Symptoms worth checking
Book an inspection for clunks over bumps, wandering, steering vibration, uneven ride height, excessive bounce, uneven tyre wear or a steering wheel that no longer centres normally.
Alignment comes after condition checks
Wheel alignment cannot compensate for loose joints, damaged components, incorrect tyre pressure or structural damage. Those issues should be resolved or accounted for before final geometry adjustment.
Tyres can change the diagnosis
Incorrect pressure, mixed specifications, internal tyre damage and wheel imbalance can mimic suspension or steering faults. Tyre age and wear pattern provide useful evidence, so replacing or rotating tyres before inspection can remove clues.
Impact damage from a kerb or road hazard should be disclosed even when the wheel looks acceptable. A sudden change after impact deserves prompt assessment.
Inspection and measurement
The technician may check joints, bushings, dampers, springs, mounts, steering components, wheel condition and alignment-related measurements. Load position matters for some checks, and not every worn component produces visible looseness while unloaded.
Any recommendation should explain the location and effect of the fault, especially when a paired or related replacement is proposed.
Verification and alignment
After required mechanical work, alignment may be measured and adjusted where appropriate. The vehicle should then be checked for steering centring, abnormal noise and the original handling complaint under safe conditions.