When it comes to automobile repair and maintenance, few tools are as essential and as commonly used as a wheel aligner. As functional as it is useful, an alignment system makes sure your vehicle’s wheels are properly aligned for increased safety and comfort. Not to mention the additional point that properly aligned wheel tend to last way longer than improperly aligned ones.
The Need for Wheel Alignment
To understand the importance of the wheel aligner, you need to know why wheel alignment is necessary in the first place. There are primarily three reasons why you need to ensure your vehicle’s wheels are properly aligned.
1. Tyre Life Span – Improperly aligned wheels often lead to uneven tyre wear, which could shorten the lifespan of your vehicle’s tyres considerably. As a result, you will end up spending more money on repairing and replacing your tyres than you otherwise would.
2. Safety – When your vehicle’s wheels are not properly aligned, it tends to sway left or right while you drive. It is not safe at all, especially if you are driving at high speeds or if there is heavy traffic. It could easily lead you to bump into an oncoming vehicle or onto a vehicle to your left or right.
3. Comfort – Driving a vehicle whose wheels are not properly aligned can be very uncomfortable. The vehicle feels unstable, pulls to left or right, and you could also feel a sense of unusual vibration or jarring, all of which can make your commute or journey very unpleasant.
Signs that Your Vehicle is in Need of a Wheel Alignment
Now that you know why wheel alignment is necessary, let us take a look at the signs that could indicate that your vehicle is in need of an alignment.
One of the most common signs of uneven wheel alignment is an off-center steering wheel. Your steering wheel should ideally be centered and balanced when you are driving straight. If it is not, and if it sways to the left or right by a few degrees, it could be a sign that your wheels are not properly aligned.
Another sign of uneven alignment is that your vehicle tends to pull towards the left or right when you drive. It is basically an extension of the first sign mentioned above. If your steering wheel is off center, you will not have full control over your vehicle as it will steer left or right even when you try to drive straight. It is not only uncomfortable, but also dangerous and increases the risk of accidents significantly.
If you feel that the steering wheel feels loose or unstable, it is time to check if your wheels are properly aligned. If you are not able to maneuver the steering wheel properly either while driving straight or turning towards corners, it could be a sign of poor alignment of wheels.
Uneven tyre wear is also one of the common signs of poor wheel alignment. In fact, it is one of the reasons why you should regularly check if your wheels are aligned the right way. Otherwise, your vehicle’s tyres will get worn out in no time and you might have to get them replaced. A trained mechanic can easily tell if your vehicle is in need of an alignment just by looking at the tyre wear pattern.
Apart from these signs, there are also a few other reasons to get your vehicle inspected and find out if it is in need of a wheel aligner.
If you have replaced your old tyres with a set of new ones, you should get them aligned and balanced to prevent any issues in the future. If you make hard contact with a pothole, curb, or a speed bump, you should get your vehicle checked right away for wheel alignment. It can easily throw your wheels out of alignment and it happens more often than you think.
If you live in an area where the roads are poorly maintained and filled with potholes, you should get your wheels aligned as part of your routine checkup and maintenance service. Bad roads will take a toll on your vehicle’s suspension system and alignment sooner than later, so it is always a good idea to avoid the issue by getting an alignment from time to time.
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