If you’ve been in an auto shop, you’ve likely been offered an auto alignment service. While this service is not standard maintenance for a car, it is a necessity if you have gone over a large pothole or speed bump, or if you have recently run over large road debris. You can also have your auto alignment checked every 10,000 miles to ensure that everything is properly aligned.
Car alignment is important for ensuring that you have full control over your vehicle’s steering and direction. In this article, we will be using wheel alignment and tire alignment interchangeably. However, this is not to be confused with tire balancing, which is a different car maintenance service. Keep reading to learn about car alignment, identifying alignment troubles, and tips for getting car alignment service.
What Is Tire Alignment?
Wheel alignment (or tire alignment) is a service performed by an auto repair shop to make sure your vehicle’s wheels line up with the direction the steering wheel is pointed. This ensures that your car does not veer to the left or right when your steering wheel is pointed straight, giving you full control over your vehicle. Steering alignment is usually fixed when an auto mechanic adjusts the angle of the vehicle’s wheels and axles. The type of adjustment can vary because each car can experience a different misalignment angle and amount.
Common Symptoms of Wheel Misalignment
Car wheel alignment is crucial for safe driving. Fortunately, there are clear signs that your steering alignment is incorrect. These symptoms include:
- Steering wheel is crooked when you are driving straight
- Car pulling to the right or left
- Uneven wear on the tire
- Vibration from the steering wheel
- Noisy steering
- Uneven tread wear
- Squealing noise from tires
Why Car Wheel Alignment Matters
There are many reasons to keep your tires properly aligned. Some major reasons why your car wheel alignment matters are that misalignment can cause:
- Damage to tires
- Faster wearing-out of tires
- Lower fuel efficiency
- Poor car handling
- Uncomfortable noise or vibration in the steering wheel
Tips Before Getting Alignment Service
Before getting an auto alignment service, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:
- Get a thorough car inspection to ensure that your auto troubles are the result of wheel misalignment and not something else
- Check your tires before you arrive to ensure that you don’t need a tire replacement in addition to realignment
- Find a mechanic that is experienced and trustworthy
- Test drive the car to make sure the alignment feels right before you leave the auto shop
What S&S Auto Repair Can Do For You
Fortunately, wheel alignment problems are not a long or complicated process for experienced mechanics. You will want to be aware of how your vehicle is driving and if the alignment feels off. If your car is misaligned, you will want to bring your vehicle to a trustworthy auto shop as soon as possible. This will prevent your tires from becoming damaged or wearing out at a faster rate.
If you are in need of a car repair service or any type of auto alignment, S&S Auto Repair can help. We offer free auto inspections, and will always seek your approval before we perform a repair. Our team of experienced mechanics are ASE certified too, so you can trust that your wheel alignment will be performed quickly and correctly the first time!
