Preliminary Inspection

Steering and vibration complaints are not always the result of improper alignment. Another possibility is tire ``lead'' due to worn or improperly manufactured tires. ``Lead'' is the vehicle's deviation from a straight path on a level road without pressure on the steering wheel.
Before making any adjustment affecting wheel alignment, make the following checks to ensure correct alignment readings and alignment adjustments.
1. Check all tires for proper inflation pressures and ensure all tires have approximately equal tread wear.
2. Check hub and bearing assemblies for excessive wear, correcting as necessary.
3. Check ball joints and tie rod ends. If they are excessively loose, correct before making adjustment.
4. Check run out of wheels and tires.
5. Check vehicle trim height, correcting as necessary.
6. Check strut dampers for proper operation.
7. Check control arms for loose bushings.
8. Check stabilizer bar for loose or missing components.
To achieve accurate wheel alignment readings, each front seat should be loaded with 154 lbs. and the fuel tank should be half filled. Additionally, the vehicle should be rocked several times to stabilize springs before taking readings.
Consideration must also be given to excess loads, such as tool boxes or sample cases. If these items are normally carried in the vehicle, they should remain in the vehicle during alignment checks. Consideration should be given to condition of equipment being used to adjust alignment. Be sure to follow manufacturer's instructions. Regardless of equipment being used, vehicle must be on level surface, both fore and aft and sideways.