Does your vehicle pull to one side when the steering wheel is perfectly centred? Does the handling feel loose while you are driving? Does your tyre have abnormal or irregular wear? All of these could be signs that your car is in need of a wheel alignment.
What is wheel alignment Service?
At the time of selling the vehicle, every vehicle manufacturer provides wheel alignment specifications in order for you to be able to maximise the steering response and maintain a steady driving direction with little to no effort.
There are three distinct elements involved in wheel alignment, the camber angle, the caster angle and the toe angle.
Camber angle is the inward or outward angle of the tyre when viewed from the front of the vehicle. Too much inward or outward tilt, also known as negative and positive camber, indicates improper alignment and will need to be adjusted.
Toe angle Is the left or right tyre assembly slant and is the extent to which your tyres turn inward or outward when viewed from above. If you find that confusing, just stand up and look down at your feet. Angle them inward toward the centre of your body. When the tyres on your car are angled the same way , we call this toe-in alignment. Angle your feet outward and you have toe-out alignment. Both require adjustment.
Castor angle is the vertical axis of a vehicle’s steered wheels which helps balance steering and provides stability when 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.
Importance of wheel alignment
Getting your wheel alignment checked on a regular basis can have a far-reaching impact on your tyre’s life and performance. It ensures less wear and tear of the tyres and provide endurance and longevity. Wheel alignment service provides the driver with a smoother driving experience.
Have you ever had to drive straight with your steering wheel slightly tilted in either direction? This is what can happen when your wheels are not properly aligned, and in addition to being highly stressful, it can also be extremely dangerous as it is not the natural driving position, and a lapse in concentration can prove to be extremely dangerous. Wheel alignment is thus critical to one’s safety.
Wheel alignment also helps to increase fuel efficiency, as more fuel is required to achieve the same speeds when your wheels are not pointing in the exact same direction.
Are your vehicle’s wheels aligned?
Typically it is advisable to get your wheel alignment checked every two months. However, if your vehicle has received any sort of major or jarring impact to the front, or has been involved in some type of accident, it is advisable to get it checked immediately in order to ensure that it will drive fine. It can be extremely dangerous to drive with misaligned wheels, as the vehicle will not always respond as you expect it to.
Other cases in which you should get your wheel alignment checked are when you find your vehicle pulling in one particular direction, or when your tyres start to wear in a rapid or uneven manner. Wheel alignment is crucial in ensuring the safety of those within the vehicle, and should not be ignored by vehicle owners, as it is a critical facet of vehicle maintenance.
At Saeedi Pro, all eight of our service centres across Dubai and one in Abu Dhabi provide advanced computerised wheel alignment services – book your appointment to get your wheel alignment checked today!
