Wheel alignment is one of the fundamentals of car ownership. An improperly aligned wheel can affect your tire wear, handling, and even braking. Here is everything you need to know about wheel alignment.
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What Is Wheel Alignment?
Wheel alignment is a term that refers to the angle of your wheels relative to the car. It’s important because it affects how your tires wear, how well your vehicle drives, and even whether or not you’re likely to get a ticket for having an incorrectly aligned vehicle.
The problem with misaligned wheels is that they’ll wear unevenly over time. This can cause some serious damage if left unattended. It will also affect how well your car steers, leading to crashes and other accidents if you drive on the highway or at high speeds.
You should always check your wheel alignment regularly, especially if you’ve been driving for a while without any problems. This will ensure that everything works properly before serious issues develop later.
How Do You Know When Your Car Needs an Alignment?
When your car pulls to one side when driving, you may need an alignment. This can also indicate suspension problems. Worn tires will wear unevenly, which causes a pull in the opposite direction of the wear. If your steering wheel is off-center when driving straight, this may be caused by a misaligned front-end suspension system.
You might hear a knocking noise from your wheels if they’re out of alignment. This could indicate worn parts like ball joints or control arms. You should replace these parts as soon as possible to prevent further damage to other components, such as brakes or tires.
Why Should I Get an Alignment?
You should take the car you buy from used car dealers Calgary Alberta for wheel alignment for several reasons.
Safety
A well-aligned vehicle is safer because it’s stable and doesn’t drift into other lanes.
Fuel efficiency
A correctly aligned vehicle has less rolling resistance, which means you’ll get better gas mileage. It also improves braking performance and straight-line tracking.
Tire life
Improper alignment can cause premature wear on your tires and poor gas mileage, which means you’re spending more money on gas and car repairs.
What Do Technicians Look for When Checking Your Wheel Alignment?
Technicians will check several different things to ensure your vehicle is properly aligned.
Toe
Toe refers to how much your front wheels point inward or outward from one another. You want them pointing straight ahead, so they don’t scrape against each other when you turn or stop suddenly. Too much toe in either direction can cause uneven tire wear, poor handling, and an increased risk of accidents.
Camber
Camber is the angle between a tire’s rim and its lateral axis. If this angle is negative, the top of your tire will lean inward toward the car. If it is positive, your tire leans outward toward its outer edge. When the camber is out of alignment, this can cause uneven wear on your tires and steering problems.
Caster
Caster refers to how far forward or backward a wheel rotates when you steer it. When caster is off, your car may pull to one side when you turn into a corner or drift out from under you when braking or accelerating hard. Caster alignment can also affect handling and braking performance.
Once you buy used cars Calgary, check your wheel alignment to ensure that your tires are wearing evenly and that your car ride is smooth. This way, you can keep your car on track for many miles to come.
