When it comes to the health and performance of your car or truck, wheel alignment plays an important role. That’s why it’s always a good idea to get your wheel alignment checked regularly. If it is way off, then it is worth getting corrected as soon as possible.
There are three things looked at when we perform a wheel alignment test at LightHouse Automotive:
Camber
Camber is the angle of the wheel/tire if you are looking at it directly from the front or rear of the vehicle. If it is tilted in at the top, that’s considered negative camber. If it tilts the opposite way, that’s considered positive camber. You want the right camber for cornering performance and tread wear.
Caster
Caster is tougher to explain. It is the angle created by the steering’s pivot point, from the front to the back of the vehicle. It mainly impacts the steering of the vehicle.
Toe
Toe would be the angle of the tires if you are looking at it directly from above or below. “Toe in” refers to the fronts of the tires pointing toward each other. “Toe out” would be the opposite. Toe affects straight-line stability and cornering.
Ultimately, you want the proper balance of camber, caster and toe for your vehicle. This will help it perform correctly and will also extend the lifespan of vital automotive components like tires, wheels, brakes and suspension. Below are some of the most common benefits of proper wheel alignment
Tire Tread Wear
When wheels are properly aligned, your tires' tread wear should remain more consistent and that is good for the performance and longevity of your tires.
Steering
Having all your wheels pointed and rolling in the same direction will certainly impact your steering of the vehicle.
Cornering
Proper wheel alignment will definitely have an effect on your cornering ability. If your car slips or struggles around tight corners, you may have a wheel alignment issue worth getting checked out.
Less Stress on Brakes, Axles and Suspension Components
Keeping your wheels properly aligned will also help reduce the stress being put on these important components, thus increasing the lifespan of certain parts and providing better overall performance/ handling.
Gas Mileage
It’s true that having your wheels properly aligned can impact your vehicle’s gas mileage. If you notice your fuel efficiency going down, it may be an alignment problem or something else that you’ll want to get looked at by a professional mechanic.
Bring your car or truck into LightHouse Automotive in Colorado Springs for a wheel alignment test and any alignment repairs or adjustments that you need. We’ll get everything balanced correctly so you can get more out of your vehicle. Call LightHouse Automotive today at (719) 465-0302 today or schedule your next service appointment online.