Re: Why do I need a wheel alignment after each tire rotation?

Check the tire inflation.

Also, make sure the shop torqued the lug nuts down correctly (proper
torque and sequence) when they did the rotation.

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Paul Hovnanian mailto:Paul@Hovnanian.com
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If your only tool is a hammer then every problem looks like a thumb.

Matt Whiting wrote:[color=blue]
>
> Paul Hovnanian P.E. wrote:
>[color=green]
> > Check the tire inflation.
> >
> > Also, make sure the shop torqued the lug nuts down correctly (proper
> > torque and sequence) when they did the rotation.
> >[/color]
>
> Why? Neither affects wheel alignment.[/color]

The OP said that the car was pulling. He thought it might be alignment,
but that isn't certain.

Check the easy stuff first.

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Paul Hovnanian mailto:Paul@Hovnanian.com
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Paul Hovnanian P.E. wrote:[color=blue]
> Matt Whiting wrote:
>[color=green]
>>Paul Hovnanian P.E. wrote:
>>
>>[color=darkred]
>>>Check the tire inflation.
>>>
>>>Also, make sure the shop torqued the lug nuts down correctly (proper
>>>torque and sequence) when they did the rotation.
>>>[/color]
>>
>>Why? Neither affects wheel alignment.[/color]
>
>
> The OP said that the car was pulling. He thought it might be alignment,
> but that isn't certain.
>
> Check the easy stuff first.
>[/color]
Yep, retorque the wheels. I had similar situation this summer. Had the
tires rotated and then the car pulled and had a vibration at 55mph. I
ended up having to jack the car up and loosen the lug nuts,snugged up,
lowered the car and tightened lug nuts with torque wrench to proper
torque... no more problem.

Paul Hovnanian P.E. wrote:[color=blue]
> Matt Whiting wrote:[color=green]
>>
>> Paul Hovnanian P.E. wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>> Check the tire inflation.
>>>
>>> Also, make sure the shop torqued the lug nuts down correctly (proper
>>> torque and sequence) when they did the rotation.
>>>[/color]
>>
>> Why? Neither affects wheel alignment.[/color]
>[/color]

We sent a pickup out to have tires r&r, came back with a severe pull to one
side. Put it on the lift for a quick look and found both front tires wobbled
but lugnuts were tight. Turned out the tire tech had installed all lugnuts
on studs, tightened first lugnut down w/impact and torque stick to full
tightness and the other four lugnuts were still loose. When he tightened the
other lugnuts it distorted the wheel and caused the wobble. The service
manager of the tire shop watched him and verified the suspicion, and
retaught the tech on correct tightening sequence.
Lesson: using correct pattern for amount of lugnuts, run all lugnuts down
until snug, tighten each a little more and then torque each one. This way
the wheel will stay flat on hub and will not be distorted.
davidj92