Gas prices are currently cheap, but that doesn't mean you should just drive without regard to car maintenance. Wheel alignment, for instance, is something you have to pay close attention to. Failure to do so could result in serious damage to your car.
Why do wheels need to be aligned?
When all four wheels are aligned, they are perpendicular to the road and working together to get you to your destination. It's like being in verbal alignment with a taxi driver—if he knows where you want to go, you'll get there. Any miscommunication could land you up in an unfamiliar spot, or at least make it more difficult to get to where you are going.
How do wheels lose alignment?
Normal wear tends to breakdown your wheels, and often the wear is more evident on one set of your wheels than another. For instance, taking hundreds more right turns than left turns will wear down the wheels on the right side of your car faster than those on the left side. When that happens, wheel alignment for the right side is necessary.
Aside from normal wear, something like a big jolt can knock your tires off their parallel axis. This means you need to avoid potholes, hitting the curb while parking, and speeding. You are much more aware of your surroundings as a driver if you keep to the speed limit.
Is the alignment really a big deal?
For many reasons, yes. Wheel alignment helps you save on gas, because the wheels move smoothly instead of fighting through the pressure of pushing against each other. When your wheels are fighting to operate correctly, your vehicle burns more fuel.
When your wheels are not aligned, the pressure they face of trying to operate correctly wears them out much quicker than normal. If saving money by not buying new tires is a big deal to you, wheel alignment should be a very big deal.
When should you get your wheels aligned?
If you feel that you have to tug on the steering wheel or constantly favor the wheel on one side, it is time to stop in at an auto repair shop for a quick repair. Wheels should be aligned approximately every 6,000 miles as it is.
Even if you can't tell that the wheels aren't aligned, you should keep to a schedule of having them aligned. Fractions of a degree are sometimes a big enough difference to make trouble for your car. It's safer and more efficient to have your wheels aligned as often as possible by a professional-- like those at D Wells Automotive Service.
Share13 January 2015
Understanding more about the type of car that you have can help you understand the best ways to maintain it, and how to tell if there’s trouble brewing under the hood before you end up stranded. That’s why, when I found a car make that I liked, I kept going back to it every time I bought a new car. It’s also why I use a mechanic that specializes in repairing and maintaining cars made by my specific manufacturer type. Over the years, I’ve learned so much about what makes this particular car work, and what kind of quirks come with this type of vehicle. I started this blog to share some of that information and help other car owners learn to effectively maintain their automobiles and recognize the potential signs of trouble.
