tire alignment?

Question

My car is shaking it feels like it is coming from the front wheels, does that mean i need to get them aligned?

Answer 1

it's not the alignment. Check lug nuts. if they are ok then support the front on jack stands and try to move the wheels back and forth. If they move it is a ball joint or wheel bearing. If they don't move then you might need to get the tires balanced. They are usually out of balance if you don't notice it at low speeds but it starts and gets wore hte faster you go.

Answer 2

As Bob Web just stated, The Hunter 9700 Force Wheel Balancer is light years ahead of any machine out there. If you go to the hunter website under wheel balancers click on the 9700 in particular. There's a short demo concerning how it works and a box for you to add your zip code to find shops in your area who have this particular machine. It's worth your time and effort to have the wheels and tires balanced on this piece of equipment.

In my opinion I'd have the tires and wheels balanced first before spending money on a four wheel alignment. See if that doesn't solve the problem first.

You didn't list the year make and model of your car. If you have something (car) with 50,000 miles or more assuming it's a front wheel drive car the inner and outer tie rods should be checked. If you're experiencing an odd tire-wear problem it's best to get a four wheel alignment done.

Answer 3

Wow, what a bunch of crappy answers.

WHEEL alignment is the angle at which the wheels are in relation to the road. Alignments NEVER cause vibrations. A vibration is a rotational issue.

When does this "shaking" occur? If it occurs at highway speeds during normal driving then you should have the balance checked on the tires. And no, you do not need a Road Force balancer to properly balance a tire and wheel assembly.

If it only occurs under braking then you have a warped or otherwise damaged brake rotor that needs to be replaced.

If it happens from low speeds you may have a ply separated tire which requires urgent replacement.

Answer 4

it could mean a lot of things. Tie rods, tie rid ends, ball joints, wheel bearings, alignment.
A good sign of needing an alignment is if you are on a straight away, a really straight and flat piece of road. Not at a fast speed between 35-45 if you let go of the wheel if your car pulls to the right or left that is a good way to know. Another way to tell if tire wear patterns. Are your tires wearing evenly in the front, one side more than the other, inside of the tire or outside. Is your tire inflated to the proper psi. Have you changed a tire recently? Lug nuts to tight could warp, or crack a rotor, too loose you could lose a tire, and it would cause a shake. Make sure they tightened to the correct torque specs.

I would just to a mechanic.

Answer 5

Also check that the wheel nuts are tight, the track rods are not worn or loose and the steering wheel is properly secured.
If your car has hit or been hit by something, that might have altered the whole front alignment. Have a look for uneven wear on the tyres as this might give a clue. Your handbook should tell you how to interpret uneven wear. Failing that, your local library probably has something to guide you.

Answer 6

Mark F is correct about the alignment, warped rotors, and tire balance, but I'd also suggest having the rims checked to ensure neither one is bent. This could also be causing part of your vibration.

Answer 7

If your tires are nearly worn out, buy two new tires and put them on the front. Your problem will be gone with the old tires. Otherwise have the old tires put on a Hunter GSP9700 tire balance machine available at these service locations near you:
http://www.gsp9700.com/pub/search/FindGSP9700.cfm

Answer 8

You need to get them balanced first then get the tracking done.

Answer 9

you need to get new shock absorbers