Wheel Alignment in Greenford
Car pulling to one side, or tyres wearing unevenly on one edge? MH Auto Repair Centre offers wheel alignment, also known as tracking, at our Perivale/Greenford workshop. We check the angles of your wheels against the manufacturer’s specification and correct them where needed, on two wheels or all four. Message us on WhatsApp with your symptoms and vehicle details, and we’ll advise on the best next step.
What is wheel alignment?
Wheel alignment, commonly called tracking, is the process of adjusting the angles at which a car’s wheels meet the road so they sit correctly relative to each other and to the vehicle itself. Every manufacturer builds a car to a specific set of alignment angles — camber, castor and toe — and when those angles drift out of specification, the car can pull, wander, or wear its tyres unevenly. Correcting alignment means measuring those angles against the manufacturer’s setting and adjusting the suspension and steering components until the wheels are back within tolerance.
Wheel alignment is a different job from wheel balancing, even though the two are sometimes confused and often mentioned in the same breath. Balancing corrects uneven weight distribution around a wheel and tyre so it spins smoothly at speed, and it’s usually what fixes a steering wheel vibration. Alignment corrects the angles and direction the wheels are pointing. A car can need one, the other, or both — see our Wheel Balancing page if vibration rather than pulling or uneven wear is the main symptom.
Signs your car may need an alignment check
Misalignment doesn’t always announce itself dramatically. It usually shows up gradually, through one or more of the following:
- The car pulls to one side while driving in a straight line on a flat, level road
- Uneven or rapid tyre wear, particularly wear that’s noticeably heavier on the inside or outside edge of a tyre compared with the rest of the tread
- An off-centre steering wheel when the car is travelling straight ahead
- The steering feels loose, vague, or doesn’t self-centre properly after a turn
- Squealing or scrubbing tyres on tighter corners
Any one of these on its own is worth having checked, and if you’re also due new tyres, it’s worth getting the alignment checked first — fitting new tyres to a car that’s out of alignment just wears the new set unevenly as well.
What causes wheels to go out of alignment
Wheel alignment shifts gradually through normal driving, but it can also be knocked out suddenly by a single impact. Common causes include:
- Hitting a kerb, even at low speed while parking or turning
- Potholes, especially a hard, sudden impact that jolts the suspension
- General wear in suspension and steering components over time
- Worn suspension components, such as bushes, ball joints or track rod ends, which allow the wheels to move out of their set position even without a specific impact
- Minor knocks or scrapes to a wheel or tyre, for example against a raised edge or barrier
If worn suspension parts are behind the misalignment, correcting the angles alone won’t hold for long — the underlying component usually needs attention too, whether that’s worn shock absorbers, a sagging coil spring, a worn wheel bearing, or a steering issue affecting how the wheels track. Our Suspension Repairs page covers that side of things, and where relevant we’ll flag it as part of the alignment check rather than just resetting the numbers and sending you on your way.
Two-wheel vs four-wheel alignment: which do you need?
One of the first things to work out with any alignment job is whether it needs to cover the front two wheels only, or all four. Two-wheel alignment adjusts the front axle, where most of the steering and camber angles are set. Four-wheel alignment additionally checks and corrects the rear axle, which matters on cars where the rear wheels also have adjustable angles, or where rear-wheel wear or handling symptoms point to an issue further back.
Which one applies to your car depends on a few things:
- The symptoms — pulling and front tyre wear typically point to the front axle; uneven wear across all four tyres, or a car that doesn’t track straight overall, can indicate the rear axle needs checking too
- The vehicle itself — some cars have a fixed, non-adjustable rear axle, in which case four-wheel alignment isn’t relevant in the same way
- What caused the problem — a kerb strike or pothole on one corner tends to affect that corner specifically, while general wear can affect the whole car
We’ll check the whole car during the initial assessment and confirm which approach is appropriate before carrying out any adjustment, rather than assuming a full four-wheel job is always necessary.
How we handle wheel alignment
- Check — we measure the current wheel angles against the manufacturer’s specification, front and rear, to identify exactly where the car is out of tolerance.
- Assessment — we confirm whether the job needs two-wheel or four-wheel alignment, and check whether worn suspension components are contributing to the issue.
- Adjustment — we correct the alignment to bring the angles back within the manufacturer’s specification.
