Do You Need a Wheel Alignment?
Are you experiencing any of the following issues?
- Your vehicle pulls to one side, even when driving in a straight line
- The steering wheel doesn’t return to “center”
- The steering wheel sits off-center, meaning you have to turn the wheel slightly in order for your vehicle to drive straight
- Excessive tire wear in some spots
- Loose or sloppy steering feeling in your steering wheel
If you’re nodding, it’s time for a wheel alignment!
What does a wheel alignment do for your vehicle?
You’ll notice if your wheels are out of alignment because driving becomes a little difficult. Your vehicle will pull, and you may feel like you are fighting with your steering wheel. A vibration in the steering wheel is an indication of an issue, but it’s more likely a tire balance issue or something bigger and not likely to be part of an alignment.
Proper wheel alignment is about more than how your vehicle handles. It also saves you money! Having your wheels aligned so your vehicle drives straight will help your tires perform optimally and last longer.
Camber
The camber of your wheels is best seen head-on from the front of your vehicle. If your wheels “lean” in toward the center, or “bow” out away from the vehicle body, it’s time for an alignment. This can also indicate worn out bearings, ball joints, or other wheel-suspension parts. If that’s the case, we’ll let you know right away, so you can decide how you want to proceed taking care of your vehicle. It can also happen on one wheel, if you’ve accidentally hit a pothole (especially true if you’ve apologized to your vehicle after clipping that pothole!).
Toe
The toe of your wheel is a different kind of tilt that can happen to your wheels. Toe is looking top-down on your vehicle, and then determining if the wheels are straight. They might toe-in, or point slightly toward each other. Alternately, they could toe-out and point slightly away from each other. Either way, it’s time for a wheel alignment in this case. Toe-in or toe-out can cause driving difficulty, and certainly can cause uneven wear on your tires. Uneven wear means that your tires will wear out faster, and will need to be replaced before their manufacturer recommended time - which costs you money.
Is your vehicle in need of alignment?
Give ArborMotion a call at (734) 761-1088 or schedule your appointment online today. Let us know which issues you’re experiencing, and we’ll get you back on the road!
