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 [Alignment Guide/General Discussion], How to interpret wheel alignment number?

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TSzeng
post Jun 25 2025, 06:15 PM

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QUOTE(moiskyrie @ Jun 24 2025, 04:50 PM)
I send my car for alignment as when drive straight the steering is turn right.....
But the shop when do alignment no pump all 4 tyre balance....
But after done, drive steering not steering to right anymore...
But when I send the same car few weeks again to check brake...
The alignment feel off and steering need turn to right abit to keep car straight....
Should I just send to service centre or find other shop?
*
Typically service centre is not good at getting 'near perfect' wheel alignment whereby:
1) Steering wheel is perfectly straight on and not crooked and pointed to either side while driving straight ahead on straight roads with both hands firmly holding tight to the steering wheel, as in your car currently, AND

2) All 4 tyres remain within the same lane not crossing over the white lane marking lines for 8 seconds or more at say, 90 km/hr constant speed on straight ahead driving on straight roads with both hands temporarily taken off the steering wheel (CAUTION).

I have been having both the problems above for past say, 3+ years undertaking 4-5 alignment jobs at 4-5 different tyre shops. The search for a really good wheel alignment is still on.

However, I do not have accelerated tyre wear problem for a long time.

Therefore I would suggest you search around for a really competent one, which is very very difficult to come by.

Good luck, and wish me luck too

This post has been edited by zeng: Jun 25 2025, 06:17 PM
TSzeng
post Jun 26 2025, 06:20 PM

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QUOTE(JON97 @ Jun 25 2025, 10:01 PM)
Try changing absorber mounting. Suggest you go for ORI.

Mine used to do the same, until I change absorber mounting and no more having this issue. Apparently it was the so slight height that causes it.

Previously using
Japan Ori, have this issue
Change to OEM, even worse
Change to Ori, fixed
*
Ok, just came back home from a visit to my mechanic who took another closer look at the conditions of front absorber top mountings vis-a-vis vehicle pulling/drifting to the left problem.

Attached Image

Attached Image

My mechanic's verdict is :
the two front absorber top mountings are serviceable/good and do not require replacement.

Note: The hairline cracks as appears in the photos of the rubber mountings are NOT physically observable on the car itself.

This post has been edited by zeng: Jun 26 2025, 06:23 PM
TSzeng
post Jun 27 2025, 04:10 PM

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QUOTE(scoupe @ Jun 24 2025, 02:54 PM)
yes the road force balancers are the best in my opinion. as they dont just sell u the machine, it also requires the team to periodically calibrate and maintain the machine
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Do you typically drive at road speeds above say, 140-150 km/hr on highways so much so that the cheapo static/dynamic balancing is inadequate and you prefer the more expensive Road Force Balancing?

I had never done a Road Force Balancing in all my driving experience despite recommendations by friends as I would normally max up at say,140 km/hr or thereabouts on highways and my personal feel suggests the normal static/dynamic balancing is more than adequate in typical driving.
TSzeng
post Jun 27 2025, 05:04 PM

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QUOTE(moiskyrie @ Jun 24 2025, 04:50 PM)
I send my car for alignment as when drive straight the steering is turn right.....
But the shop when do alignment no pump all 4 tyre balance....
But after done, drive steering not steering to right anymore...
But when I send the same car few weeks again to check brake...
The alignment feel off and steering need turn to right abit to keep car straight....
Should I just send to service centre or find other shop?
*
So while driving straight ahead on a straight road or highway with both hands holding firmly onto the steering wheel, the steering wheel is off centre, crooked and pointing to either sides (pointing to right in your case).

This is abnormal and could be corrected with a wheel alignment to make the steering wheel pointing straight towards 12 o' clock direction.

My Avanza steering wheel used to be off centre and crooked pointing to the left before Oscar in Kemuning carried out shimming job (0.3 mm) on my Avanza Rear solid axle Right hand side some 1+ years ago.

After Oscar did a wheel alignment the crooked steering wheel is worst off but pointing to the Right (about 20 mm off basing on lighting stalk) this time. Vehicle pulling left remains as before the job. I was told by Oscar it's ok and it's like that one.

Some 2-3 months later I visited Single Dove (USJ19) for correction. Again vehicle is still pulling left like before and steering wheel is still crooked pointing to the right at about 3-4 mm till todate, though numerically an improvement over previous 20 mm off centre.

Again, I was told it's ok and is like that one.

Such is the way most or all of our local alignment shops is getting away with slip shod alignment workmanship milking away our hard earned money.
TSzeng
post Jun 28 2025, 02:36 PM

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2008 VW Jetta GLI Mk5, Canada.

Owner install FK coilovers.

Before alignment:
Attached Image

After alignment:
Attached Image

Owner feedback:
While driving straight ahead on straight roads, steering wheel is slightly off centre and crooked pointing slightly to the right at about 12.02-12.03 direction.
12.00 direction being straight on.

Attached Image

link

This post has been edited by zeng: Jun 28 2025, 02:42 PM
TSzeng
post Jun 29 2025, 05:44 PM

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How much weight is too much when balancing a tyre?

Synopsys:
-exceeding 5 ounces (140 gm ) of total weight (combined on both inner and outer sides of the same wheel) is considered excessive when balancing

-More than 15 hammer-on weights on one wheel could also indicate a problem with the wheel or tire.

-


This post has been edited by zeng: Jun 29 2025, 09:56 PM
TSzeng
post Jul 4 2025, 05:39 PM

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QUOTE(zeng @ Jun 28 2025, 02:36 PM)
2008 VW Jetta GLI Mk5, Canada.

Owner install FK coilovers.

Before alignment:
Attached Image

After alignment:
Attached Image

Owner feedback:
While driving straight ahead on straight roads, steering wheel is slightly off centre and crooked pointing slightly to the right at about 12.02-12.03 direction.
12.00 direction being straight on.

Attached Image



link
*
Whilst driving straight ahead on a straight road with hands holding firmly, the steering wheel of my 2007 Avanza is slightly crooked and off centre to the right currently.

It's about 3 mm tilting to the right (clockwise, pointing at say, 12.05 o'clock direction) in relation to desired straight on steering wheel position/direction as pictured below:

Actual crooked steering wheel direction:
Attached Image

Desired straight-on steering wheel position/direction:
Attached Image

Note:
Kindly zoom in on red coloured circle surrounding head light indicator on right hand side of steering wheel.

This post has been edited by zeng: Jul 4 2025, 06:43 PM

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