Alignment

It's no surprise that your vehicle will drive better if all the wheels are pointed in the same direction. That's called wheel alignment. If your wheels are out of alignment you may notice that your vehicle pulls to one side or the other.

Something that you won't notice right away, but you will if you keep driving when you're out of alignment, is that your tires are wearing unevenly and fairly quickly. You may notice that, when the vehicle is pulling to one side, you have to steer it back straight. 

Some of the things that commonly throw a wheel out of alignment are slamming into a pothole, smacking a curb or something like a rock. And it doesn't have to be a big shock, it can just be the regular bumps and bangs of daily driving that add up and eventually take your vehicle out of alignment. These bumps can also cause extra wear and tear on suspension and steering components. These components will also wear out over time with normal use. That's why your owner's manual or service advisor at Downtown Automotive may suggest having your alignment checked periodically.

When your vehicle goes in for alignment, each wheel's alignment is measured to see where they are relative to factory specifications. While the vehicle is on the alignment rack, the tires are inspected for wear as well as the suspension and steering components for damage or wear – things that can contribute to alignment problems. With some vehicles you can adjust all four wheels to bring all wheels into alignment. On those vehicles where you can only adjust the front wheels, the front is brought into alignment relative to the rear.

Cost varies by whether or not it's two or four wheel adjustable. Four-wheel drive vehicles may have an additional charge because they're more difficult to align. At any rate, it's cheaper than having to replace tires every few months.

If you’re noticing some abnormal tire wear, or if the vehicle pulls to one side or is making noises, give your Downtown Automotive service advisor a call and we can book you in for an inspection.

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