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Wheel Alignments |
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In its most basic form, a wheel alignment consists of
adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are
perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. The
purpose of these adjustments is maximum tyre life and a
vehicle that tracks straight and true when driving along a
straight and level road.
Wheel Alignment is often confused with Wheel Balancing. The
two really have nothing to do with each other except for the
fact that they affect ride and handling. If a wheel is out
of balance, it will cause a vibration at highway speeds that
can be felt in the steering wheel and/or the seat. If the
alignment is out, it can cause excessive tyre wear and
steering or tracking problems.
Do you need a Wheel Alignment &
why
To find out if you need an alignment, first check each tyre
and look for uneven wear patterns. The problem with this
method, however, is that if you can see a wear it may be too
late to save that tyre. This is why it is a good idea to
have your alignment checked periodically.
1 - Reduced tyre wear
Improper alignment is a major cause of premature tyre wear.
Over the years, a properly aligned vehicle can add thousands
of kilometres to tyre life.
2 - Improved Handling
Does your car pull to one side? Does the steering wheel
vibrate? Do you constantly have to move the steering wheel
to keep your car travelling straight ahead? Many handling
problems can be corrected by total alignment. With all the
system components aligned properly, road shock is more
efficiently absorbed for a smoother ride.
3 - Safer Driving
A suspension system inspection is part of our alignment
procedure. This allows us to spot worn parts before they
cause costly problems
Wheel Balance
Out-of-balance tires will cause a vehicle to vibrate at
certain speeds, usually over 50 km p/h. A tyre is out of
balance when one section of the tyre is heavier than the
others. One ounce of imbalance on a front tire is enough to
cause a noticeable vibration in the steering wheel at about
60 km. To balance a wheel, our technician will mount it on a
balancing machine which spins the wheel to locate the
heavier part. He will then compensate for the heavy part by
attaching a lead weight on the opposite side. Many people
are pleasantly surprised at how smooth their car drives
after balancing all four wheels.
Most high quality tyres will hold their balance fairly well
and go out of balance very gradually. If you notice a
vibration that wasn't there the day before, it is possible
that one of the lead balancing weights fell off. If you feel
the vibration mostly in the steering wheel, the problem is
most likely in a front wheel. If the vibration is mostly in
the seat, the problem is probably in the rear.
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