Do I need a Wheel Alignment?

A wheel alignment is something every car needs every now and then. Your wheels and suspension can slowly become misaligned over time or from hitting a deep pothole. Read on to discover if your car needs a wheel alignment.

What Is A Wheel Alignment?

The wheels of your car are aligned to be as efficient as possible and minimise rolling resistance. There are three main variables adjusted during a wheel alignmet. These are:

1. The Wheel Camber Angle

Camber is the left and right angles of your wheel when looking at it from the front of your car.

2. The Wheel Toe Angle

The toe angle refers to whether your tyres are pointing inwards or outwards from each other.

3. The Suspension Caster Angle

The suspension caster angle refers to the angle of the suspension towards the front of the car or the rear of the car.

A Wheel Alignment Is Generally Required When:

  • You get a new set of tyres. (Read out blog to find out when to replace your tyres)
  • Your vehicle is lowered or raised
  • A suspension part is replaced or adjusted
  • You’ve been in a crash
  • You’ve gone off road or ridden on some very bad road surfaces
  • It’s been a year since your last wheel alignment

Note every service requires a wheel alignment. For more information about servicing, visit our service page.

Why Is a Wheel Alignment Important?

As discussed above, the wheels of your car are aligned to be as efficient as possible and minimise rolling resistance. This allows your car to move easily and puts less strain on the engine. Less strain on the engine means that the engine doesn’t have to work as hard, saving you money on fuel. It also means that all tyres are having the least amount of strain possible put on them, causing them to wear out as slowly as possible. Poorly aligned wheels cause tyres to wear unevenly, which means they need to be replaced sooner. All of these items are extra expenses that can be avoided with a simple care & maintenance.

Signs You Might Need A Wheel Alignment

If your car needs to have a wheel alignment, there are usually a few tell tale signs including:

  • Your car is pulling to the left or right
  • One or more of your tyres are wearing out quickly
  • Your steering wheel is not centered when driving straight
  • Your tyres are occasionally squeaking
  • Your fuel consumption is higher than normal

If you think your car needs a wheel alignment, or you just haven’t had one in a while, contact the team at Australian Mechanical and book in for a wheel alignment today.

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