If your airplane feels squirrelly on the ground or starts eating through tires, don’t ignore it. Misalignment can increase tire scrub, side loads, and stress throughout the landing gear system. Catching the problem early can protect your wheels, brakes, axles, and airframe while reducing the risk of aircraft landing gear failure.

Spotting the Red Flags: Aircraft Landing Gear Misalignment Symptoms

Alignment problems often cause noticeable warning signs before it leads to more serious damage. Common aircraft landing gear misalignment symptoms include:

• Rapid or uneven tire wear
• Pulling or tracking to one side during taxi
• Frequent steering corrections during takeoff or rollout
• “Squirrelly” or unusually sensitive ground handling
• A wheel that visibly points or leans differently than the other

Toe-in means the fronts of the wheels point toward each other; toe-out means they point away. Excessive toe either way can scrub tires and make the airplane harder to track straight. Misalignment can also place uneven loads on wheels, bearings, brakes, axles, and gear attachments. In severe cases, poor directional control can contribute to a ground loop and costly airframe or landing gear damage.

Other issues can feel similar, so also check tire pressure, bearing condition, brake drag, steering components, and loose hardware. If tire wear is your first clue, use our aircraft tire troubleshooting guide to rule out other common causes.

Troubleshooting Homebuilt Aircraft Landing Gear Alignment in Your Garage

Your kit or aircraft plans should always be the source of truth for alignment specifications. Some designs call for neutral alignment, while others specify a particular toe or camber setting. Never assume one measurement fits every homebuilt aircraft landing gear setup.

For a basic check, gather a long straightedge, heavy-duty string, chalk or tape, a tape measure, and, if available, a basic laser level.

1. Prepare the aircraft. Place it on a level surface in the weight-on-wheels condition and attitude specified by your plans. Check tire pressures first.
2. Establish a centerline. Mark the aircraft centerline with a taut string, chalk line, or laser reference.
3. Measure toe. Using consistent points at the front and rear of each wheel rim, compare the wheel direction to the aircraft centerline and the opposite wheel.
4. Check camber. View each wheel from the front and measure whether it leans inward or outward. Compare the result with the kit manufacturer’s specification.
5. Inspect the surrounding hardware. Look for bearing play, brake drag, loose fasteners, damaged tires, or anything else that could affect the reading or handling.
6. Adjust only as approved for your installation. If your plans allow it, tapered axle shims can be used to correct toe or camber. Follow your kit instructions and Matco’s installation and assembly drawings rather than adjusting by feel.
7. Measure again. Recheck both sides after any adjustment and verify wheel rotation, brake operation, and hardware security before returning the aircraft to service.

Correct alignment matters beyond the gear itself. The wheels, brakes, and axles attached to the system all depend on proper alignment to avoid unnecessary wear and uneven loading.

High-Performance Components to Prevent Post-Alignment Wear

Once alignment is corrected, inspect the tires, wheels, bearings, axles, and brakes for wear that may have developed while the aircraft was out of alignment. A fresh alignment won’t undo a damaged tire, worn bearing, or brake component that already needs attention.

Catching alignment problems early can prevent bigger problems later. Pay attention to the warning signs, follow your aircraft plans, and correct issues before excess wear or poor handling develops into aircraft landing gear failure.

If your inspection turns up worn or damaged components, shop Matco ALS for reliable wheels, brakes, axles, tires, tubes, and related parts for your build.