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Demonstrate knowledge of motor vehicle wheel alignment

Level / 3
Credits / 3

PurposeThis theory-based unit standard is for people who work in the automotive repair industry. People credited with this unit standard are able to demonstrate knowledge of: steering geometry; steering terminology; and procedures for carrying out a wheel alignment.

Subfield / Motor Industry
Domain / Vehicle Steering and Suspension
Status / Registered
Status date / 26 November 2007
Date version published / 26 November 2007
Planned review date / 31 December 2012
Entry information / Open.
Accreditation / Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and industry.
Standard setting body (SSB) / NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation (Incorporated)
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference / 0014

This AMAP can be accessed at

Special notes

1Legislation and publications relevant to this unit standard include but are not limited to – Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992; Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Repair 1998, Rule 34001;The Official New Zealand Road Code, Land Transport New Zealand.

2Land Transport Rules are produced for the Minister of Transport by Land Transport New Zealand. These rules are available online at

New Zealand Road Code information can be obtained from the following website

3Definitions

Company requirements refer to instructions to staff on policy and procedures which are documented in memo or manual format and are available in the workplace. These requirements include but are not limited to – company specifications and procedures, work instructions, manufacturer specifications, product quality specifications, and legislative requirements.

Service information may include but is not limited to – technical information of a vehicle, machine, or product detailing operation; installation and servicing procedures; manufacturer instructions and specifications; technical terms and descriptions; and detailed illustrations. This can be accessed in hard copy or electronic format and is normally sourced from the manufacturer.

Elements and performance criteria

Element 1

Demonstrate knowledge of steering geometry.

Performance criteria

1.1Purpose of having wheel alignment adjusted is identified in accordance with manufacturer specifications

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – tyre wear, straight ahead driving, handling, braking.

1.2Equipment used for measuring wheel alignment is described in accordance with equipment manufacturer specifications.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – optical, electronic, laser.

1.3Principles of wheel alignment are identified in accordance with vehicle manufacturer specifications.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – caster, camber, toe, turning radius, steering axis inclination, rear wheel tracking, wheelbase, ride height, jounce and rebound.

1.4Importance of carrying out four-wheel alignment on unibody vehicles is explained in accordance with vehicle manufacturer specifications.

Element 2

Demonstrate knowledge of steering terminology.

Performance criteria

2.1Steering terms are defined in accordance with service information.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – scrub radius, slip angle, understeer, oversteer, shimmy, wander, tramp, ride height, drifts or pulls, bump steer, Ackermann steering geometry.

2.2Steering system terms are defined in accordance with service information.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – variable gear ratio, collapsible column, active front steering (AFS), four-wheel steering, power-assisted steering, electrically power-assisted steering (EPAS), electro-hydraulic power steering (EHPS), electric power steering (EPS).

2.3Wheel alignment terms are described in accordance with service information.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – camber, caster, steering axis inclination (SAI) or king pin inclination (KPI), toe, toe-out on turns, rear thrust line, thrust angle, included angle, scrub radius, track, set-back, steering wheel centre.

Element 3

Demonstrate knowledge of procedures for carrying out a wheel alignment.

Rangefront and rear wheel.

Performance criteria

3.1The importance of obtaining information regarding vehicle steering symptoms and related alignment problems from the customer and recorded for an analysis of the fault(s) is described in accordance with company requirements.

3.2Workshop facilities and vehicle set-up for carrying out a wheel alignment are identified in accordance with service information.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – general workshop equipment, jacking or lifting equipment, pit or hoist, level floor, alignment specifications.

3.3Faulty vehicle steering symptoms are described in accordance with service information.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – vehicle tracking and/or pulling to one side, steering wheel position incorrect, wheel shimmy, vibration and shake, abnormal noises, steering light and heavy, excessive road shock, braking instability, poor returnability of the steering wheel, wander and instability, tyre squeal and/or scuffing on turns and wear, excessive body sway, memory steer, bump steer, torque steer, oversteer, understeer.

3.4Procedures for carrying out a four wheel alignment are described in accordance with service information.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – adjustments, camber, caster, steering axis inclination (SAI) or king pin inclination (KPI), toe, toe-out on turns, rear thrust line, steering wheel centre.

Please note

Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.

Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.

Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.

Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.

Comments on this unit standard

Please contact the NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation (Incorporated) if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.

 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018