Plumb is Edmonton’s alignment and suspension lab. We measure all four wheels to a hundredth of a degree, replace what’s worn, set every angle to factory spec and hand you the printout — before and after.
This is the report we print before and after every alignment, made live. Move the sliders the way a technician turns the adjusters: inside the shaded window is factory spec — and the printout tells you what the car does outside it.
The lean of the wheel, seen from behind. A little negative camber — the tops leaning in — helps the tire grip in corners. Too much wears the inside edge smooth; side-to-side differences make the car pull.
Spec −1.30° to −0.30°
Left−1.90°
−3.00°+1.50°
Right−0.70°
−3.00°+1.50°
02 · From the side
Caster
The tilt of the steering axis, seen from the side. Caster is what brings the steering wheel back to centre after a turn and keeps the car tracking straight at highway speed. Uneven caster pulls to one side.
Spec +3.75° to +5.25°
Left+3.40°
+1.50°+7.00°
Right+4.60°
+1.50°+7.00°
03 · From above
Toe
Which way the wheels point, seen from above. A whisker of toe-in keeps the car settled; too much in or out drags each tire sideways a little with every turn of the wheel, and the steering wheel ends up crooked.
Spec −0.05° to +0.15°
Left+0.42°
−0.80°+0.80°
Right−0.12°
−0.80°+0.80°
Front axle · degrees
Angle
Spec
Before L / R
After L / R
Camber
−1.30° to −0.30°
−1.90°
−0.70°
−1.90°
−0.70°
Cross camber
−0.50° to +0.50°
−1.20°
−1.20°
Caster
+3.75° to +5.25°
+3.40°
+4.60°
+3.40°
+4.60°
Cross caster
−0.50° to +0.50°
−1.20°
−1.20°
Toe
−0.05° to +0.15°
+0.42°
−0.12°
+0.42°
−0.12°
Total toe
−0.10° to +0.30°
+0.30°
+0.30°
What the car would do
Steering wheel level
Drift none
The left wheel arrived with too much negative camber and too little caster — the classic pothole hit.
Run the alignmentShow the before
Inside spec Outside spec Factory window
Symptom 01You’d feel this now
Pulling to one side
Usually camber or caster that differs from side to side. The car drifts toward the wheel that leans out more, or the one with less caster, so you hold the wheel against it all day.
Symptom 02You’d feel this now
Uneven tire wear
Too much camber wears one edge smooth; too much toe scrubs the tread into a saw-tooth you can feel with your palm. Either way, a set of tires gives up thousands of kilometres early.
Symptom 03You’d feel this now
Steering wheel off-centre
When the two front wheels point different amounts, the steering wheel has to sit crooked for the car to go straight. A proper alignment sets toe to the thrust line with the wheel locked level.
Sheet 02 / 08Bill of materials
Parts and labour, itemised.
Prices for most cars and light trucks, before GST. Every suspension job ends with an alignment check — and the printout to prove it.
Fig. 03Front corner, exploded
1
Four-wheel alignment
$139
About 60 min — All four wheels measured to a hundredth of a degree and set to factory spec, with the printout before and after.
2
Struts & shocks
from $489
About 3 h a pair — Bouncing, diving under braking or a strut weeping oil. Replaced in pairs, then the car is aligned.
3
Coil springs
from $389
About 2 h a pair — A sagging or broken spring changes ride height and every angle above it. Springs, lift and lowering kits fitted.
4
Tie rod ends
from $219
About 90 min — Play in the steering, a clunk at parking speed or feathered tire edges. Replaced and the toe reset.
5
Ball joints
from $289
About 2 h — A knock over bumps or wandering steering. Pressed in or bolted on, torqued and checked.
6
Control arms & bushings
from $349
About 2 h — Cracked bushings let the wheel shift under braking. New arms or bushings, then the car is aligned.
7
Wheel bearings & hubs
from $329
About 90 min — A hum that rises with speed and changes as you weave. Hub assemblies or press-in bearings fitted.
8
Sway-bar links
from $159
About 45 min — A rattle over small bumps, usually the front links. A quick job that quiets the whole car.
Sheet 03 / 08Operation sheet
Four operations, in order.
OP 10
Measure
Heads on all four wheels, the car level on the rack. The “before” printout is saved before anyone touches a wrench.
OP 20
Inspect
Tie rods, ball joints, bushings and bearings checked for play. A worn part is photographed and priced — never just adjusted around.
