Wheel Alignment at Hometown Chevy
What is Wheel Alignment?
Wheel alignment involves using a machine to tune the suspension of the car so that the wheels face in the correct direction. While it’s also called tire alignment, it’s important to understand that wheel alignment is a suspension adjustment. Additionally, it is not the same as wheel balancing, also known as tire balancing, which ensures an even weight distribution in each wheel.
Wheel alignment in trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles involves just the two front wheels due to a solid rear axle – a two-wheel alignment. However, in other cars, it is important to do a four-wheel alignment. A four-wheel alignment involves the rear wheels as well. In both, the camber angle, caster angle, and toe angle are all adjusted to ensure the wheels are moving straight on all axes. For example, a vehicle with a negative camber has the top of the wheel angled in towards the car, while a vehicle with a positive camber has the top of the wheel angled out. Your mechanic will carefully examine the present alignment angles before making the adjustments needed for your car to function properly.
The Benefits Of Wheel Alignment
If you’re looking for impeccable vehicle handling, wheel alignment is up your alley. With massive improvements to steering, you’ll wonder why you ever drove a vehicle with bad wheel alignment. Wheel alignments’ power comes from the massive cash savings earned by preventing uneven tire wear. Put in short, proper alignment is there to prevent premature tire wear. There are few better ways to improve tire life while improving safety and handling as well.
How Often Should I Get My Car’s Wheels Aligned?
Tire alignment is something that shouldn’t be ignored. If it’s something you’ve never done on your vehicle, we recommend bringing it to your mechanic to see if you need one. With that in mind, the general rule of thumb for wheel alignments is to get one every 2-3 years. However, this can change with how much you drive, as well as the way that you drive. Notably, there are some signs below that signify a more urgent need for a wheel alignment.
Signs it’s Time For Wheel Alignment
If you notice one of the signs below, don’t wait to get to your auto care shop to get it checked out. These issues, if left untreated, could lead to larger, more expensive problems. Keep it cost-effective and get those wheels aligned while it’s still inexpensive!
Crooked Steering Wheel
A crooked steering wheel is a telltale sign that there’s something wrong with the alignment. When the steering wheel doesn’t return to center after a turn, this is a sign that something may be off with the steering components concerning the caster or steering axis– both of which can be straightened out with a wheel alignment.
Loose or Vibrating Steering Wheel
If your steering wheel feels loose when you try to turn or if it vibrates in any portion of driving, there’s a significant chance that your vehicle is out of alignment. Get it in quick to prevent further damage to your suspension.
Vehicle Pulling to One Side
If your vehicle pulls to one side when you’re trying to drive in a straight line, guess what? Your wheels are likely slightly crooked. Stop having to constantly crank the steering wheel back so you can drive somewhat straight and get your car in to have the wheels aligned!
Uneven Tire Wear
If you look at your tires and notice that they’re not worn down evenly, this could be a sign that your vehicle is out of alignment. In addition, if there’s excessive tire wear on some wheels but not others, this is also a sign that the alignment is out of whack. It’s easy to check the tire tread for signs of uneven tire wear. When looking at the tire’s tread, you’re looking for tread depth. Specifically, whether the tread looks deeper on one side of the tire or car than the other. If you’re not sure, your mechanic will be – and can even tell you whether it’s camber wear or toe wear too.
Noises
If you’re hearing noises that seem to be coming from the tires, there’s a good chance that you’re in the market for a wheel alignment. These noises often sound like a drumming or a humming, but they can also sound like a creaking, knocking, or squeaking. Don’t delay if you hear these sounds, or even any others while driving – get it into the shop right away!
Wheel Alignment Cost: Is It Worth It?
The wheel alignment cost is relatively inexpensive. This is especially true because of the effects of neglecting a tire alignment. If you’re in a position where the car needs it, but you don’t get your tires aligned, you’re risking having to pay more serious costs. On a more simple level, this wears your tires down more quickly, meaning you’ll have to pony up for new tires more often. In addition, it can wreak havoc on your suspension, which is potentially even more costly. If you’re looking to save big money in the long run by spending a little in the short run, a wheel alignment is for you.
Proper Wheel Alignment at Hometown Chevy
There are so many auto shops you can go to to get your car worked on. Why choose Hometown Chevy? One reason is that some shops may be at greater risk for an improper alignment because they lack the proper equipment to do one accurately. We’re able to do them properly because we have a computerized alignment machine. This allows our mechanics to precisely examine the current alignment, adjusting the angles as necessary.
Hometown Chevy is here to support you through every part of the car purchasing and ownership process. Whether it’s making it easy for you to get a test drive and financing from the comfort of your home, our helpful staff making the entire dealership experience a breeze, or our service department making everything on your automobile just go. Whether it’s an alignment check or something more involved, we’re here to help, Waverly!