Generally speaking, you should schedule a wheel alignment after replacing struts—whether the rear or front struts—because these suspension components affect the camber or vertical (inward/outward) angle of your wheels. Not performing an alignment can result in uneven tire wear, premature suspension wear, and poor handling.

As a key component of your vehicle’s suspension, shocks and struts are there to help stabilize your car’s movements. They give you greater control when braking, accelerating, turning, or navigating uneven terrain. If your struts ever need to be replaced, you’ll need to re-align your wheels—but there are other times when an alignment is just as necessary.

If you aren’t particularly car-savvy, figuring out when you need a wheel alignment can be a bit tricky. Fortunately, licensed broker and

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has put together the following article detailing everything you need to know about wheel alignments, including whether one is necessary after replacing your vehicle’s struts.

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Should you get an alignment after a shock and strut replacement?

Generally speaking, you should get a wheel alignment after replacing your shocks and struts—or after any suspension work, for that matter—as the struts have a significant impact on the vertical (inward/outward) angle of your wheels.

If you do not have your wheels realigned after installing new struts, it can result in uneven tire wear, poor handling, and steering difficulty.

Note, however, that the type of suspension you have can influence whether all four or only two of your wheels need to be aligned.

What are the different suspension types?

As previously mentioned, not every vehicle uses the same type of suspension. There are actually 8 different suspension types, outlined here:

Short-Long-Arm (SLA): the most common suspension type; has a simple, upright design utilizing shock absorbers

Independent: instead of connecting the left and right wheels directly, an independent suspension system uses axle joints to allow each wheel to move independently of the other

Double-wishbone: utilizes two wishbone-shaped arms to support the suspension; sophisticated design allows for fast cornering and greater vehicle control

Air: uses air bellows over conventional springs and dampers to adjust the ride height; due to their complexity, air suspension systems are generally reserved for luxury vehicles

Leaf-spring: utilizes leaf springs rather than traditional coil springs; ideal for large commercial vehicles due to their high weight-bearing capacity

Multi-link: uses multiple linkage points to attach to the wheel assembly and car frame, allowing for easy adjustment to uneven terrain

Trailing-arm: mainly used in motorcycles, a trailing-arm suspension features a steel arm pivoted to face the rear axle and the vehicle’s chassis

Rigid-axle: typically placed at the vehicle’s rear and utilizes either a leaf spring or coil spring; best for large vehicles

MORE:

Brakes, steering, and suspension inspection cost

What is a wheel alignment?

A wheel alignment (also known as breaking or tracking) is a routine maintenance procedure that involves readjusting the camber, caster, and toe—basically, all of the angles—of your tires so that they abide by the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Here’s what each of these angles is:

Camber: the inward or outward tilt of your wheels when viewed head-on

Caster: the rear or front tilt of your wheels when viewed from the side

Toe: the way your tires are pointed when viewed from above (toe-in = pointed inward; toe-out = pointed outward)

A wheel alignment is a very precise process and should only be entrusted to licensed mechanics with access to an alignment rack and other necessary equipment.

In some instances, a “front-end alignment” may be all that is necessary, in which case only the two front tires need to be adjusted. This will largely depend on the type of suspension your vehicle uses.

Why do you need a wheel alignment?

If you don’t schedule regular wheel alignments, several things are bound to happen, all of which can put you and other drivers at risk. These include:

Uneven tire wear

Premature wear of suspension parts

Steering difficulties

Having your wheels realigned every so often helps ensure that your vehicle is easy to control and that your steering is both reliable and responsive.

MORE: Strut assembly replacement cost

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When should you get a wheel alignment?

Of course, installing new struts isn’t the only time you might want a wheel alignment. There are several other instances where a re-alignment of the wheels becomes necessary. Here are three of them.

At your yearly maintenance check

Typically, your mechanic will perform a wheel alignment at your yearly maintenance check just to make sure that everything is working properly.

After an accident

If you are ever in an accident, it is recommended that you have your wheels realigned. Any sort of significant impact or collision can interfere with your vehicle’s suspension and steering systems, putting you at risk of another accident if left unchecked.

After getting new tires

It is also recommended that you get your wheels aligned after putting new tires on your vehicle, as it reduces the likelihood of uneven tire wear and helps you get the most use out of your tires.

After suspension or steering system work

As is the case after installing new shocks and struts, you should always get a wheel alignment after having any suspension or steering system work done.

This includes but is not limited to: replacing the sway bar, ball joints, lower control arm, tie rod ends, bushings, shock absorbers, and steering knuckle.

What are common signs that you need an alignment?

Of course, misaligned wheels can happen naturally over time, which is why you should learn to recognize when an alignment is necessary.

If you begin to notice or experience any of the following, you may need to schedule a wheel alignment sooner than expected.

Car pulls to one side

One common sign of misaligned wheels is that your vehicle will start pulling to the left or right—depending on the severity of the misalignment, this pulling can be soft or hard:

Soft pulling: your vehicle starts drifting to one side only when your grip on the steering wheel is loose.

Hard pulling: your car automatically wants to go to the left or right and keeping your vehicle traveling in a straight line is a constant battle.

Steering wheel is off center

Another common sign that your wheels need an alignment is an off-center steering wheel. If you are having to hold your steering wheel in an irregular position while driving in a straight line, misaligned wheels are the likely culprit.

Tire wear is uneven

Lastly (and as previously mentioned), you may need to have your wheels realigned if one or more of your tires is experiencing uneven tread wear.

Note that misalignment is not the only condition that causes irregular tire wear, which is why you should always have a mechanic carefully inspect the suspension and steering systems before diagnosing the issue.

How to find affordable car insurance

If left unchecked, poor wheel alignment can result in costly repairs, making routine maintenance check-ups incredibly important—and one of the easiest ways to reduce your annual vehicle-related expenses.

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FAQs

Do struts affect alignment?

Yes, your struts affect wheel alignment, specifically the vertical (inward or outward) angle of your wheels, which means an alignment is necessary after replacing the struts and shocks.

What are the benefits of an alignment?

Generally speaking, there are three core benefits of a wheel alignment: improved handling, reliable and easy steering, and a reduced risk of uneven tire wear.

What are the negative effects of not replacing struts?

If you don’t replace worn or failing struts, your vehicle’s handling will noticeably worsen and it will become harder to control your steering. This can lead to excessive bouncing, roll, or sway when making turns.

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