What Is The Difference Between Wheel Alignment and Front-End Alignment? 

For many people, the difference between a wheel alignment and a front-end alignment can be confusing. The shimmying and shaking of a car when being driven is a caution flag that something is wrong and needs to be attended to.

Many people have just enough familiarity with the terms “getting the wheels aligned” or “getting the front-end aligned” that they can make an educated guess that one of these familiar terms is the problem.

At Taylor and Sons Chevrolet we will diagnose the problem before proposing a solution. But which repair will be needed, and what exactly is the difference between the two? Here’s a look at each.

Front-End Alignments (also known as two-wheel alignments)

When thinking about wheels getting out of alignment, there are three terms to describe the cause:

1. Poorly maintained roads. With states, cities and towns having very limited funds for road repair nowadays, drivers are finding themselves most frequently on uneven, cracked roads. These conditions can be found on highways and backroads alike throughout the country. Harsh winters and frequent heavy vehicle traffic on roads can also cause excessive wear and tear on a vehicle’s alignment.

2. Potholes. Few things are as exasperating to drivers as potholes. The harsh sound when a wheel(s) hit a pothole is a tip-off that something damaging to a vehicle has occurred. It is also frustrating to drivers that most of the time potholes can’t be seen until the seconds before the car is engulfed by one, not giving the driver the chance to avoid it. Heavy rains are one of the main culprits that cause potholes to develop and enlarge, along with snowplows and other heavy- duty vehicles driving on the roadways.

3. Curbs. No one wants to admit it, but drivers sometimes will cut a turn too sharp and will hit the curb. This is normally not caused by someone being a poor or unskilled driver; it’s frequently caused by someone being fatigued or distracted. Sending or receiving calls and text messages is a major cause of distractions nowadays, often causing damage to vehicles.

Why should a car with a little shaking at higher speeds get an alignment?

There are several reasons to get the vehicle aligned.

First of all, it’s a safety concern. If a vehicle is out of alignment and the driver must slam on the brakes, the car is going to pull to the right or the left. This is a safety concern, for example, when a driver may need to swerve to the left, but the wheels are causing the car to pull to the right.

Fuel economy is a second reason for driving a car with the wheels aligned properly. For maximum fuel efficiency, a car that is misaligned will not brake evenly, which will affect gas mileage. The shaking of the care as it accelerates will also have a negative effect on fuel efficiency.

A third reason is tire wear. A car with the wheels out of alignment will cause uneven tire wear, normally the inside of the tire will wear out quickly, which also causes a vehicle to drive even more unevenly as mileage on the tire increases.

What can a driver do to keep the wheels aligned properly?

While things like potholes are sometimes unavoidable, good wheel maintenance will help keep wheels aligned for longer periods of time.

Something simple a driver can do is to keep the trunk of the vehicle free from carrying heavy loads for long periods of time. Excessive weight in the back of the vehicle will cause misalignment over time.

Keeping the tires at the right pressure will also help. Under, or over-inflated tires, will result in uneven wear, causing a vehicle to pull to one side instead of driving straight. Over time this will result in wheels getting out of alignment.

Lastly, driving more conservatively will help immensely. Both the steering and suspension components of a car are impacted by misaligned wheels, which can result in costly repairs. Driving at the speed limit will also help a driver avoid some pot holes, which will ultimately result in better gas mileage.

Wheel Alignment (all four wheels)

The difference between a wheel alignment and a front-end alignment is the number of wheels being aligned. A “front-end alignment” will require the front two wheels to be aligned, while a “wheel alignment” will require all four wheels to be aligned.

 All-wheel drive vehicles will most often require all four wheels to be re-aligned, if they have independent suspensions. Typically, the front wheels will require a toe and caster adjustment, while the back wheels will require a toe and camber adjustment. Taylor and Sons Chevy has the tools, and expertise, to do this adjustment professionally and accurately.

The causes, and prevention, of both types of alignments doesn’t differ. Whether it’s a two-wheel drive vehicle or an all-wheel drive vehicle, conservative driving and watching the road conditions ahead will result in fewer alignments being needed over the life of the vehicle. Some road hazards just can’t be avoided, especially if a vehicle is off-roading, and will necessitate occasional re-alignment.

Taylor and Sons Chevrolet does both two and four-wheel alignments. It is recommended to get the alignment checked each time the oil is changed, or no later than 6,000 miles between checks.

 It takes specialized equipment and skilled labor to get a vehicle re-aligned and road ready. Like a physician, Taylor and Sons Chevrolet will never treat without first diagnosing, and they’ll get the job done right the first time.

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