Why are Alignments so important?

Many of us don't realize the importance of proper wheel alignment on our cars. We tend to think that nothing much happens to our tires other than an occasional puncture. Nothing can be further from the truth. It is very important that we regularly get our wheels aligned, and some say it should be done as often as we get the car serviced. 

 What is an Alignment?

A Wheel alignment makes sure that the wheels of the car are perpendicular to the road; and also, that the wheels are parallel to one other.
Alignment refers to an adjustment of a vehicle’s suspension – the system that connects a vehicle to its wheels. It is not an adjustment of the tires or wheels themselves. The key to proper alignment is adjusting the angles of the tires which affects how they make contact with the road.

Not the same as Wheel Balancing

Note that wheel alignment is not the same as wheel balancing. Many people think that both are the same. Many tire retailers will tell you that they are the same thing. Wheel balancing is simply adjusting the balance between the tire and the rim. It is important not to get confused between the two.

How is an Alignment Done?

When a technician checks your tire alignment, he or she is mainly concerned with three things:

1. Camber: This is the inward or outward angle of the tire when viewed from the front of the vehicle. Too much inward or outward tilt, also known as negative and positive camber, respectively, indicates improper alignment and will need to be adjusted. Worn bearings, ball joints, and other wheel-suspension parts may contribute to camber misalignment.

 

2. Toe: Distinct from camber alignment, toe alignment is the extent to which your tires turn inward or outward when viewed from above. If that’s confusing, just stand up and look down at your feet. Angle them inward toward the center of your body. When the tires on your car are angled the same way (remember, we’re thinking in terms of birds-eye-view), we call this toe-in alignment. Angle your feet outward and you have toe-out alignment. Both require adjustment.

3. Caster: Your caster angle helps balance steering, stability, and cornering. Specifically, it’s the angle of your steering axis when viewed from the side of your vehicle. If you have positive caster, the steering axis will tilt toward the driver. Negative caster, on the other hand, means the steering axis tilts toward the front of your vehicle.

Alignments $ave Money

Save Fuel:  When the wheels of the car are not aligned there is uneven pressure on the tires. They tend to push against each other. When that happens the car faces uneven friction and much more resistance from the road surface. This means that your car has to work that much harder to move forward and more fuel is burned than normal.  When you align the wheels properly the there is much less resistance from the road surface. This results in not only a smoother drive but sometimes noticeable savings on your gas receipts.

Cost Of New Tires:  The importance of proper wheel alignment cannot be more emphasized when we compare the cost of brand new tires to the little amount spent on getting them aligned.  More resistance to the road surface means more pressure on the rubber of your tires. That leads to very quick wear and tear on the tires. It results in the tire becoming bald on one side. This means that the tires are uneven. Not only is it dangerous to drive on uneven tires, it also means that you have to spend on new tires sooner.

The Tire warranty fine print:  Many of us think that everything is covered in the warranty of the tire manufacturer. Take the time to read the fine print. No warranty is extended if the tires are kept in shoddy condition. This is not a manufacturing defect; it is due to poor maintenance of the tires on our part, and it is not fair to hold them responsible.

Safety:  It is very important to consider the safety factor too. Have you ever driven a car which pulls itself to one side all the time? This is due to faulty wheel alignment. You probably know how difficult it is to drive on a wet or iced road even with perfectly aligned wheels. With badly aligned wheels, you are taking on unnecessary risk. Is it worth having an accident and endangering the lives of loved ones? A little money spent once in a while getting your wheels aligned can bring you peace of mind.

Strain On The Car

Having a car with badly aligned wheels also leads to other connected problems. Your brake shaft does not work to optimal levels. The tendency to pull to one side due to uneven tires causes problems in the steering system. It also leads to uneven braking. Improper wheel alignments or not having your wheels aligned will affect the suspension of your car. The suspension in a car is made up of complicated and delicately balanced parts, and it is important that it should be perfect, not to mention that changing your suspension could cost an awful lot.

It doesn’t take much to knock a vehicle out of alignment: potholes, curbs and even regular wear and tear can take a toll on your vehicle’s suspension system and steering components. And once that happens, everything—your tires, your vehicle and your hands on the steering wheel—will soon feel it.

Vehicle alignment plays a critical role in the performance of your vehicle, and here are the three biggest ways:

1. Tire life and savings. When your vehicle’s suspension system is out of alignment, it’s probably going to lead to uneven tire wear, and that means a shorter life expectancy for your tires. With regular alignment, however, your tires will last longer and save you money.

2. Safety. When your wheels aren’t aligned, it can cause your vehicle to pull right or left, undermining your control and handling.

3. Comfort. Aligned wheels are much safer to drive on, and they also make driving much easier and enjoyable.

How do I know I need an alignment?

There are a couple ways to tell if your car needs a tire alignment. If you've noticed one or more of these indicators, you should have your alignment checked by a licensed service technician immediately. 

If you find that when your steering is pointing straight forward and the car veers to the right or left, that is an indicator of a necessary wheel alignment. Another indicator is when you find that one tire is worn more than another.

The thumb rule is that you should get you wheels aligned once every 6000 miles or 6 months, whichever is earlier. You should also get your wheels aligned or at least checked by a professional if you have hit something large enough to cause alignment issues.

How can you tell if your tires need aligning?

• Your vehicle will pull to one side.
• Your front end is shimmying after hitting a bump.
• Your steering wheel will no longer line up straight.
• Your front tires will show signs of uneven wear.
• Your steering wheel is off center when driving straight
• Steering wheel vibration

If you’re experiencing any of these signs, you need a vehicle alignment performed by certified technicians. Proper alignments require sophisticated equipment to abide by the manufacturers’ preferred specifications and provide an exact wheel alignment.

When should I have an alignment.

If you’re not experiencing signs that your vehicle needs an alignment right away, we recommend checking your owner’s manual to learn how often the manufacturer recommends alignments, and also having an alignment with every set of new tires, and/or every spring.

·        One REALLY good reason to get an alignment when you purchase new tires (even if you don't think you need one) is because of the new tire warranty. New tires often have defect and "odd wear" warranties that cover the first 2/32" of tread, and a mileage warranty. These warranties may be much harder for you to collect on if you can't prove that your tires were properly cared for, which includes making sure the car is properly aligned. The tire installer also wants to prevent customers from coming back and complaining about odd wear on their tires, so it's well within their rights to refuse to sell you tires if you won't agree to an alignment.

One other important thing is to make sure your tires are properly balanced, and I'd recommend using a shop that has a road force balancing machine. There are a lot of shops out there that can't properly balance a tire. You can complain and keep bringing the car back to them to have the tires re-balanced, but if they don't know how to do it, bringing it back to them isn't going to help.

Seriously, don't cheap out on a $60 alignment when you get a $600-2000 set of tires (and don't cheap out on the tires, either). It's a false economy. You're probably spending almost 10 times as much on gas as you are on tires. If you want to save some money, it's a good idea to also check for (and spend the money to replace) any worn suspension components when you get new tires, as you'll often need an alignment after replacing those components as well. May as well.  You will know when your are at a professional and honest shop when you come in for an alignment and they show you what parts are causing the alignment issue...  And actually refuse to do the alignment without fixing the problem first.