Why Have A Wheel Alignment?
A proper alignment ensures that all four wheels are in the recommended position for your type of vehicle. This is fundamental to preserving both your vehicle's safety and extending the tread life of your tires.What Are The Benefits Of A Wheel Alignment?
- Longer tire life
- Better gas mileage
- Assures warranty compliance (with rotations)
- Bad alignment can negate benefits of tire rotation
- Improves vehicle handling and safety
When Should I Have My Wheels Aligned?
We recommend vehicle alignment checks every 6-12 months or every other tire rotation. More often if driving in extreme conditions, potholes, or if your vehicle is not handling properly. A bad jolt, such as hitting a pothole, can throw your vehicle out of alignment even if you recently had it checked or aligned. Such an impact can also bend the rim, causing a loss of air pressure, and create damage to your tires with little or no visible external indication. You should have your alignment checked immediately if you notice any of the warning signs mentioned below.What Causes Wheel Alignment Problems? What Are Some Of The Signs?
Over time, as you drive – it's normal that your tires may lose their balance and eventually come out of alignment. For example, hitting a large pothole can jar a wheel with enough force to alter the vehicle's alignment. Road curbs, parking stops, and speed bumps can all contribute to issues with your alignment. As with a lot of car maintenance topics – many of the factors depend on individual driving habits, commuting distance, urban location, condition of the roads, etc.
Here are some common warning signs you may need an alignment check:
- Drifting or pulling
- Steering wheel is off-center
- Vibrating steering wheel
- Loose steering
- Uneven tire wear
How Long Does An Alignment Take?
Generally, alignment checks, and minor adjustments can be completed in an hour or less. Depending on the complexity of the issue and any other related work, times can vary. A note to make about service completion time is many new vehicles come equipped with steering stability sensors. These sensors measure the steering wheel position angle and rate of a vehicle turn. The steering stability sensors need to be reset every time an alignment is performed. We'll do our best to provide you with an accurate time estimate once we've had a chance to take a closer look at your vehicle.