How does a wheel alignment on cars with ADAS, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems work? Systems with active cruise control and lane departure warnings?
These systems usually come with new vehicles. My main concern is that regular alignment shops won’t be able to do the alignments because speciality equipment will be needed to readjust the sensors of the system.
that some shops couldn’t do the ADAS calibration.
ADAS calibration and wheel alignment are 2 different things..
Do you need ADAS calibration after an alignment? Or does the ADAS just figure it out?
I’m not experienced enough with vehicles equipped with ADAS to provide a knowledgeable answer. Does the owner’s manual provide any guidance?
The shop can align it normally. Sensors should not be adjusted. As long as your vehicle tracks straight, then the system will work (it's optical). Your alignment would have to be dramatically out of spec in order for the system steering corrections to fail.
Adaptive cruise control senses the vehicle in front, and adjusts speed. This has nothing to do with alignment.
{black}:idontknow:
GTK. I was just reading some horror stories of some folks not being able to get a wheel alignment because of ADAS. But wanted to verify the veracity of those horror stories.
link the stories
I just came across them in random places over the last few months. But the general idea was like this Firestone Article, that some shops couldn’t do the ADAS calibration. https://www.firestonecompleteautocare.com/blog/alignment/why-adas-require-special-alignment/
If the vehicle is brought into factory spec alignment, I can't understand why the ADAS would require calibration. I suspect it's for when things get really our of whack, and isn't normally required. But those are questions for either your owner's manual or manufacturer. I certainly wouldn't trust Firestone to do it right. I am sure glad I don't have any of this stuff.
Adaptive cruise control typically a large sensor in the grille. Lane departure and other driving avoidance is a camera behind the windshield. Any windshield replacement is where these calibrations need to be done properly. So, wheel alignment is separate from ADAS and should have no effect so long as the alignment is done correctly and the car drives straight.
