Wheel Alignment
–What to expect and common issues we see
for use of example only
At Autotest, we carry out precision wheel alignment using advanced geometry equipment to ensure your vehicle handles safely, tyres wear evenly, and to make sure your vehilce drives how it should.
Our alignment services include:
Four-wheel alignment – full check and adjustment of all adjustable angles.
Printout only (no adjustment) – if the geometry is already within tolerance.
Custom / modified setups – time-based alignments for non-standard suspension.
How to Prepare Your Vehicle for Alignment
Before your booking, it helps to make sure the vehicle is ready to go on the ramp:
Check your tyre pressures – Make sure your tyres are set to the manufacturer’s specification before bringing the vehicle in. A difference of one or two psi won’t affect alignment results, but pressures that are far out or uneven between tyres can cause small discrepancies in measurements. Most vehicles now have TPMS, so we’ll see if anything looks out of range.
Fuel level – Try to have at least half a tank of fuel when you arrive. This keeps the car sitting at its normal ride height and helps ensure accuracy during measurement.
General condition – Make sure the wheels are accessible and free from excessive dirt, and remove any heavy loads from the boot or rear seats.
We’ll still check tyre pressures if something looks off, but we’ll align the vehicle as it arrives. We won’t add fuel or adjust load conditions (unless stated by the manufacturer – for example, some BMW specifications require ballast). The goal is to set the geometry based on how the vehicle is typically driven day to day.
If adjustments are required, our technician will make the necessary corrections — front and rear toe, camber, caster, or other adjustable points depending on the vehicle — and you’ll receive a full before-and-after printout showing the results.
Common Issues That Can Affect the Process
We always aim to complete every alignment smoothly, but a few common problems can cause delays or limit how much we can adjust:
1. Seized or Damaged Adjusters
Seized adjusters are by far the most common issue we encounter.
Eccentric bolts can snap, round off, or refuse to move entirely. Even when heat is applied and they move slightly, fine adjustment can still be extremely difficult — especially when trying to get the steering wheel perfectly centred.
We’ll always do our best to free off adjusters where possible, but freeing seized bolts or replacing parts is not included in the alignment process. If additional work is required, we’ll advise you before going any further.
2. Worn or Uneven Tyres
If you’re planning a wheel alignment before fitting new tyres, that’s absolutely fine — it’s often best to set the geometry first so the new tyres wear evenly from the start.
It’s also fine to carry out alignment with worn tyres, provided they’re not badly misshaped or damaged. However, tyre condition can affect how the vehicle feels immediately after adjustment.
If a tyre has worn unevenly while the vehicle was previously misaligned, correcting the geometry can sometimes cause the car to pull slightly or feel different at first. This happens because the tyres have already worn into the old position, and adjusting them back to specification changes the contact pattern.
Even new tyres that have covered a few miles on a poor alignment can behave the same way. We’ll always advise if we think tyre condition may influence the result or if replacement would give a better outcome.
It’s also worth noting that mud and snow tyres (M+S) are often the worst offenders for pulling, particularly when fitted in mixed brands or tread patterns, or when they’ve worn unevenly over time.
Suspension Condition & Our Role
A very extreme example
Accurate alignment depends on the condition and fitment of the vehicle’s suspension components. If parts are incorrectly fitted, not torqued correctly, or damaged/broken, it can prevent proper adjustment and affect the final result.
A wheel alignment doesn’t include full suspension inspections or nut-and-bolt checks on components we’re not adjusting. If we find anything seized, damaged, or incorrectly installed, we’ll always let you know and may need to pause the job until it’s rectified.
If suspension or chassis work has been carried out elsewhere and we believe the vehicle’s safety or setup is compromised, we’ll advise having it checked over before continuing. Even one loose or incorrectly fitted bolt can reflect the potential quality of the rest of the work carried out.
With over 20 years of alignment experience, we’ve seen every type of setup — from perfect builds to poor repairs. For this reason, wheel alignments cannot be guaranteed if suspension or related components are incorrectly fitted, unsuitable, or damaged. Our goal is always to help you achieve the best, safest, and most accurate setup possible.
Modified & Custom Setups
For non-standard or track-focused vehicles, we’re happy to work to your chosen settings or target specs. We’ll also offer advice if we feel the setup may not achieve the best result for road use or tyre wear — drawing on over 20 years of alignment experience at all levels of motorsport and road applications.
