Wheel Alignment: Top 10 Reasons to Get One
Eccles Auto Service is always staying on top of technology to meet customer service and alignment needs. We have the latest technology available to align both new and older vehicles! The Hunter WA473-CM is designed to check the mechanical and electronic functions of your vehicles steering.
This wheel aligner uses four precision cameras to measure the position and orientation of targets mounted to each wheel using Hunter’s patented QuickGrip™ adaptors. These adaptors feature spring-loaded arms that grip the tire, eliminating metal to metal contact and subsequent rim damage. This tool is built to perform both 2 wheel alignments and 4 wheel alignments.
Now that you know a little bit about the technology and how the machines work, read below as to why you need to get a wheel alignment:
Top 10 Reasons to Get a Wheel Alignment
- New tires. If you’re getting new tires installed or if they’ve already been installed, a wheel alignment and balancing prevents them from wearing unevenly.
- Uneven tire wear. If you’re visibly checking for and noticing this, your tires’ lifespan is suffering! Bring your car in right away for a checkup.
- The steering wheel feels off-center or unbalanced. Pay close attention to how driving feels, and look out for numbers 4 and 5 below.
- Your vehicle pulls or steers left or right. You should always have full control over your vehicle.
- While driving your vehicle drifts or tracks in one direction. Driving with your wheel in the neutral, centered position should make you track straight as an arrow, not track to one side or the other.
- You feel unusual handling or vibration. You know your car well, so if it’s doing something differently, help it out and take it in for inspection.
- The vehicle made hard contact with a curb or pothole. This can throw off your alignment pretty easily. So can rough roads like gravel roads.
- Worn suspension. If a little bump in the road jolts your car more than usual, this is a sign of worn suspension. And worn suspension might lead to wheel misalignment.
- As part of your routine seasonal service.
- Canadian winters. Bad roads can wreak havoc on wheel alignment and suspension. (You probably already knew that.)
How Often Should I Schedule Wheel Alignment Services?
Our experts recommend a wheel alignment every 20,000km or 12 months of driving. However, this estimate is subject to change depending on your unique driving habits, road conditions, and weather. For an individualized estimate on ideal tire alignment frequency, contact the shop or book online today!
