A customer said they must turn the steering wheel to the right in order to drive straight. Technician A says the rear wheels are tracking in the direction of the thrust line and not straight ahead. Technician B says the rear wheels are not parallel with the vehicle's center line. Which Technician is correct?

The situation described indicates that the customer has to turn the steering wheel to the right to drive straight, which suggests a misalignment issue within the vehicle's steering and suspension geometry.

Technician A's assertion highlights an important concept regarding the thrust line and the tracking of the rear wheels. The thrust line is an imaginary line that runs through the centers of the rear axles, indicating the direction in which the vehicle moves. If the rear wheels are not aligned with the thrust line, the vehicle will not track straight, requiring the driver to compensate by turning the steering wheel.

Similarly, Technician B's statement about the rear wheels not being parallel to the vehicle's center line suggests a case of misalignment as well. When the rear wheels are not parallel with the center line, it contributes to the vehicle pulling in one direction, which also necessitates steering input to maintain a straight path.

Both technicians are correct because the symptoms described can stem from both the rear wheels not tracking with the thrust line and not being parallel with the vehicle's center line. Each observation addresses key aspects of vehicle alignment issues, reinforcing the idea that a combination of factors can lead to the described steering behavior. Therefore, understanding both points helps in diagnosing and correcting the vehicle's alignment to