How To Tell If Your Car Is Out Of Alignment

[nattuvetty]

Very informative.

[quaked4]

It would be more accurate to state that steering wheel shake is usually caused by worn tie rod ends, which, once replaced, will require a fresh alignment. It is accurate to say that steering wheel shake DOES mean that your car is out of alignment though, because when tie rods get sloppy and worn, they no longer hold a true alignment.

[msw600]

Shakes are caused by either bad tires or bad rims or bad ball joints... To check the ball joints mechanics will try to shake the tire by grabbing the tire with two hands at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock position as well at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions respectively.

[casper123]

Is Patrick Bateman narrating?

[guitarmonkey1990]

Shakes are caused by bad tires :D

[dawnye1]

Thanks. Im getting mine done right away

[TheBadbowman]

@Jason1160 based on what you just said ,it sounds like its the rotors.

[jason1160]

my truck needs an alignment and it wobbles when slowing down from high speeds

[crrazyy]

if your tires chopped, probably need alignment. if u changed suspension parts,definite alignment.if your car pulls,first check your tire pressures.if you have different brand tires in the front can cause a car to pull.and if u drive a bmw or lincoln, give the alignment guy a tip!!

[abigailgeli]

anyone can help me some understanding on my TRuck and Transport Licence? about climate control and engine and supporting systems. .thanks...more knowledge for us Mechanic...VIVA WRENCHES..hehehe

[opsvideo2008]

The shake in my steering wheel was caused by one of my front tyres having a big blister on the rolling surface. By just changing to my spare wheel, hich had smooth rolling surface, I solved the shaking. But anyway, thanks for this video which is quite informative.

[utahcorvettenut]

turn return = possible alignment or actual steering rack issues. shaky steering wheel, id say not alignment, rather steering rack issues, and possibly warped rotors

[dwalmop]

Alignments will never, and physically cannot cause a shake. Tires and/or wheels can cause a shake, as can worn parts, etc.. Alignments cannot. Period - it's pretty basic physics here. I don't care that somebody's wobble was corrected after the frame shop, there had to have been something else that was also corrected, possibly even inadvertently.

If your car shakes, an alignment alone will never, ever correct it. Ever.

And it's not "wheel wear," it's TIRE wear.

[dberg76]

I have never in 37years of experience and over 100000 alignments done, I have never seen caster cause a shake. I suppose in a very EXTEME case where the positve caster is over say 12 to 15 degrees it would be possible. But in the real world I have NEVER seen it.By the way I am an "OLD TIMER" but with a state of the art alignment machine!

[boy2nr]

shake is due to unballanced tyres and rims.

also pull might happen due to unequal pressure in tyres.

[krazor8]

@boy2nr or 2 diff brand tires.. does it on my truck

[dberg76]

Alignment will NOT cause a shake. I am ASE certified with 37 years experience in alignments

[35ams]

@dberg76 if that so, what is the cause of the shake?

[cagonesss]

@dberg76 being ase means nothing.im not ase and never need a shop to fix my car.i know the ohms law to alighnments and much more and i have passed the ase practice test and i never went to school lol.

[kstinson]

@dberg76 If you truly are an ASE certified tech then you did not pay much attention or fail to exhibit any true mechanical ingenuity of your own. I know for a fact that too much positive caster can cause a low speed wobble and too much can cause a high speed wobble on straight axle vehicles. My truck is a great example. Had at least 10 pin "ASE" certified techs screw with. None of them fixed it. An old timer at a frame and axle shop managed to dial in the caster and it stopped wobbling.

[xxxXHUGXxxx]

@dberg76 Cool. But hey I ran into a curve today going about 10-15 mph, and I was wondering if that would cause alignment problems? Thanks

[burnbabey12]

@dberg76 it can at higher speeds. I have been racing sense I was 16 dad has been doing it sense he was in his 20s (hes over 50 now). lets just say I was bump drafting lol and smacked my left wheel ( I like to pass on the outside) a couple of times knocking it out I'll tell you what man oh boy you are in for a ride lol

[ThePhan7em]

@dberg76 LOL, if that 78 indicates that, that is your birth year then you must have been ASE certified before you where born.

[connect1810]

Helpful Thanks! I think mine is do for an alignment ugh!

[elgonzo1128]

first comment sorta useful