Steering wheel alignment refers to the process of adjusting the steering wheel so that it is centered when the front wheels are pointing straight ahead. This is done by adjusting the tie rods, which are the rods that connect the steering wheel to the front wheels.
Front alignment, on the other hand, refers to the process of adjusting the angles of the front wheels so that they are pointing straight ahead when the steering wheel is centered. This is done by adjusting the camber, caster, and toe-in.
- Camber is the angle of the front wheels when viewed from the front of the vehicle. If the wheels are leaning in at the top, they are said to have negative camber. If the wheels are leaning out at the top, they are said to have positive camber.
- Caster is the angle of the front wheels when viewed from the side of the vehicle. If the wheels are leaning back at the top, they are said to have positive caster. If the wheels are leaning forward at the top, they are said to have negative caster.
- Toe-in is the difference in the distance between the front and rear of the front tires. If the front tires are closer together at the front than they are at the rear, they are said to have toe-in. If the front tires are farther apart at the front than they are at the rear, they are said to have toe-out.
Front alignment is more comprehensive than steering wheel alignment, as it takes into account the angles of the front wheels as well as the position of the steering wheel.
