Dear concerned car owner,

How do you know if your car needs a front end alignment? Vibrations, shimmy, and shaking felt in steering wheel are usually not a sign of needing a front end alignment. A front end alignment, or four wheel alignment as it is commonly referred to these days due to fact that rear end of vehicle can also be adjusted, does just what name implies align, or line up direction of wheels so vehicle is pointed in a straight line.

Caster, camber, and toe are terms used to describe direction of wheel in relation to body of vehicle. The front of tire can be pointed in toward center of vehicle thus "toed in." When front of tire is pointed outward, it is referred to as "toed out." Both of these problems can quickly wear down tread of a tire and can cause a "pull" in one direction of front end. The top of wheel can also lean in toward center of vehicle or lean out away from vehicle, causing a camber problem. This situation can also cause tire wear and a pull to one direction in front end. Caster measures relationship of left and right wheels to each other. If one wheel is farther forward or back from other wheel, then there is a caster problem. Caster will usually not cause a pull or tire wear, and this problem is commonly found on wrecked vehicles.