Why Is Truck Wheel Alignment Critical?

If you own a conventional car, then you know that you need to align the front wheels and tyres so that you get maximum performance with the least amount of wear and tear possible. However, if you're responsible for a much larger truck, did you know that you need to align not just the front units, but also each other axle as well? If you're used to paying attention to the steering wheels and tyres but not the others, could this have a significant effect on your overall efficiency going forward?

Looking at Alignment

In a front-wheel drive car, alignment, castor and camber angles are extremely important. These need to be set carefully and according to the manufacturer instructions, as otherwise the car will not handle properly, and the tyres will wear down in the blink of an eye. Usually, the rear wheels will simply "follow" the front and are not as critical in terms of performance.

Bigger Challenge

This is not the case for a large truck, however, as all tyres need to be parallel and perpendicular, so that they can help to balance the load and make the ride more efficient.

Trailing Troubles

If you've noticed inconsistent tyre wear on your trailing axles, this may well have been caused by poor alignment. If your drivers have been complaining to you that the truck seems to have a mind of its own, your rear axles may be pushing the tractor in the wrong direction, prompting a constant series of adjustments from the pilot.

All axles need to be both parallel and perpendicular to the direction of travel as if not, they will tend to push or pull the entire rig away from the centre line. The axles at the rear will need as much attention as those near to the front. Otherwise, a bad adjustment can cause excessive drag and this can hold back forward progress, leading to poor fuel consumption figures.

Worth the Additional Effort

It's important to measure the angles at the top, bottom and both sides of each wheel. This can be quite a lengthy process with so many wheels on a large rig, but it's worth the effort over the long term.

Bringing in Your Mechanic

Make sure that your mechanic turns their attention to the other axles as well, once they have configured the "business end" of your truck. Better performance in the future will make you glad that they did. For more information, contact your local truck repair service today.