Hi All, I have a 2004 Hyundai Sonata 2.7 6 cyl with about 160K. you need to remove your front left wheel to undo the brake line. Just put new inner and outer tie rods on my 2000 Suburban 1500 (4x4) so today I had the wife make an appointment for an alignment. Go with all four if you don't know how to align a CLK . Over time as the car and its components have evolved, so has the way cars steering and suspension set up or geometry is measured. Common Signs of Wheel Misalignment. Does this car need a 2 or 4 wheel alignment ? Whether you can adjust the alignment on just two wheels or all four wheels depends on your vehicle’s drivetrain and suspension type. maybe it pulls to the right but not seriously. Although they all work towards measuring your tires alignment, they work from different angles. But I can attribute some of that to the street. It doesn't seem to pull hard in either direction, I can roll straight on the freeway for about a 1/4 mile before the car starts to drift to one side. the car seems to drive pretty straight . Your axle would require full shims if it was out of spec, but I can't tell you if it is without doing a 4 wheel alignment. This is done on vehicles that do not have adjustments on the rear. In my experience, the rear is more of a multi-link configuration. Toe adjustment in front, toe and camber in rear. unless they are using a alignment machine from the stone age you need to put the alignment head as on all 4 wheels and compensate each one. you do need to do a 4 wheel alignment. I bought it used and all has been fine till yesterday. Have you noticed difficulties with steering, or your vehicle pulling to one side? Wheel alignment, or tracking, is the process of ensuring your vehicle's wheels are set to the optimum position, as per the car manufacturer's specifications. if you go in saying you adjusted your rear camber they will assume you are a complete idiot. An alignment is required whenever you replace front end suspension and steering parts. It is our duty today to make sure that from this day on you will no longer wonder if 2 wheel vs 4 wheel alignment is better. You are almost 5 years and never had it done. These symptoms are classic signs of wheel misalignment. July 5, 2016, 9:53pm #8. Answer. If you don’t do it often enough, you risk wasting precious time and money replacing your car tyres prematurely. Do I Really Need an Alignment? Do I need wheel alignment? Yes, there is a 4-wheel alignment. Yes, the majority of vehicles today (cars, small SUVs, and vans) require a four-wheel alignment. You could do two yourself ! 1999 Prostar West Super … Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by DaytonLax14, Sep 29, 2010. Do you need a wheel alignment? This depends on your vehicle, and whether there are rear adjustments available. Before answering this question, let’s take a quick look at what a wheel alignment is and how it affects your car. Sep 29, 2010 at 9:12 AM #1 #1. Until about 13 - 14 years ago, you never heard of a 4 wheel alignment. If you put good tires on, 2 or 4, and want to make sure you get maximum life out of them, get the 4 wheel alignment. Wheel rim run-out compensation is taken into account, which gives accurate and repeatable readings. The tires should all be in good shape with even wear patterns. . The front end and steering linkage should be checked for wear before performing an alignment. With many shops, the price difference between front and four-wheel alignment services is not significant. A proper wheel alignment should always start and end with a test drive. 4 wheel alignment is the only way to go. Having taught wheel alignment and suspension designs and owned my own repair shops, the short answer is no. The process involves checking the direction and angle of the wheels and it is an important part of vehicles maintenance. I did a level kit and 33" tires. However, all modern wheel alignment is designed to be performed as a four wheel system. When you get the new tires have the alignment done while you're there(if they do alignment). Any help or links to another similiar thread would be helpful. DaytonLax14 [OP] Well-Known Member. Alignment is a once a year serivce for any car. The independent garages, which mostly don't offer it, are saying that unless the car is pulling to one side (it isn't) then I don't really need it. Depends on vehicle. Should I drive it a day or 2 to let it get "out of allignment" or is that not how it works? Do I need a two-wheel or four-wheel alignment? By the way, if you’re thinking about getting any type of alignment you should get your front end checked before you waste your money trying to align a vehicle that is unfit for an alignment due to worn front end parts. Tell me why I need a 4 wheel alignment on a vehicle with rear leaf springs. If however you do decide to get one done, select the technician and the shop out just as carefully as you did your tires. We’ve debated this before and don’t … Since the car was invented it has been important that all four wheels point in the same direction! Four Wheel Alignment measures a minimum of 12 angles and compares them to the alignment data specified by the vehicle manufacturer. The modern car is built for comfort, performance and handling. Willey made some good points in his second post, especially paragraph 2, but unfortunately, not all alignment techs are not up to the standards he sets and not all alignment machines are properly calibrated. I can not see why the rear needs to be aligned when the work was on the front end. Is it possible for a car to drive pretty straight and still be out of alignment? SHARE STORY. Bret Bodas on . . Two-wheel alignment aligns the front wheels, while four-wheel alignment aligns all four wheels. Visitor in Lutz, FL on . Popular Answer. There are a couple ways to tell if your car needs a tire alignment. 