Skip to main content
0
Your BasketClose Cart

Wheel alignment is a crucial part of vehicle maintenance, and is essential for maintaining optimal performance. Among the key elements of wheel alignment are camber, caster, and toe. In this blog, we’ll explore the significance of camber and its integral role in wheel alignment.

What is Camber Explained

Camber refers to the inward or outward tilt of the tyre and wheel assembly, observed from the front of the vehicle. Each manufacturer establishes a distinct camber alignment for every vehicle it manufactures, which can vary between positive, negative, or zero (0º) degrees.

What is Negative Camber?

Negative camber refers to the angle of the wheel where the top of the wheel assembly is tilted inward toward the vehicle’s centreline. So if you were to view the vehicle from the front, negative camber would make the top of the wheels appear closer together than the bottom.

Negative camber is a common setup in modern vehicles, particularly in performance cars, sports cars, and vehicles with independent suspension systems. It can be beneficial for improving cornering grip and stability during aggressive driving manoeuvres. However, excessive negative camber can lead to uneven tyre wear, so it’s important to ensure proper alignment within manufacturer specifications.

What is Positive Camber?

Positive camber refers to the angle of the wheel where the top of the wheel assembly is tilted away from the vehicle, resulting in an outward tilt. In other words, if you were to view the vehicle from the front, positive camber would make the top of the wheels appear further apart than the bottom.

Positive camber is less common in modern vehicles and is typically seen in certain suspension setups or applications where there’s a need for increased stability or load-bearing capacity, such as trucks or off-road vehicles.

Why is Camber Important?

The camber angle is crucial for vehicles for a variety of reasons, including:

  • Tyre wear – Incorrect camber angles can cause uneven tyre wear. Excessive negative camber can wear the inner edges of tyres, while excessive positive camber can wear the outer edges. Proper camber alignment helps ensure even tyre wear, prolonging tyre life and maximising performance.
  • Handling and stability – Optimal camber settings improve tyre grip during cornering, braking, and acceleration, enhancing vehicle stability and handling. Correct camber alignment contributes to predictable and responsive steering, reducing the risk of loss of control, especially in emergency manoeuvres or adverse road conditions.
  • Suspension performance – Improper camber alignment can lead to premature wear of suspension components, such as bushings and wheel bearings, affecting overall ride quality and safety. Proper camber adjustment, however, ensures that the suspension system operates optimally, maintaining ride comfort and minimising mechanical stress.
  • Fuel efficiency – Correct camber alignment reduces rolling resistance, which can improve fuel efficiency. When tyres are aligned properly, they experience less drag on the road surface, requiring less energy to propel the vehicle forward. This can result in fuel savings over time, making proper camber adjustment beneficial for both performance and economically.

How Often Should You Get Camber Alignment?

Regular wheel alignment checks are necessary in catching misalignments early, which can prevent potential issues in the future. It’s generally recommended to have your wheels aligned every 10,000 miles, or once a year, whichever comes first. However, the frequency of alignment checks can vary depending on multiple factors such as road conditions, driving behaviours, and vehicle types.

How Do Toe and Caster Differ from Camber?

Unlike camber, toe primarily refers to the angle at which the tyres point inward (toe-in) or outward (toe-out). Toe-in provides increased stability, while toe-out is often used to enhance turning ability. Similarly to camber, it can affect tyre wear, as well stability and the vehicle’s ability to turn smoothly. 

The third angle is caster, which refers to the angle of the steering axis when viewed from the side. Caster is also measured in degrees, and determines the tilt of the steering axis: backward for positive caster or forward for negative caster. Caster affects steering stability and returnability. 

Essentially, while toe deals with tyre direction, camber addresses tyre tilt, and caster focuses on the steering axis angle. These three alignment parameters work together to ensure optimal tyre wear, stability, and overall vehicle handling.

Camber Alignment at Pro-Align

Pro-Align provides garages, workshops, and service centres with high-quality wheel alignment equipment including the Hunter Elite TD, Hunter PA200 Wheel Aligner and Hunter PA200 Plus. Browse our equipment today, and don’t hesitate to contact us for more information on how we can help.

 

Leave a Reply