Why Wheel Alignment Is Critical To Your Vehicles Handling And Performaance
Posted on: 3 August 2023
Wheel alignment is an essential part of vehicle maintenance that is often overlooked, but can play a critical role in tire wear, vehicle handling, and damage to other parts of your car. Taking your car to an auto shop to have the steering, suspension, or wheels and tires checked for proper alignment is crucial. Knowing when to take your vehicle to the shop can vary, but understanding what to look for is a good starting point and can eliminate the need for more extensive repairs later.
Handling And Performance
One of the most noticeable issues when the wheel alignment is off in your car or truck is the way the car handles when driving. Oftentimes issues like pulling to the right or left are related to the alignment being off in the steering or front suspension.
An alignment service shop can assess the condition of the front end for you, inspecting the tie rods, ball joints, and tire condition to determine where the problem is. If you take the vehicle in as soon as you notice a problem, you can often reduce the potential for a large repair bill later due to additional worn parts or damage to the suspension and steering.
In many cases, the handle will change slowly over time, so you may not notice it right away, but having an annual alignment on your vehicle and having the tech at your local garage check the front end during oil changes and other routine maintenance, can be a good preventative tactic.
Tire Wear
Another telltale sign that you have an alignment issue is tire wear on one side of the vehicle. The wear is often uneven and can indicate that the worn tire is not positioned correctly and is scuffing the pavement instead of running smoothly over it.
An alignment service can identify where the problem is and recommend repairs to correct it. If the problem has been going on for a long time, the tires will also need replacing to eliminate any safety issues they may pose.
If you have significant damage, you need to replace both front tires together and you should consider replacing all four to ensure they all have the same wear levels. The best way to reduce damage to the tires is to have an alignment service rotate the tires when they do your alignment.
If you suspect there is a problem with the alignment of your car or truck, don't wait to have it checked. The sooner the problem is found, the easier it is to repair.
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