Sunday, November 18, 2007

What exactly does alignment do for you?

When the wheels of your car are correctly aligned, they will roll smoothly, eliminate the dangers of dragging or slipping, and reduce steering effort. This affords you better steering control and stability, as well as greater driving safety. Properly aligned wheels also ensure that your tyres' wear evenly. So less strain is placed on the suspension of your car.

ALIGNMENT - THE FACTS
These days, most cars come equipped with modern suspension, steering and drive train design. All there to ensure your alignment maintains and provides a high level of performance. Many vehicles are also equipped with independent rear suspension that requires a regular alignment check. A misaligned rear suspension may also affect the front tyres.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ALIGNMENTS
When discussing tyre alignment, the two most commonly used terms are camber and toe. These two subjects have the greatest effect on tyre wear than any other. Improper toe-in or toe-out of the wheels causes excessive tread wear. They also create feathered edges on the ribs of your tyres. While improper camber causes wear and tear on only one side of tyres.

THE SIGN SAYS ALIGNMENT
Alignment for front wheels should be done when:

  1. Tyre wear is irregular.
  2. Tyre wear is excessive.
  3. Car steers hard or keeps pulling to one side.
  4. Front suspension or steering linkage components are replaced.
  5. Car has suffered a front-end collision.
  6. Either wheel has an exaggerated tilt.
  7. Front tyres are rotated or replaced.

AND NOW MORE ABOUT ALIGNMENT
When you buy a car, it comes with specifications already set by the manufacturer. This is done to cater to the variety of drivers and road conditions. However for everyday usage, the wheel alignment settings can be fine-tuned to meet your specifications and comfort. Check with your mechanic for the proper settings.

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