whats the process of a wheel alignment? what do they do?

Question

and about how much do they charge?

i have an 01 mitsubishi galant

Answer 1

They check and correct 1. caster, which is the point of contact for the tire in relation to the point of gravity. 2. camber, which is the degrees from perpendicular to the road surface. and 3. toe-in and toe-out, which is the degree setting from parallel front wheels

Answer 2

Kay, It would have helped if you had included the make model and year of your car. Generally speaking the alignment machine checks the toe of your wheels. That means how parallel they track as you drive The front wheels are adjusted for toe in or out by adjusting the steering arms that are connected to your steering rack if you have a front wheel drive car. Usually cars have a specification for the amount of toe in (1/16 - 1/8) inch. If your car is rear wheel drive the steering arms may or may not have rack and pinion steering.
The camber of the front wheels is checked also. This is the distance between the top of both wheels and the bottom. Generally speaking the wheels and tires are closer together at the bottom than the top. Again, front wheel drive cars have no adjustment for camber unless special camber plates are installed at the top of the strut towers inside the engine compartment.
Caster is the number of positive degrees angle between both ball joints to the true center-line of the front tire patch. This applies to cars with an A arm at the bottom of the spindle and an A arm at the top of the spindle. If your car has struts caster has to be adjusted with strut plates as well.

Now the plot thickens. If you have independent rear suspension the very same adjustments are made, toe, caster and camber.

If you have a rear wheel driven car, there are no adjustments unless the car's been in an accident. That involves either new suspention parts, heating and bending untill the rear end follows the front wheels perfectly.

Answer 3

They check the toe-in,toe-out (which is the way your tires point)
They check the camber ( which checks the top of your tire points in toward the engine or out toward the street). Some check the caster and also if its a four wheel alignment, they check how the rear tires track with the front tires. A good shop will also check all the suspension components like bushings and shocks and bearings.

Answer 4

it should start with a measurement of static ride height.. then check all suspension components for wear and steering components for looseness and binding.. then check to see if the vehicle is square to the road.. then begin to determine if there is enough adjustabilty left to align.. most cases nothing is touched at all and you are charged $79.95 after they play with tire pressures

Answer 5

RIDE HEIGHT, CAMBER AND CASTER, TOW AND ON THIS VEHICLE YOU WILL NEED A COMPLETE 4-WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND NOT JUST A 2-WHEEL.

ABOUT $65.00 TO $85.00 + PARTS AND ADDITIONAL LABOR IF NEEDED.

Answer 6

You and your friend stand to gether.
You don't want to lean in any direction or be turned different. You want to stand together as friends. Or buy a lot of tire's.