!! Safety comes first, not onlyfor yourself, but for other road users as well. Look after your tyres!! and they will look after you. By having all 3 done will save you money in the long run. Only the fronts need to be done. Happy motoring, and drive safe.

Answer 6

You should have your tires "rotated and balanced" approx. every 5,000 miles in order to have even wear on them. All four tires should be done at the same time.

A four wheel alignment will check for camber, caster, and toe... three different ways that your wheels can be out of whack and that can effect driveability and tire wear, as well as wear on the rest of your suspension parts. Do not get a two-wheel alignment, as all four wheels are necessary to keep the car operating properly, so you should get all four aligned at the same time. (I've never heard of "tracking" as something that should be done to a vehicle... I imagine that it means ensuring the wheels are tracking properly, which a four wheel alignment does.)

Answer 7

You will need a 4 wheel alignment. So unless you have a ten thousand dollar alignment machine around its shop work. You should get a camber kit or find out what causes it the shop will know. Its not normal to need alignments that often.

Answer 8

just say you want a 4 wheel alignment. and all 4 wheels balanced. tracking is done by alignment. only if its a 4 wheel alignment. which it means exactly that all 4 wheels will be in alignment with each other.

Answer 9

ask for a 4 wheel balance and a complete alignment.

Answer 10

All 4 i would say