Alignment Services

Keeping up with regular maintenance helps keep your car running efficiently. These services include oil changes, tire rotations, and wheel alignments. Unfortunately, many car owners don't fully understand wheel alignment or the positive impact on your vehicle's operation. So, to help you better understand, we've created this article explaining the process, benefits, and some common symptoms indicating your car might need an alignment.

Common Causes for Misaligned Wheels

Many reasons exist that cause your wheels to become misaligned. Your commute takes you on various road surfaces, some smoother than others. As a result, it isn't uncommon for drivers to hit the occasional pothole or accidentally strike a curb.

Perhaps you enjoy off-road adventures, or you carry heavy loads often. These can lead to worn shocks, struts, springs, and bushings, which can lead to misaligned wheels. Unfortunately, there's no way to predict how long an alignment lasts. A single incident striking a curb could cause misalignment, as well as extended commuting over rough surfaces.

Symptoms Indicating You May Need an Alignment

Your vehicle will tell you it needs service if you know the signs. Some of the most common symptoms you need an alignment include:

• Pulling to one side: If you notice your vehicle pulls to either side while driving straight, you probably need an alignment. However, pulling to one side could indicate more severe problems involving your steering, braking, or suspension systems. 
• Steering chatter: Vibrations emanating through the steering wheel, particularly when turning, show you might need an alignment. This symptom could also mean you have a problem with your tires or suspension. Our certified technicians can quickly identify the issue.
• Crooked steering wheel: Your steering wheel should be straight when you're driving straight. If not, you probably need an alignment.
• Loose steering: Your vehicle's steering should feel tight and responsive. Extra play where you have to turn the steering wheel more than usual before you feel it respond means you have an issue with your alignment.
• Uneven tire wear: When your alignment is off, it causes your tires to wear unevenly. If you notice one side of your tire has more wear, you likely need an alignment. Unbalanced tires or worn-out bearings, struts, and shocks could also cause uneven wear. 

How Often Should You Perform an Alignment?

We recommend having your vehicle's alignment inspected twice a year at our service center. It's the surest way to keep your car running in peak condition. In addition, we can perform this service in less than an hour in most cases.

When you replace your tires, perform an alignment to ensure their longevity. Tires can cost hundreds of dollars each. Therefore, protecting them against uneven wear with an alignment will save you money by not replacing them sooner.

What's the Difference Between a Front-Wheel and Four-Wheel Alignment?

Depending on your vehicle, you may need a four-wheel alignment. As the name suggests, a front-wheel alignment adjusts the front wheels, but not every car requires a rear-wheel alignment. 

Our technician aligns the front wheels by adjusting camber, toe, and caster positions. If your vehicle has a solid rear axle, you won't need a four-wheel alignment. Sometimes, however, our technician may have to square all four wheels with each other. We call this a thrust angle adjustment.

A four-wheel alignment does what the name suggests, aligning all four wheels. If you have an all-wheel-drive vehicle with independent front and rear suspensions, you'll need a four-wheel alignment. Our technician will adjust the camber, toe, and caster on all four wheels.

Balancing Your Tires

Besides aligning your wheels, balancing your tires will help you preserve and protect them. We balance your tires by attaching small weights to the side of your wheels. The wheels naturally vibrate as they rotate, and the weights help limit that vibration. Correctly balanced tires corner better, stop faster, and wear more evenly, extending the life of your tire.

An unbalanced tire wears much more quickly and unevenly and results in a shorter lifespan for your tires and reduced effectiveness in steering and braking. Balancing a tire runs between $10 and $20 per tire. When you compare that to the cost of replacing your tire, it's an inexpensive way to protect against premature wear. Whenever you put a new tire on a wheel, we recommend you have the tire balanced. 

At Tameron Buick GMC, we understand the importance of regular maintenance, including proper wheel alignment. That's why we offer rotating service specials online to encourage regular maintenance. We provide our technicians with continuous training to stay updated on the latest alignment services. Our service center technicians can inspect your alignment when you bring your vehicle in for an oil change, tire rotation, or other services. 

If you don't recall the last time you had your wheels aligned, or you've experienced any of the symptoms listed above, we suggest you bring your car in for an inspection. One of our friendly, knowledgeable staff will quickly identify any issues and provide you with the appropriate service recommendation. You can schedule your service appointment online or stop by our service center on U.S. Highway 98 in Daphne at any time.