Do You Fully Understand the Implications of Truck Wheel Alignment?
The tyres probably represent the biggest expenditure of all the replacement parts on a heavy-duty truck. After all, there may be many tyres on each axle, and all need to be in good condition if the vehicle is to perform as it should and pay its way. So it goes without saying that a vehicle operator should look after those tyres, but this extends to far more than simply proper inflation. What can happen if you fail to pay attention to minor adjustments and fail when it comes to your wheel alignment?
Dynamic Environment
As the truck's suspension is so dynamic, technicians have to make very precise adjustments to cope with road conditions, friction and the forces of both movement and gravity. It's impossible to bolt a wheel onto an axle and expect the vehicle to perform properly, and adjustments must be made to the toe angles, caster, camber and other areas.
Special Adjustments
When a wheel and tyre are sitting in place on the end of their axle, the top part of this combination may need to tilt inwards towards the centre line. Meanwhile, the wheel may need to turn outward or inward in relation to that centreline, while the suspension upright may need to angle backwards or forward as well. All of these adjustments have to be done using specialised equipment as the tolerance is very small. Also, the adjustments have to be made "in sync" with each other as an adjustment in one area may need a counter-adjustment in another.
All-Round Importance
Don't forget that wheel alignment is important for all the tyres on a given axle and not just for the front wheels. Even though the rear wheels may simply be pulled behind the steering axis, adjustment issues here can have a compound effect all around.
Inconsistent Wear and Tear
If you don't get these factors right, you'll start to notice uneven wear across the tread pattern and upper sidewalls. These wear levels could be inconsistent, and you can't simply swap tyres to the other side of the vehicle in an attempt to make this degradation more even.
Best Practice
If you're not careful, you may have to replace all the tyres at the same time due to excess wear and tear, which could lead to a very large bill at the shop. So, to avoid such a scenario, always ensure that you take the truck to a qualified mechanic, so they can check and readjust the alignment as needed.
For more information about truck wheel alignment, contact a local professional.
