Wheel Alignment in Euless & North Richland Hills, TX

HIGH-TECH ALIGNMENTS THAT WON'T STEER YOU WRONG

Wheel Alignment Euless - Two Euless Locations to Serve You

wheel aligment

Wheel Alignment maximizes the life of your tires. Misaligned wheels can cause tire wear, as well as lower your gas mileage. A wheel alignment means adjusting the suspension of your vehicle so that all four tires hit the road at the correct angle. It’s important to have confidence in your vehicle’s handling and safety on the road.

Understanding Wheel Alignment Service 

During a wheel alignment service,  a qualified mechanic connects your vehicle to a machine that uses laser technology to measure the camber and toe of your wheels. The mechanic will then make adjustments to the angle of each wheel to ensure that your wheels are perfectly in line with each other.

Why Wheel Alignment is Important 

Ensuring that your vehicle travels in a straight line is a vital part of vehicle maintenance. Believe it or not, driving with your wheels out of alignment can negatively affect major components of your vehicle and end up costing you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in avoidable repairs.

Here are just a few of the negative impacts of driving with your wheels out of alignment:

Fuel Economy

When your wheels are out of alignment, the rolling resistance of your vehicle is increased, forcing your engine and transmission to work harder to accelerate and maintain speed. Due to this increased rolling resistance, you may notice a reduction in fuel economy. Studies show that driving with misaligned wheels can decrease fuel economy by as much as 10%. 

Tires

Tires are not cheap, but they are a vital component of your vehicle; they are the only parts to actually touch the road. If your car’s alignment is off, your tires can wear unevenly due to increased stress or weight on a particular portion of your tire.

You may also notice that your tires wear down in one particular area and look like new in other areas. Unfortunately, you can’t fix tires that have suffered damage from misalignment, and you must replace them. If your car’s alignment is off center, we recommend scheduling an appointment with the experts at a Parra Car Care tire shop at your earliest convenience.

Transmission

Increased rolling resistance puts additional strain and stress on your transmission. If left unchecked, misaligned tires can negatively affect your transmission.

Suspension 

Driving with your car’s alignment off center could lead to suspension damage due to the added stress on your suspension components.

How Often Wheel Alignment Should Be Completed

We recommend that you receive a wheel alignment service every two to three years. However, there are instances when you may need a wheel alignment much sooner. Here are a few events that usually speed up your need for wheel alignment service:

  • Aggressive driving
  • Off-roading
  • Hitting a pothole
  • Hitting a curb
  • A collision
  • An emergency avoidance maneuver 

How To Tell When It’s Time for Wheel Alignment

If you're driving on a flat, smooth surface, and you notice that you constantly have to  apply torque to the steering wheel to drive in a straight line, it's likely that you need a wheel alignment service.

Additionally, if you look down at the emblem on your steering wheel, and you notice that your emblem is a few degrees off center, it's time to get your car's alignment checked.

Wheel Balancing Versus. Wheel Alignment

Sometimes, the terms wheel balancing and wheel alignment are used interchangeably. However, these are two very different services. As we've mentioned, a mechanic measures the camber and toe of your wheels during a wheel alignment. Once these measurements have been taken, the mechanic will make minor wheel adjustments to ensure that your wheels travel on a perfectly straight axis.

A wheel balancing service involves adding small weights, weighing just a few grams, to the side of your wheels to offset any vibration that may enter the cabin. When tires are manufactured, tiny imperfections during the manufacturing process can cause small weight imbalances. These weight imbalances translate to vibrations that enter the cabin once the tires begin to rotate. Adding tiny weights to the side of your wheels will offset any vibration and allow your tires to perform as they should while you enjoy a smooth and comfortable ride.

Schedule Service at Parra Car Care 

If your car’s alignment is off, and you're looking for a trustworthy alignment shop for service, look no further than Parra Car Care. Our service center is staffed with ASE-certified mechanics who perform maintenance and auto repair services on all makes and models of vehicles.

We can handle your car, truck, or SUV alignment needs and get you back on the road as soon as possible. We even feature money-saving service coupons that help maximize your savings while enjoying quality care.

