Whats wrong with my wheel alignment?
rhino1616
11-26-2010, 12:49 AM
2002 Mazda Protege 5 w/ 121,000km. My back tires went bald after 1 year. I was told to change front struts & have alignment done. I installed new struts in front & had wheel alignment done at local tire shop (they only change tires & alignments). They couldn't completely re-align my wheels. They said they're not a mechanic shop but it could be anything. They gave me a print of the closest they could get to spec. Can anyone suggest why my wheels cant go into full alignment?
I don't understand the numbers on the read out completely IE: SAI, Toe, Thrust angle
Ive attached my readout, can anyone make out whats possibly wrong?
Thank you
I don't understand the numbers on the read out completely IE: SAI, Toe, Thrust angle
Ive attached my readout, can anyone make out whats possibly wrong?
Thank you
old_master
12-09-2010, 07:26 PM
Front Camber: Both front wheels should be zero degrees to get the best tire life. Both are approximately 1 degree negative which is within spec but, it causes a smooth wear pattern on the inside edges of the tires.
Caster: Right front caster is too low, should be equal side to side. Desired spec is +1.85 degrees with no more than .5 degrees difference side to side. The way yours is set, it will cause the vehicle to pull to the right if you let go of the steering wheel. It will not cause tire wear.
Front total toe: Is set at +.05 degrees which is within spec. Usually with front wheel drive vehicles, front toe is set slightly negative to improve tire wear. You might notice a slight jagged wear pattern on the outside edges of the tires.
Rear camber should be zero degrees for best tire life. Yours are set at approximately -1.0 degree which is within spec but, it will cause a smooth wear pattern on the inside edges of the tires.
Rear total toe should be zero degrees for best tire life. Your rear toe is out of spec by over 1 degree, that's huge! It will cause the outside edges of the tires to wear in a jagged pattern.
Camber, caster and toe, those are the "primary angles". The "secondary angles" get quite technical and are used for troubleshooting bent or worn parts, or a bent frame.
Bottom line.... They adjusted toe on both front wheels, and tried to adjust the right rear toe. If you paid for this wheel alignment, you paid too much. The right rear toe is out of spec and they didn't do you any favors when it comes to minimizing tire wear. Find a shop that understands wheel alignment, knows how to read specs, knows how to "read" tire wear, and knows how to do a proper wheel alignment.
Caster: Right front caster is too low, should be equal side to side. Desired spec is +1.85 degrees with no more than .5 degrees difference side to side. The way yours is set, it will cause the vehicle to pull to the right if you let go of the steering wheel. It will not cause tire wear.
Front total toe: Is set at +.05 degrees which is within spec. Usually with front wheel drive vehicles, front toe is set slightly negative to improve tire wear. You might notice a slight jagged wear pattern on the outside edges of the tires.
Rear camber should be zero degrees for best tire life. Yours are set at approximately -1.0 degree which is within spec but, it will cause a smooth wear pattern on the inside edges of the tires.
Rear total toe should be zero degrees for best tire life. Your rear toe is out of spec by over 1 degree, that's huge! It will cause the outside edges of the tires to wear in a jagged pattern.
Camber, caster and toe, those are the "primary angles". The "secondary angles" get quite technical and are used for troubleshooting bent or worn parts, or a bent frame.
Bottom line.... They adjusted toe on both front wheels, and tried to adjust the right rear toe. If you paid for this wheel alignment, you paid too much. The right rear toe is out of spec and they didn't do you any favors when it comes to minimizing tire wear. Find a shop that understands wheel alignment, knows how to read specs, knows how to "read" tire wear, and knows how to do a proper wheel alignment.
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2026