The same job goes by several names, and they are not interchangeable. "Tracking", "four-wheel alignment" and "full geometry" describe increasingly thorough versions of the same idea, and knowing which is which avoids paying for more than a car needs, or getting less than it deserves.
Tracking: front toe only
Tracking is the most basic form, and the cheapest. It adjusts the toe of the front wheels only, whether they point slightly in or out, and nothing else. It is a two-wheel job, sometimes called two-wheel alignment.
For a straightforward problem, a car that has clipped a kerb and now pulls a little, or wears the front tyres unevenly, front tracking is often all that is required. Its limit is that it only looks at the front and assumes the rear is pointing true, which is not always the case.
Four-wheel alignment: all four, properly referenced
Four-wheel alignment measures all four wheels and adjusts what each car allows, toe, and camber where it is adjustable. Crucially, it aligns the front wheels relative to the thrust line, the direction the rear axle actually points, rather than just assuming the rears are straight.
That extra step matters because a rear axle even slightly out will make a car drive crabbed and wear tyres oddly no matter how well the front is set. Four-wheel alignment is the sensible default for most modern cars, and the one to choose if the wear pattern is strange or the rear suspension is adjustable.
Full geometry: the complete setup
A full geometry setup is the most comprehensive of all. It covers toe, camber and caster across the car, on equipment that can read and set every adjustable angle, and is aimed at cars with adjustable suspension, lowered or performance setups, or any vehicle where the handling is tuned to fine tolerances.
It is the most involved and the most expensive, and goes well beyond what an ordinary family car needs. For a standard car with a simple alignment fault, paying for full geometry is paying for adjustment range the car does not have.
Which one a car needs
As a rough guide:
- Front tracking: a simple pull or front-edge wear on an everyday car
- Four-wheel alignment: the safe default; best if the wear is odd, the car drives crabbed, or the rear is adjustable
- Full geometry: performance, lowered or modified cars with adjustable suspension
The deciding factors are the car and the symptom, not the grandest-sounding name. The angles each one sets are explained in the guide to toe, camber and caster, and what each tends to cost is in the guide to alignment prices.
From the workshop: people come in asking for "full geometry" on a standard hatchback because it sounds the most thorough. Often a four-wheel alignment is all the car can actually adjust, the geometry rig would read the same angles and have nothing extra to set. Match the job to the car, not the name.
Sources and accuracy. The definitions here reflect common UK trade usage at the time of writing, and the exact meaning of each term can vary between garages. Asking what is measured and adjusted is the way to be sure. If anything here looks wrong, get in touch and we will check it and put it right.
Common questions
What is the difference between tracking and wheel alignment?+
Tracking is a basic adjustment of the front wheels' toe only, a two-wheel job. Wheel alignment is often used to mean a fuller four-wheel check that measures all four wheels and references the rears. Tracking is the simplest, cheapest form of alignment.
What is four-wheel alignment?+
A measurement and adjustment of all four wheels, not just the fronts. It checks the rear angles too and aligns the front wheels relative to the way the rear axle actually points, which a front-only tracking job cannot do.
What is full geometry?+
The most comprehensive setup, covering toe, camber and caster across the car, and used on vehicles with adjustable suspension or performance setups. It is the most thorough and the most involved, going beyond what most everyday cars need.
Which type of alignment do I need?+
For most cars with a simple pull or front-edge wear, front tracking or a four-wheel alignment is enough. Four-wheel is the safer choice if the rear is adjustable or the wear is odd. Full geometry suits performance and modified cars.