- Verification — we re-check the angles after adjustment to confirm the car is correctly aligned and the original symptom has been addressed.
Why it’s worth getting alignment sorted sooner rather than later
A car that’s slightly out of alignment will usually still drive, which is part of why the issue often gets left. The cost of leaving it tends to show up elsewhere: uneven tyre wear shortens the life of what can be an expensive set of tyres, a car that pulls or wanders is more tiring and less predictable to drive, and persistent misalignment puts extra strain on steering and suspension components that would otherwise last longer. Catching it early, particularly straight after hitting a kerb or a pothole, is generally simpler and cheaper than waiting until the tyres are visibly scalloped or worn down one edge.
What affects the cost of wheel alignment
There’s no fixed price for wheel alignment, since it depends on the specifics of the job. Cost depends on things like:
- Whether it’s a two-wheel or four-wheel alignment — four-wheel jobs involve checking and adjusting more angles
- The extent of adjustment needed — a car that’s only slightly out will typically need less work than one that’s significantly misaligned
- The vehicle itself — some cars and suspension designs are more straightforward to adjust than others
- Whether worn suspension components need addressing before the alignment will hold correctly
For a quote, message us on WhatsApp with your vehicle details and the symptoms you’ve noticed, and we’ll talk you through the likely approach and cost.
Related services
- Suspension Repairs — for worn or damaged suspension components affecting alignment or ride quality
- Shock Absorbers — for a bouncy or unsettled ride over bumps
- Coil Springs — for a car sitting low on one corner or a harsher ride
- Wheel Bearings — for a humming or roaring noise from a wheel
- Steering Repairs — for heavy, noisy or loose steering
- Wheel Balancing — for a vibration through the steering wheel, rather than pulling or uneven wear
- Tyres — for tyre wear, damage and replacement
Why choose MH Auto Repair Centre
We’re a family-run workshop in Perivale/Greenford, and our technicians bring around six years of relevant experience. We check the whole car during an alignment visit rather than just resetting the numbers, so if worn suspension components are contributing to the problem, we’ll flag that too. A free vehicle inspection is available, so you know what’s needed before committing to any repair.
Wheel alignment in Greenford and West London
MH Auto Repair Centre carries out wheel alignment from our workshop in Perivale/Greenford, serving drivers across Greenford, Perivale, Northolt, Ealing and the surrounding West London area. If you’ve recently hit a kerb or pothole, or your tyres are wearing unevenly, WhatsApp is the quickest way to describe the symptoms and arrange a time to bring the car in.
FAQs
What’s the difference between wheel alignment and wheel tracking?
They’re the same thing — “tracking” is another common name for wheel alignment. Both refer to adjusting the angles of the wheels so they sit correctly relative to each other and the road.
What’s the difference between wheel alignment and wheel balancing?
Wheel alignment adjusts the angles the wheels point at, and typically causes pulling, an off-centre steering wheel, or uneven tyre wear. Wheel balancing corrects uneven weight around a wheel and tyre, and typically causes vibration through the steering wheel or seat at speed. See our Wheel Balancing page if vibration is your main symptom.
What causes wheels to go out of alignment?
Common causes include hitting a kerb or pothole, general wear over time, and worn suspension components such as bushes, ball joints or track rod ends. We can check and correct alignment as needed.
Do I need two-wheel or four-wheel alignment?
This depends on your car, your symptoms, and what caused the issue. Some cars have a fixed rear axle that isn’t adjustable, while others need the full car checked. We’ll confirm which applies during the check.
How do I know if my car needs an alignment check?
The most common signs are the car pulling to one side, uneven or rapid tyre wear, and a steering wheel that isn’t centred when driving straight. If you’ve recently hit a kerb or pothole, it’s worth getting checked even without obvious symptoms yet.
Can I get an alignment check if I’m about to fit new tyres?
Yes, and it’s generally worth doing so. Fitting new tyres to a car that’s out of alignment will wear the new tyres unevenly in the same way as the old ones.
What affects the cost of wheel alignment?
Whether it’s two- or four-wheel alignment, the extent of adjustment needed, and whether any worn suspension components need addressing first. Message us on WhatsApp for a quote.
Book your wheel alignment check
Message us on WhatsApp with your vehicle details and the symptoms you’ve noticed, and we’ll arrange a check at our Perivale/Greenford workshop. Prefer another way to reach us? Visit our Contact page for more options.
