DOC

WAC-012

What to Expect on the Alignment Rack

The full visit takes 30 to 60 minutes for the alignment itself, plus another 30 to 90 minutes if your vehicle requires ADAS calibration. Below: every step in order, the questions to ask, and the red flags that mean something was skipped.

01TIMELINE

The full visit, step by step

Arrival and check-in

Sign service order, hand over keys, confirm scope. Ask whether ADAS calibration is needed for your vehicle.

5 min

Pre-alignment inspection

Tech checks tire pressure, looks underneath for worn ball joints, tie rods, bushings. If something is worn, the alignment is paused for repair quote.

5 to 10 min

Drive onto rack and clamp targets

Vehicle drives onto an alignment rack. Sensor heads or laser targets attach to each wheel.

5 min

Initial readings

Computer captures current toe, camber, caster on every corner. This is the BEFORE column on your printout.

5 min

Adjustments to spec

Rear set first on a 4-wheel job. Front follows, referenced to the new thrust line. Tech turns adjusters while watching the live readout.

15 to 30 min

Final readings and printout

Captures AFTER values. Prints both sides on a single sheet. Spec range printed alongside so you can see green vs red.

5 min

Steering wheel centring (if needed)

If the wheel sat off-centre before, the tech adjusts tie rods symmetrically to put it back to centre.

5 min

Test drive

Tech drives a short loop to confirm the car tracks straight and the wheel stays centred.

5 min

Hand back and printout review

Walk through the printout. Confirm AFTER values are inside spec for every angle. Ask about anything red.

5 min

02QUESTIONS

Ask these before paying

Q.01What did the readings look like before adjustment?

Q.02Are all four corners now in the green spec range?

Q.03Was anything worn that you flagged but did not replace?

Q.04Did you have to centre the steering wheel?

Q.05Will my vehicle need ADAS calibration after this?

Q.06Do you guarantee the work? What is the warranty period?

03RED FLAGS

Signs the work was not done properly

No printout offered

Walk away. A computerized alignment without a printout is either not computerized or the shop is hiding readings that did not land in spec.

Took less than 20 minutes

A real 4-wheel alignment cannot be done that fast. Either the shop only adjusted toe (incomplete) or skipped the rear (a 2-wheel masquerading as 4-wheel).

No test drive

The test drive confirms the wheel stays centred and the car tracks straight. Skipping it means the shop did not verify their own work.

Pushed unnecessary repairs

Some upselling is legitimate (worn tie rod that prevented alignment from holding). Some is not (selling a strut replacement on a five-year-old car with no symptoms). Get a second opinion on anything over $500.

Different reading on second visit

Settle for a re-do under warranty if the shop offers one. If not, take the printout to a different shop and ask them to verify against their rack.

04PRINTOUT

How to read it

The printout is the most important part of the visit. It is the record that the work was done and the proof you can take to a second shop if you suspect a problem. Three columns to focus on:

BEFORE

What the angles measured when you arrived. Tells you whether the alignment was needed in the first place.

AFTER

What the angles measure now. Should be inside the spec range for every angle. This is the value that matters.

SPEC RANGE

The OEM-defined acceptable window for your vehicle. Shown as a minimum and maximum, sometimes with a target value in the middle.

Worked example with green and red status: see the printout interpretation guide.

05FAQ

Common questions

Q.01How long does a wheel alignment take?+

Thirty to sixty minutes for a standard alignment. Add time if worn parts have to be replaced first, or if your vehicle requires ADAS calibration after. Budget an hour for the alignment and another hour if calibration is needed.

Q.02Can I watch them do my alignment?+

Some shops have a customer viewing window. Most do not. The work is done in a service bay where customers are not allowed for liability reasons. Ask before booking if it matters to you.

Q.03Do they always replace tires too?+

No. Alignment and tire fitment are separate services. A shop may flag tires that are unsafe and recommend replacement, but they should not be replacing tires as part of an alignment unless you asked for it.

Q.04What if the alignment does not hold?+

Bring it back. Most shops offer a 30 to 90 day re-check warranty on the alignment. If the same angle drifts back out within weeks, there is almost certainly a worn part the shop missed on the initial inspection.

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