Preliminary Inspection

Steering complaints are not always the result of improper alignment. Another possibility is tire "lead" due to worn or improperly manufactured tires. "Lead" is the car's deviation from a straight path on a level road without pressure on the steering wheel. Refer to Steering, Suspension, Wheels and Tires Diagnosis for the procedure to determine if the car has a tire lead problem.

Before making any adjustment affecting wheel alignment, make the following checks to ensure correct readings and proper alignment adjustments.
1. Check all tires for proper inflation pressures. Also check that tires have about the same amount of tread wear.
2. Check hub and bearing assemblies for excessive wear, correct if necessary.
3. Check condition of ball joints and tie rod ends. If they are excessively loose, correct the condition before adjusting alignment.
4. Check for excessive run-out of wheels and tires.
5. Check vehicle trim height; if it is out of specification and a correction is to be made, do so before adjusting alignment.
6. Check for proper operation of the electronic level control system.
7. Check for improperly operating strut dampers.
8. Check for loose control arms.
9. Check for loose or missing stabilizer bar attachments.
10. Consideration must be given to excess loads such as tool boxes, sample cases, etc. If these items are normally carried in the car, they should remain in the car during alignment adjustments.
11. Consider the condition of the equipment being used to adjust alignment. Be sure to follow the equipment manufacturer's instructions.
12. Regardless of the equipment used to adjust alignment, the car must be on a level surface both fore-and-aft and sideways.