Proper maintenance of your vehicle can allow you to continue driving it for years without incident. One of the essential components of good vehicle maintenance is wheel alignment.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is Wheel Alignment?
Alignment is the process of adjusting the suspension system which connects your vehicle to its wheels. It has nothing to do with the wheels or tires themselves, simply the angle of your tires when they have contact with the road.
Why Does Wheel Alignment Matter?
Poor alignment can mean you’ve been driving with your wheels pointed in the wrong direction. This is not a good experience, to put it mildly.
How Do You Know If Your Vehicle Needs a Wheel Alignment?
If you find it difficult to keep your vehicle facing straight ahead while driving, or if the steering wheel does not automatically return to a straight position after turning, you may have an alignment problem.
What Causes Misalignment?
Something as simple as hitting a curb or a pothole can impact your wheel alignment.
What Is Toe-In/Toe-Out?
Tires that appear to turn excessively inward or outward when viewed from above exhibit “toe-in” or “toe-out” alignment, and need professional adjustment. Think of how hard it would be to walk in the desired direction if your own toes were pointing inward or outward all the time.
What Is Camber?
In positive camber, the tops of your wheels tilt outward too much; negative camber means that they are tilted towards each other excessively.
How Often Should You Check Wheel Alignment?
It’s recommended to have your alignment checked at every other oil change.
About Wheel Balancing
It’s easy to confuse wheel balancing with alignment, but they are different things. However, this service is often performed in conjunction with an alignment to eliminate weight imbalances in your wheels/tires.
Wheel alignments and balancing are among the many services offered by the experienced mechanics at McKinney Motor Company. Reach out to us today.
