What’s An Alignment and When Do I Need One?
A wheel alignment is performed on your vehicle by a mechanic usually when you begin to notice your vehicle pulling to the left or right while in motion on a straight road, highway or street. Correcting the problem by adjusting the suspension, wheels and frame is called an alignment. Your vehicle is said to be out of alignment when it’s veering to the right or left while in motion.
How Do Things Get So Out Of Whack?
Driving on rough roads, hitting potholes, general wear and tear and/or taking the same bad road day after day is usually the culprit, which causes the wheels on your vehicle to be knocked out of place little by little. Eventually, they get so out of whack that it becomes obvious especially when we have to continually pull our steering wheel in one direction or the other to keep control while we try to drive the straight and narrow.
What Is an Alignment?
A wheel alignment requires attention from a mechanic to get your wheels back where they belong. A mechanic will see to it that all the wheels are parallel and the rubber meets the road, so to speak. All vehicle manufacturers have a set of recommended specifications and those specifications are met when the vehicle comes from the factory.
When Should I Get an Alignment?
When your vehicle begins to pull to the right or left as you’re driving on a straight road or highway, it’s a good indication that an alignment may be needed if the tires are inflated correctly. If your tires are ill-inflated, you may also notice a distinct pull to one side or the other, so be sure your tires have the proper amount of air. Also note tire wear; if tire tread seems to be frayed, striped or show more wear on one side than the other, these are also signs you may need an alignment. Look at the steering wheel and be sure it’s in the center position when your vehicle is parked and the wheels are pointing forward. If the steering wheel is crooked, it’s probably a sign that an alignment is needed. If your vehicle seems to move sideways when you’re going forward, or if the rear is off to one side as you are moving forward, it’s definitely time to take your vehicle in for a much needed alignment.
How Much Does an Alignment Cost?
The cost of an alignment depends strictly on the make and model of your vehicle, how bad things have gotten out of whack and where you live. In my area, the average alignment cost about $65.00, but your location may be more – or even less. SUV’s and 4WD vehicles may also cost more.
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[...] may also need to replace your tires due to an alignment problem; the tires are not rotating properly or something else.
With snow still covering most of the road, I missed the driveway and drove over the curbing when turning (ironically) into my local garage. While it was relatively low speed, the one front tire was knocked out of alignment. The uneven wear on a AWD car cost me a pair of tires. Same thing can happen from hitting a pothole at highway speed.
Good article. Now I know what to look for to know if my car need an ailgnment.