Camber, Caster, & Toe

What happens when you bring your vehicle into Checkpoint Automotive in Aurora, Colorado for wheel alignment? What exactly do our technicians do to your vehicle? Wheel alignment might seem complex at first, but once you understand the details you can better appreciate how the service helps your vehicle!

When you arrive for wheel alignment service, our technicians check the positions of your vehicle’s wheels to ensure they are aligned with factory standards. Why wouldn’t they be in their correct positions? Wheels are affected by bumps in the road, potholes, impacts with curbs, or even just with normal use over time. They aren’t steadfast in their proper geometry. The three angles at which they meet the road might change over time. Wheel alignment corrects any flaws with camber, caster, and toe angles to restore optimal stature for your vehicle and protect its performance.

Camber

Camber refers to how much a wheel is tilted away from the vehicle. Typically, the camber is adjusted beyond factory standards to change how much of the tire’s tread area makes contact with the road surface. Some drivers choose to adjust the angle to give their vehicle a different style or to change handling and traction.

Caster

When you turn your steering wheel, the wheels turn the same way. That happens because of a steering pivot on the suspension system. The caster refers to the angle of this pivot. When it is out of alignment, the car might be difficult to drive in a straight line. Vehicle wandering and difficult handling is a sign that you need professional alignment.

Toe

Do you know what it means to be pigeon-toed? It’s a term used to describe people who walk with their toes facing inwards. This is the kind of angle that toe refers to on a vehicle. It measures how much the front tires face in towards each other. You might think that you want the wheels to be completely parallel to one another, but in reality, a slight toe-in adjustment can increase your car’s stability and make it safer to drive.

Our technicians use advanced technology to measure and reset the wheels to factory standards. We use these three angles to ensure the wheels are properly positioned to achieve optimal performance.

Have more questions about how wheel alignment helps your vehicle? You can read our blog for more information or visit Checkpoint Automotive in Aurora, Colorado to speak with our experts! We would be happy to answer any of your questions!