Signs your car might need a wheel alignment
How do you know if your car needs a wheel alignment?
Can you recall the last time your vehicle had a wheel alignment service? A wheel alignment service is essential for on-road safety and to help you get the most out of your vehicle and tyres. It contributes to prolonged tyre wear, improved fuel economy, and a smoother ride.
What is a wheel alignment service?
A wheel alignment service involves making a small adjustment to your car's suspension system to ensure that all four wheels are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to one another.
Wheel alignment provides many benefits to your vehicle, including better handling, which prevents your car from veering to either side. It reduces rolling resistance and promotes good tyre life. This means that a good wheel alignment can enhance the fuel efficiency of your vehicle.
There are different ways of adjusting your wheel alignment depending on the make and model of your vehicle, but in general, there are three main measurements involved: caster, camber, and toe.
Caster
The caster is the angle of the steering pivot, also measured in degrees. In other words, it’s the tilt of the steering axis.
The caster is positive when the wheel is in front of the load. If the caster is out of adjustment, it can cause your car to pull sideways.
Caster isn’t always adjustable, but if your caster is significantly different from side to side, it’s a good sign that you have worn suspension components or, worse, chassis damage.
Camber
Camber is the angle of the wheels, measured in degrees. If the top of the wheel is leaning out, the camber is positive. If it’s leaning in, the camber is negative.
When the camber is out of adjustment, it will cause premature wear on one side of the tyre’s tread. It can cause pulling issues to the side with the more positive camber.
Toe
Toe alignment, as opposed to camber alignment, refers to how much your tyres turn inward or outward when viewed from above. Generally, the toe should be set fairly close to zero for optimal tyre wear.
In other words, toe-in alignment is used when all four tyres on your car are angled in the same direction.
When should you book a wheel alignment service?
A wheel alignment should typically be performed every 10,000 kilometres. We also highly recommend a wheel alignment be performed when you have new tyres installed.
Premature tyre wear can happen if you drive with improper wheel alignment. There is a risk of causing stress on the car’s suspension system if you delay having a wheel alignment service. Over time, this can cause damage to suspension components.
Misaligned wheels can negatively affect the safety of your vehicle, as this will compromise your car's handling and impact your ability to effectively brake. Wheel misalignment occurs due to a range of factors that include the following:
- Wheel bearing failure
- Driving over a curb or a pothole
- General suspension wear and tear from normal use
- Work done on the steering and suspension systems of your car
Signs you need a wheel alignment
Your vehicle may need a wheel alignment service if you notice the following symptoms:
- Your tyres are wearing unevenly
- You feel your vehicle pulling to one side
- You hit debris on the road or a curb
- Your steering wheel is shaking when driving at higher speeds
Book a wheel alignment service with Tony's Tyre and Autocare
If you notice uneven tyre wear, experience your car pulling to one side of the road, or feel your steering wheel shake, your car may need a wheel alignment service.
At Tony's Tyre and Autocare, we offer wheel alignment service for most makes and models, including SUVs, 4WDs, passenger cars, and more. You can visit our store located at 1/402 Quakers Hill Pkwy, Quakers Hill or call us on 02 9837 4455.