Understand the importance of wheel alignment

When you get a wheel alignment, the process consists of adjusting the steering and suspension components of your vehicle in order to maximize the tread life and ensure your vehicle tracks straight. Making sure your vehicle is properly aligned is necessary for even tread wear on your tires as well as making sure the steering is precise. Having a misaligned vehicle has a negative impact on your vehicle as well as on your gas mileage.

Check out the answers to these Frequently Asked Questions

How important is wheel alignment?

Research indicates that the average car is driven about 15,000 miles per year. A car with toe alignment just 0.34 degrees (Just 0.17 inches) out of specification has dragged its tires sideways for more than 75 miles by the end of the year!

What are the symptoms that a car is out of alignment?

Have your car checked if you notice:

• Excessive or uneven tire wear
• Steering wheel pulls to the left or right
• Feeling of looseness or wandering
• Steering wheel vibration or shimmy, which is related to tires   
• Steering wheel is not centered when car is moving straight ahead

Many vehicles today are equipped with rear suspensions that can be adjusted for alignment. With our state-of-the-art computerized alignment machines, we are able to provide you with a computer printout, at your request, showing the adjustments that were made to your vehicle.

The most common adjustable angles are:

Toe: This refers to the tilted direction of the wheels toward or away from one another when viewed from the front. Toe is the most critical tire-wearing angle. Tires that "toe-in" point toward one another. Tires that "toe-out" point away from each other.

Camber: This refers to the tilt of the wheels toward or away from one another when viewed from the top. Wheels that tilt in toward the vehicle have "negative camber." Wheels that tilt away from the vehicle have "positive camber."

Caster: This refers to the angle of the steering axis in relation to an imaginary vertical line through the center of the wheel when viewed from the side. "Positive caster" is the term used when the vertical line is tilted back toward the rear. If it's tilted forward, we call it "negative caster." The proper caster angle stabilizes your car for better steering.

Thrust Angle: This refers to the relationship of all four wheels to each other, as well as their relationship to an imaginary centerline that runs from bumper to bumper. The term "thrust line" refers to the direction in which the rear wheels are pointed. Thrust angle is correctable on cars with adjustable rear suspensions. If your car has a non-adjustable suspension, thrust-angle is compensated for by aligning the front wheels to the rear wheels.

Why Four Wheel Alignment?

Reduced Tire Wear

Improper alignment is a major cause of premature tire wear. Over the years, a properly aligned vehicle can add thousands of miles to tire life.

Better Gas Mileage

Gas mileage increases as rolling resistance decreases. Total alignment sets all four wheel parallel which, along with proper inflation, minimizes rolling resistance.

Improved Handling

Does your car pull to one side? Does the steering wheel vibrate? Do you constantly have to move the steering wheel to keep your car traveling straight ahead? Many handling problems can be corrected by total alignment. With all the system components aligned properly, road shock is more efficiently absorbed for a smoother ride.

Front End Inspection

A suspension system inspection is part of our alignment procedure. This allows us to spot worn parts before they cause costly problems.

Wheel alignments should be checked at least once per year or anytime you have your tires replaced. We would be happy to set up an appointment for you to check your wheel alignment.