DIY Wheel Alignment
Performing a wheel alignment, yourself involves two steps. First, you need to measure the degree of misalignment that you currently have, and then you need to readjust your axle and tires to fix the misalignment issue.
The DIY measuring of wheel misalignment is done via the “string test.”
To do this, you need:
- A tape measure
- A spool of string
- A camber gauge
- Four jack stands
To realign wheels once you know the misalignment you need:
- A 24mm wrench
- A 13mm wrench
- Upper and/or lower control arm shims (depending on which wheels need adjustment)
Mechanics have more precise tools for measuring wheel misalignment than the string test. Therefore, the wheels will be more precisely aligned than if you do it yourself. Although this increased precision may not make a huge difference in terms of safety, it can make a slight difference in terms of steering performance.