One of the most common things talked about when people bring their car in for servicing is wheel alignment. Essentially, it is an adjustment of the steering and the suspension of the car so that the wheels’ angles on the ground meet the manufacturers specs.
A car’s suspension system is not one piece but made up of multiple interconnected parts. As a car hits bumps and potholes, the vehicle’s wheel alignment will go out of spec. Oftentimes, customers first notice a problem when their car begins to pull to one side. This normal wear and tear necessitates periodic adjustments, and we generally recommend our regular customers have their vehicles realigned every nine months to a year.
Misalignment can turn into a serious safety issue if left unchecked. Tires can wear unevenly over time, eventually exposing the wires within its structure and creating a blowout risk. Uneven wear on the tire’s inside might not always be obvious because the outer tread can still look thick while the inners are wearing down to dangerously low levels.
It’s important to note that wheels don’t always sit perfectly straight and at a perfect perpendicular angle to the road surface as manufacturer specifications call for certain offsets. If the wheel is severely leaning and visibly crooked, it may indicate suspension damage.
In the scenario of replacing certain suspension parts such as struts, control arms or a tire rod, that requires realigning the vehicle after the replacement to make sure the alignment comes back to manufacturer specification
Aligning a car’s suspension involves three key elements: camber, caster and toe. Toe refers to the inward or outward tilt of a wheel along a vertical axis, while camber describes the tilt along a horizontal axis. Caster is a little more challenging to visualize. It refers to the angle of the steering axis when viewed from the side of the vehicle.
So, what could be some of the symptoms of a bad alignment?
- Pulling to one side is a common symptom.
- Uneven tire wear could indicate misalignment.
- Rapid tire wear – where one side wears down to the bare tread while the other still has tread – suggests continuous misaligned contact.
- Squealing tires can occur if they are not perfectly aligned and experience pinching.
- Unresponsive steering – such as when the wheel does not return to center quickly or steering that’s off-centre even when driving straight – indicates possible alignment issues.
- Vibration, though less common, can also be a symptom.
- Poor fuel economy may result if tires aren’t rolling smoothly, leading to energy loss.
Modern and up-to-date shops use advanced computer equipment to measure and adjust alignment accurately. We first provide the machine with the Vehicle Identification Number, which identifies the specific model and year and thus the system references the readings of the vehicle’s alignment measurements to the manufacturer spec. The technician then carefully aligns each wheel, aiming to match the manufacturer’s specs as closely as possible. However, as cars age achieving perfect alignment becomes challenging, which is why manufacturer tolerances exist. A typical alignment takes about 60-90 minutes, though sometimes a bit longer.
Armen Jakjakian, the owner/operator of Speedy Auto Service Mississauga West, brings over 20 years of experience in the auto repair industry. Known for his dedication to quality service, Armen likes to say he has oil in his veins – a testament to his lifelong passion for all things automotive.
