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Home » Car Maintenance » Is there a Difference between Wheel Alignment and Balancing?
  • Is there a Difference between Wheel Alignment and Balancing?

    • Posted on Autos.com Editor
    • in Car Maintenance
    • on October 7, 2013

    Wheel alignment and balancing are two inter-related but completely different services and concepts. One can’t be done correctly unless the other is already correct. Tire or wheel balancing is the act of counter-weighing a tire to compensate for minor imbalances between the tire and wheel assembly. It’s normally done on a machine with the tires off the car. Wheel alignment is the process of ensuring that the geometric angles of caster, camber and toe are correct. Caster pertains to the angle of the two connection points for the kingpin assembly. Camber describes the angle of your tires as referenced to vertical. Toe is the angle of your tires in reference to the centerline of the vehicle.

    For more info, see A Tire Alignment Guide: Cost, Benefits and Frequency

    Related posts:

    • Is there a Price Difference Between Static Balancing and Dynamic Balancing for Tires?
    • Is Truck Wheel Alignment Done Differently than other Types of Cars?
    • What’s the Difference in Cost between a Tire Rotation and a Tire Alignment?
    • Is Tire Alignment Worth the Cost
    • Will a Tire Alignment Service be Denied for any Reason?
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