I need an honest answer to how do you know when its time to get your alignment done?

Question

I dont want to be taken advantage, if you know what i mean.

What do mechanics do to fix the alignment?

Answer 1

That's a pretty complicated question, there are many factors and components that affect your vehicles alignment.

The front suspension is obviously the most critical portion of the formula. How do you know when it's time to get it aligned? The first step is to examine your tires. Are they worn on the inside? Worn on the outside? Cupped and worn in the middle?

Any of these wear patterns indicate an issue with the front or rear suspension/alignment components. The primary components that play a role in your alignment and how your tires wear are the ball joints, inner tie-rod ends, outer tie-rod ends, A-arm bushings, stabilizer bar connections, and possibly upper ball joints (if you have them) if not the condition of the struts. Tires that are properly balanced also play a major role.

Obviously if you have to cock your wheel to the side to get the vehicle to go in a straight line you have an issue. Vehicles do not typically "come out of" alignment. One of the components above fails, the tires are not balanced, they have not been rotated at the proper intervals, or the vehicle was slammed into a curb.

If you notice improper wear on the tires or you have to cock the steering wheel to obtain a straight line you need an alignment AND 1 or 2 other components replaced. Ball joints usually wear down by the 80k mile mark and tie-rod ends around the 60k mile mark.

The tie-rod is essentially what moves your front wheels in and out. They are connected to a steering rack that pushes out or pulls in to move the tires accordingly. An alignment (once all items are repaired/checked) is done by placing the vehicle on a special machine, dialing in factory specs, and then adjusting the tie rod placement...i.e. moving it in and out to obtain a straight line.

A good 4 wheel alignment by itself runs around $70-$80. A basic alignment will run around $40 and will only entail adjusting front tie-rods to match factory specs. In addition any shop that does alignments will refuse to do it if you have a bad components (ball joint, tie-rod end, etc) because the results will be inaccurate.

This is the tip of the iceberg really, the question is rather vague. To ensure you don't get screwed don't go in asking for an alignment, ask to have the suspension components checked, if they find a failure ask them to show and explain to you the issue. Once these items are corrected move onto the alignment...the alignment is a standard procedure, if they charge more than $80 for a 4 wheel alignment you're getting screwed ;)

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

I will explain in street terms. They adjust the in-out of the tires (Toe) and the up-down angle (Camber). Most times this not needed often unless you run into a ditch or something major that could throw the alignment off.
When you jack up the front of a car you will notice how the tires tilt in. When it on the ground they straighten up. Camber adjust for this and compensates for engine weight etc.
When we drive down the road, friction wants to push the tires back and either in/out. The toe adjustment compensates for this. Usually it a little toe in and as we go forward the tire straighten out.
When they align the tires they use a manual specific to the car to know the degrees of angle to make everything work correct.
Usually, extreme tire wear (Outer or inner edge of the tread) is the sign the tires need aligned.

Answer 3

Easiest indicator is that your vehicle is pulling to one side during coasting. Another way that only shows after your alignment has been bad for some time is uneven tire wear. More specifically, the tread wears very fast on one side of the tire and very little on the other.

Answer 4

Telling us the year, make, type would have been quite effectual. without that we can't grant you with a company answer. as an occasion, in some Ford automobiles you are able to do away with the strut from the steerage knuckle to do away with the wheel bearing. as a fashion to try this you are able to decrease the engine cradle somewhat to disconnect the knuckle type the ball joint. All of that transformations the alignment. each motor vehicle is diverse whilst it incorporates changing hub bearings. some do no longer require any ball joint disconnect. So the respond is: we won't grant you with a diverse answer. If uncertain, get an alignment. Or, repost your query with the right informaiton.

Answer 5

are the tires showing signs of wear yet? If you can momentarily let go of the steering wheel and the car pulls to one side. Most places start alignments at about 120 bucks and they charge extra for additional parts.

Answer 6

when you get a new set of tires on your car it should be aligned also if you driving down the freeway and let go of the steering wheel and it pulls to one side or the other it needs aligned.

Answer 7

The car shaking a speed as well is improper tire wear is the best way to know without a machine. The shaking is obvious, the tire wear may be a little more difficuly to detect based on severity and your knowledge. Essentually, from side to side, the tire shoudl ware the same amount. If one sid eis worse than the other, the car is not aligned

Answer 8

Alignments are usually good to do whenever you have any type of work done on your tires, wheels or brakes. If at any time your steering wheel is not centered while driving straight is an indication of misalignment.

Answer 9

Well;If you notice unusual tire wear and it's not from driving with under inflated tires; you probably need an alignment.If your car seems to pull to one side or the other on a flat road;you probably need an alignment.Other than that I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Answer 10

Get the alignment checked once year. When it is checked they will tell you what need to be repaired.