subject: Wheel Alignment: What Every Driver Should Know About Caralignment! [print this page] Is your vehicle starting to have a mind of its own when going down the road? It may need a wheel alignment. Some drivers confuse a wheel alignment with wheel balancing. Other than the fact that both of these adjustments affect the ride and handling of your vehicle, they really have nothing to do with each other. If the car alignment is not adjusted properly, it will cause excessive wear and tear on your tires, accompanied with steering or tracking problems. If just a wheel is out of balance, you will likely only feel a vibration in the steering wheel and/or the seat at highway speeds.
Simply stated, a wheel alignment consists of adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. The purpose of these adjustments is to maximum the life of your tires and to make sure that your vehicle tracks straight and true on a straight and level road.
Basic Wheel Alignment Facts:
* A test drive should always take place at the start and at the end of each wheel alignment service.
* The front end and steering linkage should be check for excessive wear as part of a car alignment service.
* If one of your tires has excessive camber wear, the tire will only make partial contact with the road after the car alignment problem is corrected. All four tires should have even wear patterns.
* Pulling problems are not always related to wheel alignment. Pulling problems can also be caused by poor tires, failing brakes or faulty power steering.
An alert driver will be able to recognize a problem, understand the technicalities involved in a wheel alignment, and then have their vehicle inspected and repaired by a car alignment technician.
Need a wheel alignment? Whether you need a basic oil change, a car alignment, or an engine rebuild, our qualified auto mechanics can help you keep your car on the road. Contact the ASE-Certified Technicians at Walts Garage. Call (608)-767-2331, or go on-line at www.waltsgarage.com for more information. Our auto repair shop in Black Earth, WI also serves the areas of Mazomanie and Cross Plains, WI.
