tips for keeping your teen safe while driving

How To Tell When Your Car's Alignment Is Off And What To Do To Fix It

10 December 2021 by Phyllis Hoffman

The front-end alignment is critical in any vehicle, and if it is off even a little, it can affect the car's handling, tire wear, and ride quality. There are some signs to watch for that can help you determine if your front steering and suspension need some adjustment, and your local alignment shop can help correct it. 

Understanding Alignment

The front-end alignment on your car involves several things. The position of the tires in relation to the ground, the vehicle's centerline, and each other are all part of the alignment, and they can wander or change over time as parts in the suspension and steering wear. The components start to become sloppy or loose and allow the tires to lean in or out more than they should or turn in or out at the front, causing the tires to scuff on the pavement as you drive. 

The result is a set of tires that wears unevenly, and over time they will begin to wear out along parts of the tire that they are not designed to. Often this results in cords or steel wires appearing, and the tires become unsafe to use. While the wear is often the most noticeable visual indication of a problem, if your vehicle wanders in the lane, pulls to one side or the other, or feels loose as you are driving, you may have an alignment issue, and you should check the vehicle. 

Verify The Alignment

When you take your vehicle in for an alignment, the technician working on it will check all the suspension and steering parts before putting the vehicle on the alignment rack. If there is anything that is noticeable worn, they will note it before checking the alignment. 

Your vehicle is put on a machine called an alignment rack that uses a computer and some laser sensors to check the position of each tire on the car. While the front tires are typically the ones of most concern, the rears are also checked. The computer will calculate the alignment as the vehicle sits then generate a report indicating the current settings and what the vehicle should be set at. 

If the suspension is in good condition, the tech can adjust the alignment by making a few small changes under the car. In some situations, adjusting the alignment is not possible until some parts are replaced. Ball joints, inner and outer tie rods, struts, and steering links that are worn may need to be replaced with new parts before the tech can get the alignment back to the manufacturer's specifications. 

Replacing parts on the car is more common on older cars but can be necessary on any vehicle. Once the alignment is reset, the handling and ride of the vehicle will improve, and the tires will wear more evenly.

For more information on your car's alignment, contact an auto shop near you.

Share