Trackace & Tracking: Roll Your Car or Not?

Embarking on DIY wheel alignment with tools like the Trackace can be incredibly satisfying, saving you a trip to the garage and giving you a deeper understanding of your vehicle. However, a common point of contention and confusion among home mechanics is whether or not to 'roll' the car after each adjustment of the track rod ends. This isn't just a minor detail; it's a critical step that can significantly impact the accuracy of your readings and the longevity of your tyres. Let's delve into why this simple act can make all the difference to achieving perfectly straight tracking.

At its core, wheel alignment, often referred to as 'tracking' in the UK, is about ensuring your wheels are pointing in the correct direction relative to each other and to the vehicle's centre line. The 'toe' setting, which is what you primarily adjust with track rods, refers to how much the front of the tyres points inwards or outwards. Incorrect toe settings are notorious for causing rapid and uneven tyre wear, compromising handling, and even impacting fuel efficiency. A car with poor tracking might pull to one side, feel unstable at speed, or have a vague steering response, making driving less safe and enjoyable.

The Trackace is a fantastic example of an accessible, user-friendly tool designed for the DIY enthusiast. It typically uses lasers or optical sensors to provide a visual representation of your vehicle's toe alignment, allowing you to make precise adjustments from your driveway. Its convenience is undeniable, offering real-time feedback as you tweak the track rod ends. However, the very act of jacking up the car, rotating wheels, and turning track rods introduces temporary stresses and misalignments within the suspension system. This is where the debate about rolling the car comes into play.

The Crucial Act of Settling the Suspension

When you lift a car or make adjustments to its steering and suspension components, you temporarily alter the natural resting state of various parts. Suspension bushes, ball joints, springs, and even the tyres themselves can hold a certain amount of residual stress or 'bind' from being manipulated. Imagine twisting a rubber band – it holds that twist until released. Similarly, your suspension components, particularly the rubber bushes that absorb vibrations and allow movement, can become slightly loaded or twisted during the adjustment process.

If you take a reading immediately after making an adjustment, without allowing the suspension to settle, you might be measuring the system under this artificial stress rather than its true, static state. This can lead to misleading readings. Rolling the car, even a short distance, allows the suspension to go through its natural range of motion. As the wheels turn and the car's weight shifts, these internal stresses are released, and the suspension components return to their neutral, un-stressed positions. Only then will your alignment tool give you a truly accurate measurement of the static toe setting.

Why Rolling After Each Adjustment Matters

Some DIY mechanics might be tempted to make multiple adjustments and only roll the car for a final check. While this might save a few minutes, it significantly increases the risk of an inaccurate final setting. Here’s why:

• Cumulative Error: Each adjustment you make without rolling introduces a potential bind. These small errors can accumulate, leading to a much larger deviation by the time you take your final reading.
• Misleading Feedback: If you adjust, read, adjust again, and read again without rolling, you're getting feedback based on a stressed system. This makes it harder to discern if your adjustment actually had the intended effect, potentially leading to over-correction or frustration.
• Component Flex: Modern vehicles use various types of rubber and polyurethane bushes throughout their suspension components. These are designed to flex. When you adjust the tracking, these bushes might twist slightly. Rolling the car allows them to untwist and settle into their natural position, ensuring the measurement reflects the true static alignment.

The "How To" of Rolling Your Car for Accurate Readings

The process of rolling the car for alignment purposes is straightforward, but consistency is key:

1. Make your track rod adjustment.
2. Lower the car fully onto a level surface.
3. Release the handbrake (ensure the car is safe and won't roll away unexpectedly, perhaps by having it in gear if manual, or using wheel chocks).
4. Gently push the car forward approximately one car length, then pull it back to roughly its original position. You don't need to drive it around the block; a short, controlled roll is sufficient to allow the suspension to settle.
5. Apply the handbrake, ensure the steering wheel is perfectly straight, and then take your next measurement with the Trackace.

Repeat this process after every significant adjustment. For very minor tweaks (e.g., a quarter turn of the track rod), a gentle bounce on the front wings might suffice to help settle the suspension, but a full roll is always the most reliable method for ensuring accuracy.

The Consequences of Skipping the Roll

Ignoring the advice to roll your car might seem like a time-saver, but the potential downsides far outweigh the momentary convenience:

• Premature and Uneven Tyre Wear: This is the most common and costly consequence. Incorrect toe settings lead to tyres scrubbing along the road surface rather than rolling smoothly, rapidly wearing down the tread, often on one edge. This means buying new tyres much sooner than necessary.
• Compromised Handling: Your car might feel nervous, wander on the motorway, or pull to one side. This not only makes driving less comfortable but also less safe, especially during emergency manoeuvres.
• Increased Fuel Consumption: Tyres that are constantly scrubbing create more rolling resistance, forcing your engine to work harder, which translates directly into higher fuel bills.
• Stress on Suspension Components: While not as immediate as tyre wear, a consistently misaligned vehicle can put undue stress on ball joints, wheel bearings, and other steering and suspension parts, potentially leading to premature failure and costly repairs.
• Wasted Effort: The whole point of DIY alignment is to get it right. Skipping a crucial step like rolling means your efforts might be in vain, requiring you to redo the job later or, worse, visit a professional anyway.

Comparative Analysis: To Roll or Not to Roll?

Let's look at the two approaches side-by-side:

As the table clearly illustrates, while rolling after each adjustment adds a minor step to the process, the benefits in terms of accuracy, longevity, and overall peace of mind are substantial.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rolling for Alignment

How far exactly do I need to roll the car?

A car length forward and then back to the starting point is usually sufficient. The goal isn't to drive it, but to allow the suspension to compress and decompress naturally, releasing any bind. Consistency in the distance rolled is more important than the exact distance.

Can I just bounce the car to settle the suspension?

While bouncing the car on its suspension can help, it's generally not as effective as rolling. Bouncing might alleviate some vertical stresses, but rolling allows the wheels to turn and the lateral forces on the suspension components to dissipate more effectively, which is crucial for toe alignment.

Does this apply to all DIY alignment tools, not just Trackace?

Absolutely. The principle of needing to settle the suspension applies universally to any method of measuring and adjusting wheel alignment, whether you're using a Trackace, string lines, camber gauges, or even professional laser aligners (though professional setups often have built-in methods for settling).

What if my suspension is old or worn? Will rolling still help?

Yes, rolling will still help, and it becomes even more critical with worn suspension. Worn bushes and components have more play and are more prone to holding 'bind' or settling into slightly different positions. However, if your suspension is significantly worn, achieving accurate and stable alignment can be challenging, and addressing worn parts should be a priority before attempting alignment.

How often should I check my car's tracking?

It's a good idea to check your tracking annually, or after any significant event like hitting a large pothole, curb, or after replacing any steering or suspension components. If you notice uneven tyre wear or your car's handling feels off, check it immediately.

Conclusion: Precision Pays Off

In the world of DIY car maintenance, patience and precision are invaluable. When it comes to adjusting your vehicle's tracking with a Trackace or similar tool, the seemingly small step of rolling the car after each adjustment is anything but trivial. It's a fundamental principle that ensures your measurements are truly representative of your vehicle's static alignment, leading to a much more accurate and effective adjustment. By taking those extra moments to allow your suspension to settle, you'll not only achieve optimal handling and safety but also significantly extend the life of your tyres, ultimately saving you money and frustration in the long run. Don't skip the roll – your tyres and your wallet will thank you!

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