"It is necessary to make trouble-convergence" - quite often exactly the words of the master finish their work after interference in the driving part of the vehicle. This is true an integral event, even if I had to replace only the tips of the steering cras. In fact, under the "collapse-designed" means checking and adjusting the angles of the installation of wheels of the front axle, and sometimes rear. About this further in the article.

Split convergence - what it means

Despite the fact that two data terms - convergence and collapse - are always mentioned together, they have different physical meaning. These terms include setting and adjusting the vehicle suspension.

As you know, any interference in the front suspension of the car leads to a change in the angles of the wheel installation, which, in its turn, changes the behavior of the vehicle on the road. Other factors are also affected by the similar factors: rubber wear, hopes in the chassis, tire pressure and so on. To ensure the normal handling and stability of transport, the wheels are set at a specific angle relative to the suspension and components of the car body.

What is the danger of using a car with incorrect collapse of wheels

From the correct adjustment of the collapse of the convergence, it depends both the comfort of driving a car and the service life of tires and some components of the chassis. So, even a few kilometers of driving with the wrong gathering-collapse are able to entail the baldness of the tread on one of the wheels. In addition, the steering wheel of the car will constantly pull to the side. But the most important thing is that if one of the wheels is installed under an incorrect angle, it will not only quickly wear out, and can lead to an unexpected loss of controllability (due to poor clutch with the road).

What is positive and what is negative wheel alignment

There are two types of vehicle convergence - negative and positive. Determine the type of convergence is very simple: you need to spend two straight lines along the vehicle wheels. If these lines cross the vehicle behind the vehicle, then the convergence is negative, and if the front is positive. With the positive way of the front wheels, the machine easier comes into turn and acquires additional rotating.

With positive convergence of the rear wheels, the car will be more stable with rectilinear driving, and with negative consension, it will be inadequate to behave and "scour" from the side to the side.

However, it is necessary to remember that too much deviation of the convergence of the car from the zero value increases the resistance to rolling in the conditions of the straight movement, which will be less noticeable in the turns.

What is a convergence and what it is measured

Alignment is the angle between the wheel rotation plane and the direction of movement. The wheel alignment is measured in millimeters or in degrees / minutes. Adjusting the convergence is used, as a rule, on the front wheels and is an alignment of the distance between the rear and the front edges of the wheels. It is worth noting that incorrect convergence is the main cause of the rapid wear of the tread.

The angle of tilt a pivot, what it is

The longitudinal angle of inclination of the pivot (Castor or Caster) - makes it possible to stabilize the position of the wheel of the front axle of the car relative to the direction of its ride. With proper adjustment, this parameter should be six degrees.

Caster is an extremely important value. It is worth noting that the difference in the values \u200b\u200bof the caster for the right and left wheels above the permissible indicators may entail an entry of the vehicle towards the wheel, which has a smaller value.

Computer wheel alignment as it happens

Computer wheel alignment makes it possible to most optimally set the wheels relative to the road surface and each other. This increases the comfort of the transportation of the vehicle and extends the life of automotive tires.

Adjusting the tilt angles is performed on special equipment - a computer bench that has a closed circuit and can measure the parameters of four wheels at once. Such diagnostics is characterized by high measurement accuracy and allows you to identify the defects of the body geometry. In addition, the results of computer measurements can be printed, which allows the wizard to carefully analyze them, and this, in turn, gives a more complete picture of the state of the chassis.

Tools, devices, consumables for the production of collapse-convergence with their own hands

• Chalk.
• Ruler.
• Cord with a plumb.
• Standard tool kit.

Choosing a workplace

All work on the adjustment of the similarity-collapse must be carried out on a flat platform with a lift or observation pit.

How to put a car

The wheels of the car must be strictly exhibited in the straight direction.

Collapse with your own hands, step-by-step instructions

1. We establish the vehicle on the flat site, while the front wheels must stand exactly.
2. In the lower and top of the tires from the outdoor side of the front wheels, it is necessary to make tags in chalk.
   
3. To the wing of the machine we apply a plumbing cord, which must be filled parallel to the plane of the wheel.
   
4. Then you need to measure the distance from the cord to the rod of the disk. The difference between the results should be ± 3 millimeters.
5. Now it is necessary to move the vehicle ahead for turning the labels by 90 degrees. Then repeat the measurement procedure. This will give the opportunity to get the most accurate medium-wide values.
   
6. To adjust the collapse, you need to dismantle the wheel and unscrew the bolts connecting the shock absorber rack bracket and the swivel fist.
7. To install the required value of the collapse, slide the swivel fist either inside. Where and how much to shift, you will indicate your measurements. The norm is such indications: for front-wheel drive auto -1 ... + 1 mm, and for rear-wheel drive + 1 ... + 3 mm.

Convergence with your own hands, step-by-step instructions

1. With the help of chalk on the inner side of the tire, close to the disk put the labels in the form of points (on both wheels).
   
2. The telescopic line is set by the ends into these points in such a way as not to touch the parts of the body, suspension, and so on, and fix. "0" It is necessary to combine with a fixed pointer on the scale.
3. I shift a little the car forward so that the line is shifted back, without touching the details.
4. Check the readings. If the distance between the wheels decreased, it is necessary to shorten the steering thrust, and if it increased, to lengthen them. The length of the thrust is adjustable with the coupling.

The collapse of cars VAZ and foreign cars, is there a difference

It is worth noting that on modern cars, unlike the VAZ family, it is not required to adjust the collapse, since the design of their suspension eliminates the change in the angles of the wheel setting throughout the specific operational period. The alignment of convergence on foreign cars should be done only in two cases: after repairing the suspension (replacement of shock absorbers or springs) or after an accident.

How often do you need to make the collapse of cars

The frequency of holding such a procedure as the collapse of the convergence, as follows: for auto domestic production - every 10-15 thousand kilometers, and for foreign models - every 30 thousand.