Schedule an appointment at Parra Car Care and enjoy trusted wheel alignment service today!

WHEN SHOULD A WHEEL ALIGNMENT BE PERFORMED?

  • You notice a pull to either side while you're driving, especially when accelerating.

  • If you have recently hit a curb, or debris in the road.

  • At manufacturer-recommended intervals.

Ready for a smoother ride?

If your vehicle is making unusual sounds, has new vibrations or odors, or just isn’t running the way it used to, then bring it into one of our three local auto repair shops. Get in touch with us today!

Wheel Alignment FAQs

How often should alignment be done?

At Parra Car Care, we recommend having a four-wheel alignment performed on your vehicle every two to three years. Failing to have a wheel alignment service performed on time or continuing to drive a vehicle that needs wheel alignment can cause excess wear and tear and result in avoidable automotive repairs.

What will a wheel alignment do?

During a wheel alignment service, one of our ASE-certified mechanics will connect your vehicle to a specialized machine that measures the four wheels' exact camber and toe. Once measured, a mechanic will make the necessary adjustments to the angle of your wheels to ensure that they point in precisely the same direction and are aligned perfectly with one another.

A wheel alignment ensures that your vehicle travels in a straight line with the lowest rolling resistance possible. Although a car alignment service may sound like a minor deal, your car's alignment has many effects on your vehicle. Here are a few examples of the components that a wheel alignment affects:

  • Suspension
  • Transmission
  • Tires

How do you know if your wheels need alignment?

Here are a few signs that your vehicle may need car alignment service:

  • Pulling — You may need a wheel alignment service if your vehicle consistently pulls to one side when you drive. This is especially obvious on flat roads if your vehicle needs constant correction to travel in a straight line.
  • Vibration — If your steering wheel is vibrating or you feel vibrations shake the cabin when you reach driving speed, this may be a sign that you need wheel alignment service. When wheels move out of alignment, they try to pull your vehicle in different directions. This “tug of war” between your wheels translates to vibrations that can be felt inside the cabin.

What causes alignment to go off?

As you drive, your tires, steering, and suspension system encounter thousands of impacts daily as you roll over road imperfections, potholes, speed bumps, and whatever else lies in the road. Even as you turn, thousands of pounds of force is being put on your steering and suspension system. Over time, these impacts and turning stresses slowly move your wheels out of alignment. While these stresses only cause a few degrees of movement, even the smallest misalignment can negatively affect your vehicle.

What's the difference between alignment and balancing?

Wheel alignment is the act of aligning your wheels to point perfectly straight. Wheel balancing is adding weights to your tires to counter vibrations.

Minor imperfections created when tires are manufactured can cause them to vibrate once they reach driving speed. When a wheel balancing service is performed, one of our ASE-certified mechanics will install small weights on the side of your tires that weigh just a few grams. These weights are seldom noticed and counter any weight imbalances to ensure vibrations aren't felt in the cabin.

How long is wheel alignment supposed to last?

Typically, you need a wheel alignment service every two to three years. However, these driving situations may cause you to visit an alignment shop sooner:

  • Spirited driving
  • Pothole impacts
  • Collisions
  • Off-road driving

What should a wheel alignment cost?

The cost of wheel alignment will depend on whether your vehicle is receiving a front- or four-wheel alignment. Alignments on larger vehicles, such as heavy-duty pickup trucks or commercial vehicles, often cost more than smaller vehicles like sedans and SUVs.

At Parra Car Care, we work to help you save money by offering low, affordable prices without sacrificing quality. We also encourage you to check our current service specials and see how much you can save on your vehicle's service.

What are the signs that you need a wheel alignment?

These are a few signs that your vehicle needs car alignment:

  • Tilted Steering Wheel — You may need a wheel alignment if you notice that the emblem on your steering wheel is a few degrees off-center when you're driving on a flat, even road.
  • Uneven Tire Wear — Uneven tire wear is a telltale sign that your car's alignment is off. If your tires are worn on the inside or outside ring of the tread, your vehicle's weight is not evenly distributed across its four tires. This is likely a sign that you need a wheel alignment.