Front-end alignment vs. 4-wheel alignment---what's the difference? (joint, tires, mileage)
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My 2007 Hyundai Elantra has 56K miles on it, and shimmies on the freeway over 60 MPH, which tells me that it'stime for an alignment before I wear out the tires on the front end.
Can someone explain the diference between, a two-wheel vs. a 4-wheel alignment, which you'd recommend, and what I should expect to pay for it here in Los Angeles?
It's pretty much what it sounds like. With a front-wheel alignment the adjust the two front wheels so that they both point in the same direction. With a four-wheel alignment they also adjust the back wheels to be true with the front wheels when they are pointed straight ahead. Some cars can't be aligned this way, but most today can.
If you're using a shop that you trust, I'd go with their recommendation. No idea what the cost would be in your area, sorry.
Just because you have a shimmy @60, don't mean you necessarily need a front end alignment. If you need to put front end parts in, then you'll definitely need an alignment. May be something as simple as an unbalanced wheel. Get some recommendations for a local front end shop or have a mechanic look at it. Good luck to you.
Or it might be tires. I have minor cupping in my tires due to the negative camber the Mazda runs, so i get a rumble/shimmy effect. It's happened with both the OEM and the tires I have on it now. It was fairly minor on the OEM tires and much more pronounced with the tires I have now.
Or it might be tires. I have minor cupping in my tires due to the negative camber the Mazda runs, so i get a rumble/shimmy effect. It's happened with both the OEM and the tires I have on it now. It was fairly minor on the OEM tires and much more pronounced with the tires I have now.
My 2007 Hyundai Elantra has 56K miles on it, and shimmies on the freeway over 60 MPH, which tells me that it'stime for an alignment before I wear out the tires on the front end.
Can someone explain the diference between, a two-wheel vs. a 4-wheel alignment, which you'd recommend, and what I should expect to pay for it here in Los Angeles?
Thanks!
Get your wheels balanced. If that doesn't work, try the wheel alignment.
As others said, it's not a slam dunk that you need an alignment to correct the shimmy. Odd wear or cupping on the tires can cause it as can improper balancing of the tires. If it's a tire balance issue, they can fix it. If it's a tire wear issue, then you can align it all you want and you won't fix the problem.
So your saying if it's not a wheel balance problem it can't be anything else other than alignment???
No, it could also be due to badly-worn ball joints or bad tie rod ends.
Yes, it would be very unusual to have these problems at such low odometer mileage, but it is possible, particularly if you commonly drive on roads that are in bad condition.
Quote:
Originally Posted by NJGOAT
As others said, it's not a slam dunk that you need an alignment to correct the shimmy. Odd wear or cupping on the tires can cause it as can improper balancing of the tires. If it's a tire balance issue, they can fix it. If it's a tire wear issue, then you can align it all you want and you won't fix the problem.
Once tires have a bad wear pattern on them (due to bad balance, or to bad alignment, or to worn suspension/steering components), that wear pattern is there to stay. So, even if you fix the underlying problem, the symptoms will likely not go away unless you replace any badly-worn tires.
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