Apparatus for determining the alignment of the wheels of a motor vehicle

An apparatus for determining the alignment of the wheels of a motor vehicle, comprising:

• sensing means, which are adapted to detect coordinates, with respect to a same reference system, of at least two chassis points identified in symmetrical positions of the chassis of the motor vehicle with respect to a longitudinal centerline plane of said motor vehicle, and are adapted to detect the coordinates, with respect to said reference system, of at least three wheel points which belong to a preset wheel plane that is at least tangent with respect to the rim of the wheel whose alignment is to be determined;
• first memory means, which are adapted to store said detected coordinates of said chassis points and said wheel points,
• first calculation means, which are adapted to calculate the position of said longitudinal centerline plane with respect to said reference system given the coordinates of said chassis points and to calculate the position of said preset wheel plane with respect to said reference system given the coordinates of said wheel points,
• second memory means, which are adapted to store the calculated position of said longitudinal centerline plane and to store the position of said preset wheel plane,
• second calculation means, which are adapted to calculate an inclination of said preset wheel plane with respect to said longitudinal centerline plane and are adapted to calculate, by derivation from said calculated inclination, selectively, a camber angle, toe-in, steering angle and incidence of the wheel whose alignment is being calculated.