How to Fix a Bent Front Aligment

If your vehicle seems difficult to handle, particularly in the front wheel area, the front end alignment may be out of adjustment. Fixing the problem depends on how badly the alignment is out of kilter, which is usually due to the internal camber positions. Proper front end alignment may not seem like an overly important issue in terms of car maintenance and repair, but it has a significant influence on your ability to drive the vehicle. Irregular front end alignment makes driving difficult, especially steering and handling the car.

Instructions

1

Position the vehicle so that the front wheels are pointing straight ahead. Start the car engine and use the power steering to twist the wheels if necessary.

2

Place a level ruler parallel to your front tire and along the sidewall. Run it downward to the ground. Determine if the tire stays in the same line as the ruler at the bottom or if it seems to lean away a sign of a bent alignment.

3

Locate the castle nut inside the front wheel ball joint. Use pliers to grab and remove the securing cotter pin inside the castle nut. Use a crescent wrench to loosen the nut. Twist the ball joint inward or outward to reposition the wheel camber. Tighten the castle nut again and insert a new cotter pin to secure it. Re-measure the wheel. Repeat the process on the other front wheel.

4

Use a measuring tape to determine the length between the two front tires. Do the same for the two rear tires. Compare your measurements. Repeat the same ball joint adjustments on the rear wheels as performed in Steps 2 and 3 on the front wheels. Make sure to properly tighten the securing nuts and insert new cotter pins.