Alignment: front only, or 4 wheel ?
11-20-2011, 11:30 PM
#1
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Join Date: 01-09-2007
Location: SE USA
Posts: 15,862
Alignment: front only, or 4 wheel ?
Just curious what the concensus is on getting an alignment on these.
Mine tracks like an arrow, but am gonna up grade tires..
& noticed I may need a mild toe adjustment.
TIA..
Mine tracks like an arrow, but am gonna up grade tires..
& noticed I may need a mild toe adjustment.
TIA..
11-20-2011, 11:57 PM
#2
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Join Date: 06-30-2010
Location: Kannapolis NC
Posts: 25,739
You can get away with just doing a front end alignment, but the rear wheels are adjustable via shims and they may be out of spec after 3 years of scooting about in the Tennessee hills.
I have 4 wheel alignments done on mine just to make sure nothing has gotten knocked out of spec and to make sure the the front and rear ends are tracking in unison. There is a slight possibility of introducing a tracking error when just doing the front, which end is showing the toe wear sleeper?
I have 4 wheel alignments done on mine just to make sure nothing has gotten knocked out of spec and to make sure the the front and rear ends are tracking in unison. There is a slight possibility of introducing a tracking error when just doing the front, which end is showing the toe wear sleeper?
11-21-2011, 12:11 AM
#4
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Join Date: 06-30-2010
Location: Kannapolis NC
Posts: 25,739
Well that's a hard call, I still prefer to do a 4 wheel alignment, but with minimal toe wear on just that one corner you might could go with a front end alignment only.
Are you buying the new tires online or at a local store, you might be able to get a deal or discount on an alignment with the tire purchase.
Are you buying the new tires online or at a local store, you might be able to get a deal or discount on an alignment with the tire purchase.
11-21-2011, 12:37 AM
#5
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Join Date: 01-09-2007
Location: SE USA
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843-
I've never rotated these firestones, knowing I wanted to get rid of them anyhow...
And there are some wicked left turns heading up the mountain I always love to whip thru..
"shoulder wear can also be caused by hard driving, especially on winding or curving roads. In this case, nothing abnormal is indicated, and the only correction that's needed is a change in driving habits.
In America, we generally take left turns faster than we do right turns. This puts more load on the right front tire which results in the right tire wearing faster than your left. After thousands of miles of driving, you end up with uneven tread wear".
Edit: I'll be having a 4 wheel alignment done anyway... Just to know things are dialed in correctly..
I've never rotated these firestones, knowing I wanted to get rid of them anyhow...
And there are some wicked left turns heading up the mountain I always love to whip thru..
"shoulder wear can also be caused by hard driving, especially on winding or curving roads. In this case, nothing abnormal is indicated, and the only correction that's needed is a change in driving habits.
In America, we generally take left turns faster than we do right turns. This puts more load on the right front tire which results in the right tire wearing faster than your left. After thousands of miles of driving, you end up with uneven tread wear".
Edit: I'll be having a 4 wheel alignment done anyway... Just to know things are dialed in correctly..
Last edited by sleeper; 11-21-2011 at 01:36 AM. Reason: Added additional comment..
11-21-2011, 07:19 AM
#6
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Join Date: 08-03-2011
Location: Western MD
Posts: 683
Not much different in TN, huh?
11-21-2011, 08:41 AM
#7
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Join Date: 10-06-2011
Location: Mesa, AZ
Posts: 1,150
843-
I've never rotated these firestones, knowing I wanted to get rid of them anyhow...
And there are some wicked left turns heading up the mountain I always love to whip thru..
"shoulder wear can also be caused by hard driving, especially on winding or curving roads. In this case, nothing abnormal is indicated, and the only correction that's needed is a change in driving habits.
In America, we generally take left turns faster than we do right turns. This puts more load on the right front tire which results in the right tire wearing faster than your left. After thousands of miles of driving, you end up with uneven tread wear".
Edit: I'll be having a 4 wheel alignment done anyway... Just to know things are dialed in correctly..
I've never rotated these firestones, knowing I wanted to get rid of them anyhow...
And there are some wicked left turns heading up the mountain I always love to whip thru..
"shoulder wear can also be caused by hard driving, especially on winding or curving roads. In this case, nothing abnormal is indicated, and the only correction that's needed is a change in driving habits.
In America, we generally take left turns faster than we do right turns. This puts more load on the right front tire which results in the right tire wearing faster than your left. After thousands of miles of driving, you end up with uneven tread wear".
Edit: I'll be having a 4 wheel alignment done anyway... Just to know things are dialed in correctly..
If it is the outside only showing wear then yes spirited driving "could" be to blame. Inside wear would be toe issue for sure. But a 4 wheel alignment can not hurt just to know you will get the most out of your new tires.
11-21-2011, 08:52 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: 09-11-2007
Location: Palm Bay, Florida
Posts: 1,378
When I had the HHR in for alignment a couple of weeks ago, they checked the rears for alignment and no need for adjustment, the fronts did get tweaked a bit to correct some toe in issue. I was getting new tires and wanted to start out with good alignment.
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