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Wheel Alignment FAQs

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.