A wheel alignment is vital for the health of your vehicle. It consists of adjusting the angles of the wheels so they are within manufacturer specifications. Adjustments are made to the camber, caster and toe.
WHEEL ALIGNMENT 101
A wheel alignment is vital for the health of your vehicle. It consists of adjusting the angles of the wheels so they are within manufacturer specifications. Adjustments are made to the camber, caster and toe. Let's take a further look into each of these adjustments...
1. Camber
This is the inward or outward angle of the tire when viewed from the front of the vehicle. Too much inward or outward tilt, also known as negative and positive camber, respectively, indicates improper alignment and will need to be adjusted. Worn bearings, ball joints, and other wheel-suspension parts may contribute to camber misalignment.
2. Caster
Your caster angle helps balance steering, stability, and cornering. Specifically, it’s the angle of your steering axis when viewed from the side of your vehicle. If you have positive caster, the steering axis will tilt toward the driver. Negative caster, on the other hand, means the steering axis tilts toward the front of your vehicle.
3. Toe
Distinct from camber alignment, toe alignment is the extent to which your tires turn inward or outward when viewed from above. If that’s confusing, just stand up and look down at your feet. Angle them inward toward the center of your body. When the tires on your car are angled the same way (remember, we’re thinking in terms of birds-eye-view), we call this toe-in alignment. Angle your feet outward and you have toe-out alignment. Both require adjustment.
SIGNS OF A BAD
WHEEL ALIGNMENT
1. Steering wheel is off centre
If you’re driving straight down a flat, level road, your steering wheel should be sitting close to perfectly straight. There’s usually a small amount of discrepancy allowed depending on the crown of the road, but overall the wheel should be sitting centred and straight, and your vehicle emblem in the centre of the steering wheel should appear level to you. If the wheel is off centre by more than a few degrees in either direction, it’s time to have an alignment performed. This will return your steering wheel to centre, and may improve the overall drivability as well.
2. Vehicle pulls to the right of left
Similar to the first point, vehicle pull is most easily noticed while driving straight down a level road. There is a common misconception that the vehicle should drive perfectly straight with your hands off the steering wheel. In a perfect world, this would be true, but in reality this isn’t the case because all roads have some degree of crowning which causes a slight pull to one side. Completely removing your hands from the steering wheel is also very dangerous. Instead, the vehicle should drive straight ahead with very little effort on the steering wheel. If your car pulls to one side or the other, it’s time to have your alignment checked and corrected, which usually corrects the vehicle pull and improves overall drivability.
2. Uneven or abnormal tire wear
Tire wear can speak volumes about the condition of a car. Our qualified technician can use tire wear patterns to make educated guesses about tire pressure, suspension condition, and alignment problems. Wear on only the inside or outside edges of tires indicates a problem with the camber adjustment. Feathering or scalloping of the tires often indicates a problem with the toe adjustment. Tire wear is most often noticed by a mechanic while performing a tire rotation or an inspection or service. If you have any of these abnormal tire wear patterns, then you should consider having an alignment performed on your vehicle. There is added benefit in that proper alignment greatly increases the life of your tires by ensuring they wear evenly.
BENEFITS OF A
WHEEL ALIGNMENT
1. Better gas mileage
When your wheels are aligned properly, it cuts down on rolling resistance, which means that you car doesn't have to work as hard or burn as much fuel in order to move forward. This is good news for everyone: Not only do you spend less money on gas, but you also get the satisfaction of knowing your car is responsible for less pollution.
2. More mileage out of your tires
Even the slightest problem with your alignment can have disastrous effects on your tires. If your tires have too much or too little toe-in (the degree at which they point in toward each other at the front, like a person who stands pigeon-toed), a narrow strip on each tire will wear down very quickly, causing you to have to get new tires sooner. By getting regular wheel alignments, you ensure that your tires wear evenly, making them last as long as possible.
3. Less wear and tear on other parts
Having the wheels out of alignment can be stressful on the rest of the car, too. It means that you continually need to put pressure on the steering system in order to keep the car straight. A properly aligned vehicle can reduce the chances of unnecessary and costly repairs.
4. Easier to drive
One of the biggest advantages of having your wheels aligned properly is that your car is easier to drive. No annoying pull to one side or the other. It's much easier and more pleasant to drive a car that has had regular wheel alignments.
LEVEL AUTO
DIFFERENCE
Latest technology, equipment and software
Our wheel alignment equipment utilizes the latest in 3D-imaging technology. This allows use to perform real-time and accurate adjustments with reduced wait times and errors. Matched with the latest original manufacturer specifications, we can even align vehicles manufactured in the current year.
Licensed and experienced technicians
Pre-alignment inspection perfomed
Complimentary tire pressure check and adjustment
Wheel alignment summary provided
Ability to accommodate lowered and lifted vehicles
Ability to set custom wheel alignment specifications
Ability to adjust aftermarket alignment components
PRICING
Standard, premium and super vehicles
Due to the increased labour time required to perform wheel alignments on certain makes and models, additional charges are applicable.
Standard vehicles ($70 - $90)
Standard vehicles include: Acura, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daewoo, Dodge, Eagle, Fiat, Ford, GMC, Genesis, Geo, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Jeep, Kia, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Oldsmobile, Plymouth, Pontiac, RAM, Saab, Smart, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo
Premium vehicles ($90 - $110)
Premium vehicles include: Acura (certain models), Alfa Romeo, Audi, Austin Healey, BMW, Chrysler (certain models), Dodge (certain models) Honda (certain models), Hummer, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep (certain models), Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Porsche, Saab, Volkswagen (certain models)
Super vehicles ($200+)
Super vehicles include: Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lotus, Maserati, Maybach, McLaren, Porsche (certain models), Rolls-Royce