We often get asked about ‘thrust angle’, usually after someone sees it mentioned on a wheel alignment report and wonders what it actually means. It’s not a term drivers come across often but it plays a vital role in how your Porsche handles, wears tyres and how it performs at speed.
In this article, we’ll explain exactly what thrust angle is, how it affects your Porsche and when you should have it checked.
What is Thrust Angle in Wheel Alignment? (And Why It Matters For Your Porsche)
What is Thrust Angle?
The thrust angle is the angle between your cars rear axle line and its geometric centreline. In simple terms, it tells us whether the rear wheels are aligned to push the car straight forward or off at a slight angle.
A zero degree thrust angle means everything is perfectly aligned. A positive or negative angle means the rear wheels are slightly off, which can cause the car to “crab” or feel unstable which is especially noticeable in high performance cars like Porsche.
Why Does It Matter for a Porsche?
Porsche are precision engineered machines designed for stability, control and responsive handling. From classic 911s to modern Taycans, accurate alignment is essential for sharp response, balance, grip and to maintain tyre life. Models such as the 718 Cayman and Boxster, along with their predecessors in the 981 series, are especially sensitive to rear geometry setup making thrust angle even more critical.
A misaligned thrust angle can lead to the following:
- The car pulling to one side
- Uneven tyre wear
- A steering wheel that isn’t quite straight
- A loose feeling at speed
For models like the 911, Cayman or Boxster, even a small misalignment can have a big impact on driving dynamics.
Why Might the Thrust Angle Be Off?
It’s not always due to major issues. Common causes include:
- Kerbing a wheel or hitting a pothole (of which there are many in the UK annoyingly)
- Wear in suspension components
- The replacement of key suspension components without a geometry assessment / adjustment
- Accident or chassis damage
Even a small knock to the suspension can cause subtle misalignment that can affect the thrust angle.
How is it fixed?
Thrust angle is corrected during a 4 wheel alignmentusing laser or digital alignment equipment. Here at RPM, we align all four wheels relative to the cars centre line (not just the front) to ensure your Porsche drives exactly as it should.
When should you get it checked?
We recommend a steering geometry check every two years, this would incorporate a thrust angle assessment.
Other times you may wish to get your alignment checked is if you notice any of the following:
- Uneven tyre wear
- Your Porsche pulling to one side
- The steering wheel slightly off centre
- You’ve recently had a knock to your suspension
- You’ve had suspension components replaced
If your Porsche just doesn’t feel quite right, speak to one of our team who will help to diagnose the issue and advise whether a wheel alignment is required.