A wheel alignment sets the angles of your wheels so the car tracks straight and the tires wear evenly. On a car with driver-assist features, it can also change how those features see the road.
Your car's idea of "straight ahead"
Cameras and radar don't just look forward. They look in the direction the car actually travels, which is set by the rear wheels and called the thrust angle. An alignment can change that angle. When it does, the car's sense of straight ahead shifts, and a camera or radar that was aimed correctly before can now be slightly off.
What can be affected
- Steering angle sensor. Tells the car which way the steering wheel is pointed. Many cars need this reset after an alignment, or stability control and lane-keep may act up.
- Forward camera. Used for lane-keep and lane departure warnings.
- Front radar. Used for adaptive cruise control and emergency braking.
Not every car needs a full calibration after every alignment. It depends on the make, model and year, and on how much the alignment changed. The manufacturer's repair procedure says what's required.
Signs something is off after an alignment
- The steering wheel is centered but lane-keep pulls to one side
- A stability control or driver-assist warning comes on
- Adaptive cruise reacts to cars in the next lane
Why it works both ways
An alignment can throw off a calibration, and a calibration done on a car that's out of alignment won't be right either. That's why we check alignment as part of every calibration, and check calibration requirements as part of every alignment.
Getting an alignment? Ask whether your car's driver-assist systems need a calibration afterward. We can usually take care of both in one visit.
Call us at 360-443-7020 or send a request to book.