OP 30
Adjust
Steering wheel locked level, then camber, caster and toe set to the maker’s preferred value — the middle of the window, not the edge.
OP 40
Verify
A road test, a final measurement and the “after” printout, side by side with the “before”, handed to you with the keys.
Certificate of alignment
What we certify on every car.
A printout before and after
Every angle, both measurements, on paper and by email. You see exactly what changed.
The middle of the window
We aim for the maker’s preferred value, not whatever squeaks inside the tolerance.
Worn parts shown, not sold
If a part has play, you get a photo and a price. If it doesn’t, we say so.
12-month / 20,000 km warranty
If the alignment drifts without an impact, we reset it free.
Sheet 04 / 08Rate card
Three ways to keep it straight.
Prices in Canadian dollars, before GST, for most cars and light trucks. Lifted, lowered and heavy-duty vehicles from $189.
The car pulled right for two years and two other shops told me it was the road. Plumb showed me the before printout — the left caster was a full degree low. It drives straight now.
Daniel O.2018 Mazda3 · pulled to the right
Field report 0449Resolved
They took one look at the inside edges of my tires and asked if I had hit a curb. I had. New tie rod, alignment, printout, done before lunch.
Shannon K.2020 Ford Escape · inner-edge wear
Field report 0486Resolved
I lowered my GTI and nobody else in town would touch the alignment. Plumb set it up properly and the tires are wearing flat across.
Arjun M.2019 Volkswagen GTI · lowered alignment
Field report 0523Resolved
My steering wheel finally sits straight. A small thing, but it bothered me every single day for a year.
Linda P.2016 Toyota Highlander · wheel off-centre
Sheet 06 / 08Personnel
Three people who sweat the hundredths.
Two alignment racks, four bays and a lift that takes a three-quarter-ton truck — run by the people below since 2014.
Fig. 4
Jan Kowalczyk
Founder · ASE Master Technician
Spent twenty years chasing pulls and wear patterns before opening Plumb in 2014. Still reads every printout before a car goes home.
Fig. 5
Avi Sandhu
Alignment technician · ASE-certified
Runs the alignment rack and has a sixth sense for a bent part. When a number will not come into spec, Avi finds out why before adjusting anything.
Fig. 6
Owen Lavoie
Suspension technician
Struts, springs, ball joints and lift kits. Torques every suspension bolt with the car at ride height, the way the factory intends.
Fig. 07Site plan1 : 2,500
Sheet 07 / 08Location
South side, off Whitemud.
9612 – 41 Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB
Open Monday to Saturday
Monday
7:30 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday
7:30 am – 6:00 pm
Wednesday
7:30 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday
7:30 am – 6:00 pm
Friday
7:30 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday
8:00 am – 3:00 pm
Sunday
Closed
Heated drop-offDrive into the heated drop-off lane — no scraping the windshield in January.
Block-heater plugsWaiting, or leaving it overnight? Plug in at any customer stall.
ParkingSix customer stalls on 41 Avenue and more around the back.
Sheet 08 / 08Questions
Questions, answered to spec.
Q01How often should I get an alignment?
Once a year or every 20,000 km — and any time you hit a big pothole or curb, fit new tires, or replace a steering or suspension part. Edmonton’s spring potholes make April and May our busiest months.
Q02Do I need an alignment with new tires?
We strongly recommend it. A $139 alignment protects a set of tires that cost ten times as much — and if the old ones wore unevenly, whatever caused it is still there.
Q03What does the printout show?
Every angle on all four wheels — camber, caster and toe — against the factory window, before and after. Green is inside spec, red is outside. You keep a copy.
Q04Why is my steering wheel crooked after an alignment somewhere else?
Usually the front toe was set without locking the steering wheel level first, or the rear thrust angle was ignored. We lock the wheel straight and set toe to the thrust line.
Q05Can you align lifted or lowered vehicles?
Yes. We carry adjustable cam bolts and plates for most lift and lowering kits, and set them to a sensible spec for your ride height — not just whatever is closest to stock.
Q06Do you do seasonal tire changeovers?
Yes — and it is the perfect time for an alignment check. Ask for the Alignment + tires package when you book.
Q07What does the alignment warranty cover?
If the alignment drifts out of spec within 12 months or 20,000 km without an impact, we reset it free. Lifetime alignment customers simply come back every 10,000 km.
Work order
Book an alignment.
Tell us the car and what it’s doing — pulling, a crooked wheel, tires wearing on one edge. We’ll call back to book a time and give you the price before we start.
