FIVE COMMON SIGNS TO NOTE THAT YOUR VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE REALIGNED

 With all the advances in vehicle technology and performance, it can seem daunting to keep up with all the required maintenance and repair work. Proper wheel alignment is one of the most important criteria for keeping your car safe and happy. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most overlooked. Many people struggle with the signs and symptoms of poor wheel alignment and often do not know that this is a simple solution. 

Here are five common signs that your vehicle needs to be aligned:


1.
Your steering wheel is not in the middle:

If you are driving on a flat road, your steering wheel should be almost straight. Depending on the road crown, a small deviation is usually permissible. Overall, however, the wheel should be centered and straight and your vehicle emblem in the
center of the steering wheel should just appear to you. When the wheel is more than a few degrees off-center in both directions, it's time to align. This puts your steering wheel back in the middle and can also improve the overall handling.

2.
Your vehicle moves in one direction or the other:

Similar to the first point, pulling the vehicle when driving straight on a flat road is the easiest. There is a common misconception that the vehicle should drive perfectly straight when you take your hands off the steering wheel. In a perfect world, this would be true, but in fact this is not the case, as all roads have a certain coronation, causing a slight drag to one side. Removing your hands completely from the steering wheel is also very dangerous. Instead, the vehicle should go straight on the steering wheel with very little effort. When your car drives to one side or the other, it's time to review and correct your orientation. This normally corrects the vehicle's tractive effort and improves overall handling.

3.


Abnormal tire wear in certain places:

The tire wear can give an indication of the condition of a car. A qualified technician can use tire wear patterns to make informed assumptions about tire pressure, suspension condition, and alignment problems. Wear only on the inside or outside edges of the tires indicates a problem with the camber adjustment. Leaking or bulging of the tires often indicates a toe setting problem. Tire wear is most commonly noticed by a mechanic while performing tire rotation or inspection or maintenance. If you have any of these abnormal tire wear patterns, consider having an alignment done on your vehicle. An added benefit is that proper alignment significantly extends the life of your tires by ensuring that they wear out evenly.

4.
The handling of the vehicle feels loose:

If the steering feels loose or unstable in your car, one of the possible causes is a poor tracking. This can be felt as if you are wandering the entire road while driving or that the car feels very loose and sloppy around corners. If your vehicle feels slightly unsteady while driving, whether you are driving or turning, you should check the alignment and correct if necessary.

5.
Your steering wheel doesn't return to the center:

After a turn, the steering wheel should automatically return to the center as you continue driving. Of course, you have to keep your hands on the steering wheel for faster and more controlled driving. However, if your steering wheel does not even try to get yourself in the middle again, this is a good indication that your alignment is right. If this is the case, you should perform an alignment check and complete alignment if necessary.