4 wheel is the alignment that is required. All of a sudden, every alignment shop around was trying to convince people they needed 4 wheel alignments on vehicles that had been on the road for years. 2 wheel alignment. Do I need a front or four-wheel alignment? February 16, 2017. Usually, the latter is not necessary on a big SUV or truck with a solid rear axle, unless it has been in an accident and it might pick up on a bent frame where the rear axle is out of line, causing the vehicle to dog track. . the alignment of your front wheels is directly ralated to the rear of the vehicle. Other facts every driver should know about wheel alignments. Do I need 2 or 4 wheel alignment? Some cars never need a 4 wheel alignment only a 2 wheel. 6 people found this helpful. Do I need to get all four tires aligned at once? She calls me and says they asked if we wanted a 2 wheel or 4 wheel alignment done. Not every vehicle has rear adjustability. I have them on the front. Best Answer Mark helpful. It will help, if not fix the problem. http://autosquad.com Wheel Alignment - How often has a tire shop tried to sell you an Wheel Alignment with the purchase of new tires? How Do I Know if I Need a Tire Alignment? You should read your vehicle service recommendations as it … I am being told by the Belle Tire Sales person I should have a 4 wheel alignment done on my car after putting two new front tires and replacing strut towers and strut mounts. Do I need a 2 or 4 wheel alignment? We all know our vehicles need a wheel alignment from time to time. Like the title says. First go to a alignment shop or a tire shop that has the alignment equipment. With such accurate readings, Four Wheel Alignment allows toe adjustments of individual wheels which ensure the steering wheel is set straight. I also always wonder if I put the level kit and tires on. In each case, the technician will place an instrument on all four wheels. I have a 2001 lincoln town car cartier, just got 4 new tires do I need a 2 or 4 wheel alignment, thanks I need to take mine in for a alignment Apparently 4 wheel allignment haha and always feel like the dealers will charge a arm and leg. If front and rear alignment adjustments are possible, then you'll want a four wheel alignment. There are three static angles that need to be measured during wheel alignment and are camber, caster, thrust and toe angle. Yes, you need an alignment. Post Reply . thats my test. Therefore, a wheel alignment could help you conserve fuel and fill up less often. You should be your own judge. In the first type the rear toe and tracking is checked, but all adjustments are made at the front wheels. 4 or 2 wheel alignment? But how do you know when to check the wheel alignment on your vehicle? Are your tyres wearing on one side more than the other? if it passes, i wont do an alignment on the car, and i'll tell the customer to stop worrying. the_same_mountainbike. There are two main types of 4-wheel alignments. A full 4-wheel alignment will cost more than the other type because there is more work involved. 2009 Hyundai Sonata V6 Limited FWD-Maintenance & Repair. Wheel Alignment – All You Need To Know. Joined: Nov 6, 2009 Member: #25531 Messages: 502 Gender: Male First Name: Corey Ohio Vehicle: 98 extended cab TRD Off Road. A wheel alignment only does the front end while the 4 wheel does the front and back. The wheels are staggered (22x9 and 22x10.5). Here's how you can tell We demystify this commonly recommended car service . to the original poster: you shouldnt need an alignment unless your steering wheel is crooked, your tires have been wearing badly in the past, or your car doesnt drive straight down the highway in the middle lane for 6-8 seconds after you take your hands off. TL:DR; If you just put 2 cheap tires on and want to keep rolling, a 2 wheel alignment is fine. … Alignment assures your tires meet the road at the proper angle, your wheels are pointing straight and your tires are centered in the wheel wells. Some cars need 4 wheel alignments this includes AWD cars and those with independant rear suspension. If your last alignment was more than 2 years ago it is likely a good idea to get it done when you put on new tires. Not all vehicles need it, usually the front wheels are adjusted to the rear (2-wheel alignments are 'thrust' alignments), but on vehicles that allow adjustment to the rear a 4-wheel alignment gives you more options for adjustments. Some cars with solid rear axles can only have their front wheels aligned. My initial thought is that there is nothing to adjust on the rear wheels so a 4 … do I need a 4 wheel alignment on my car after changing the front struts, strut mounts and two brand new tires? 320 Posts #2 • May 27, 2015. If you've noticed one or more of these indicators, you should have your alignment checked by a licensed service technician immediately. While driving home the throttle suddenly started to surge wildly. 1 answer & 0 comments. (2007 Volvo S40) Just bought 2 tires . If they don't do alignment, go get the alignment done first, then get the new tires. by Brian Turner | October 1, 2015. 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