What component in the landing gear system keeps the landing gear in alignment?

Torque links are critical components in the landing gear system as they help maintain the proper alignment of the landing gear during operation. Their primary function is to connect the main gear assembly to the aircraft structure, allowing for rotation and movement while ensuring that the wheels remain aligned with the aircraft’s fuselage. This alignment is crucial for safe landings and takeoffs, as any misalignment could lead to issues such as excessive wear or even failure of the landing gear system.

While shock absorbers are important for dampening the impact during landing, they do not provide any structural alignment roles. Retractable links are involved in the mechanism that retracts or extends the landing gear, and alignment pins are typically used in other contexts but are not the primary component for keeping landing gear aligned. Therefore, torque links are integral to the functionality and safety of the landing gear system, making them the correct answer in this scenario.