Thread: Wheel alignment needed?

You might be getting a wheel balance & a wheel alignment mixed up.

Taking the wheel off, and spinning it on the machine, is the balance. This is correct any issues caused by the rubber or rim throwing the wheel as a whole out of whack...

The alignment is to correct the angle of the wheels as fitted to the hubs.

This will check & make sure that the wheels are pointed straight ahead, and also correctly up & down. This, along with the balance, will help to stop your tyres scrubbing out.

If the lift has altered the angle of the wheels enough for you to be able to see it, then I would get the alignment done. For what it will cost, it will be worth it to save your tyres.

Originally Posted by Barney2803

Hi everyone,

I just got a 2" lift installed on my Disco and have been told I need a wheel alignment. I know that as the car is lifted the wheels kind of angle in (or out depending on your view) but does everyone think an alignment is necessary with only a 2" lift?

Also, how does the alignment work? I have new tyres that I want to look after to get maximum milage out of so hence am willing to do an alignment if necessary. I thought that when an alignment is done they take the tyre/wheel off and put it on a machine that spins it to see if its out of whack, however, how does the machine know if the car is causing the wheel to be out of whack when the wheel is off the car?

Sorry if this is a dumb question but I cant seem to work it out in my head with my limited mechanical knowledge.

Any comments from the experts?

If the vehicle has been lifted it will throw the alignment out. You should also ask the shop where the lift kit was installed about castor correction, if you feel the Disco is lighter or darty in the steering since the lift. There have been plenty of posts on this issue on the forum if you care to search.