What is Wheel alignment, and Why does your car Need it?

Owning a car comes with a lot of responsibilities; it requires regular maintenance to get the most out of it. Without the proper care, your vehicle will not only cause damage but can also possibly become a cause of accidents. Experts in the automotive industry in Australia suggest getting your wheel alignment checked is one of the integral parts of car maintenance.

Proper wheel alignment refers to checking the angles of each of the wheels with respect to one another and the car. Misaligned wheels can often cause tyres to get damaged early on. Proper wheel alignment contributes to the extended life of the tyres.

Most car owners do not consider wheel alignment as a part of routine maintenance. We wait until we hit a pothole, a curb, or have new tires installed; that’s overlooked pretty much all the time.

What is wheel alignment?

Like cars, the suspension system on your vehicle is made up of multiple components that are also independent and yet move together in unison. This allows for the mechanism of optimal steering and vehicle handling. Since everything is working in proper unison, if even one of the parts wears out, the wheels are more prone to going out of alignment when obstruction hits. At this point, your vehicle is at risk of drifting away while driving. In that case, you will want to consider automotive repair by professionals.

Automotive repairs include wheel alignment, which requires full mechanical inspection and adjustment of your car’s suspension and steering components. Professional mechanics make use of a system of adjustment plates, lasers, and precision-assessed equipment, which ensures that the tires and wheels are properly aligned with your car’s mechanism. Professionals know how to bring them back to alignment by physically adjusting the tyres.

How can you tell if your tyre is not in alignment?

Just like other mechanical damages, a vehicle with tire alignment issues will project a few signs; read on to find out some of the most common ones that may indicate suspension misalignment.

The wheels start to vibrate

Vibrations on the steering wheel represent a significant mechanical problem; when it starts to vibrate obstructively at extremely low or high speeds, it can indicate that suspension components may be damaged, and its repercussions can be related to encountering conditions of misalignment.

At times, you may not feel them vibrating when driving at moderate speeds through town but rather when you experience general off-roading experiences. You are more likely to feel the vibration due to misalignment when you are driving at higher speeds. Get the wheels immediately aligned, or else the vibrations can get worse. The worsened situation can compromise your ability to keep a proper grip on your steering wheel and be able to drive safely down the road. 

The expert mechanics at Robin Baldwins are trusted professionals in the automotive industry of Australia, and it is a renowned name on the Central Coast. Call us to make an appointment or drop by our workshop located in the heart of West Gosford. Our friendly staff is well-equipped to fulfil all your servicing needs.

Uneven Tread Wear

In order to ensure even wear across the tread, the car tires have to be rotated every 5000 miles. If you notice instances where your tires are worn in specific patterns, that can be an indication of improper alignment suspension. Here are some of the factors that become the cause of this common wear issue, when the tread on the outside or inside of the tire is low, the tire treads show steels belts on the inside or outside of the tire when you notice a feathered tread where the tread on the tire won’t be smooth, and some tread blocks will be significantly higher than others.

How frequently does your car need a wheel alignment?

Professional mechanics of the efficient automotive industry of Australia recommend having a wheel alignment every time you hit a pothole on the road, strike a curb or face an obstruction on your way to work. In these situations, you come to face the most common causes of inaccurate wheel alignment.

Why having car alignment necessary?

Reasons why your car would need alignment

• Helps avoid traffic accidents.

Accidents are majorly caused by mechanical component failure, especially when steering or suspension parts suddenly break down, and your vehicle loses control. With suspension alignment, you get to reconcile issues before they break.

• It can help reduce tire wear.

When properly inflated tires are ridden straight over the spindles, the car will have less resistance to rolling. Since it has some resistance to moving, it can reduce premature or uneven tire wear, eventually expanding the lifespan of the tire.

• Overall improve fuel economy.

With aligned tires, you save time and fuel economy, as the vehicles drive faster when straighter.

Robin Baldwin’s services

The Automotive industry in Australia has made the lives of the citizens easier, especially with services like Robin Baldwin’s; you get advanced diagnostic scanning, smart start interlocks and overall advanced servicing, all at affordable prices. Feel free to contact us or drop by our workshop.