Just imagine driving down a highway and your steering linkage or tie rod ends break, now all of a sudden your wheels are turning in a different direction and you’re faced with the fear of controlling the vehicle. This obviously is a safety issue that will cause someone to get seriously injured if an accident occurs. When a vehicle is out of alignment it can affect the steering and suspension, along with the tires endurance and the parts that are regulating them. Therefore, if your vehicle pulls to the one side while driving or your steering wheel is not centered, then it is most likely that you will need an alignment.
It is not recommended for anyone to ignore their vehicle when it is pulling in a different direction. If left unattended your tires will start to wear unevenly and have the possibility of becoming bald more quickly. It only takes a fraction of an inch to yank the tires sideways and cause an accident. So don’t delay, get a preliminary alignment inspection done to see if any of the steering linkages or suspensions are damaged in any way. If your parts happen to be damaged or severely worn, it will be impossible to align your vehicle without replacing your old parts.
It is required to get a proper alignment done if you ever need to replace any of the following; struts, tie rod ends, idler arm, steering links, control arm, control arm bushings, steering knuckle, or steering rack, once your suspension or steering components have been restored it is mandatory to get an alignment done to give it the proper adjustment needed.
Another important thing is, if you are buying brand new tires for your vehicle, it is best to have an alignment done or you will be just throwing your money away. This will help your new tires to wear evenly and give a smooth ride. Keeping your vehicles alignment in the right specs will give you a safe and enjoyable ride without any worries of an accident. Also, your vehicle will handle better and have good traction on the road.
What causes an alignment to go out
By now you are probably wondering how a vehicle loses their wheel alignment. In all honesty, it doesn’t take much to throw off an alignment, below are a few ways that it can happen.
- Potholes
- Hitting the curb
- Bumping into concrete parking stalls
- Car accident
- From mechanical wear
Alignment recommendations
IT is a good idea for someone to get an alignment check done anytime their vehicle is showing any kind steering problems or tire wear. Each individual vehicle has its own distinctive specifications for an alignment. Therefore, you will find that most garages use a computerized alignment machine to provide the exact spec. If you come across a garage that doesn’t then don’t get your alignment done there because your specs will be off.
If you are someone that travels a lot and go on long trips, it would be beneficial to your safety to keep up with all mechanical parts of your vehicle and keep it in proper alignment. Actually, some garages recommend that you have your alignment checked every time you get your oil changed. Take all of this information to heart because your safety is important; don’t take any of this lightly. Be smart and get your vehicle alignment done on regular basis, because proper car repair will keep you safe.
