At Tru-Line Frame and Wheel we are here to provide you with as much information and education about your service as you desire. From just the basics to the finer details of computerized wheel alignment, we're happy to inform you. See the glossary below to help you with some of the most common information and standard terms.
The basics of wheel alignment
Wheel alignment is very important to the life of your vehicle. A car slightly out of alignment by just a few degrees can wear tires down significantly faster than normal and lower fuel economy.
How do you know when your car is out of alignment? Typical symptoms of a car out of alignment include:
- Excessive or uneven tire wear.
- Steering wheel pulls to the left or right.
- Feeling of looseness or wandering.
- Steering wheel is not centered when car is moving straight ahead.
As a general rule, it is good practice to have your wheel alignment checked every 10,000- 12,000 miles.
Below is an example of a car out of alignment.
The front wheels are not aligned to the rear thrust line. This can happen from normal wear and stress, whether your vehicle has adjustable or non-adjustable rear suspension. To steer straight, you would have to steer the front wheels slightly to the right, resulting in the vehicle possibly pulling to the side. Of course this is just an example and the angles are exaggerated for you to see the condition, but it takes only a small misalignment to create problems and unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle.
Why four wheel alignment?
- First and foremost and probably the most noticeable reason to keep your car properly aligned is to reduce tire wear. Improper alignment is a major cause of premature tire wear. A properly aligned vehicle can add thousands of miles to your tire life.
- Another significant reason for good alignment is for better gas mileage. Gas mileage increases as rolling resistance decreases. Correct alignment puts all four wheel parallel which, along with proper inflation, minimizes resistance.
- Another benefit is improved handling of your vehicle. Many of the following common handling problems can be fixed with total alignment.
- Pulling to one side
- Steering wheel vibration
- Maneuvering the steering wheel to keep your car traveling in a straight line
- Lastly but most importantly, it's important to keep your car aligned for safety. A suspension system inspection is recommended as part of regular vehicle maintenance. This allows for worn parts to be found before they cause costly problems.
Tire fundamentals
Manufacturers are required by Federal law to show standardized information on the sidewall of all tires. The information presented identifies the characteristics of the tire and provides an identification number for safety certification and in the case of recall.
Information on Passenger Vehicle Tires
Tire repair
Recommended repair of a punctured tire requires a plug for the hole and a patch for that the surrounding area. The repair material used - for example, a "combination patch and plug repair" - seals the inner liner and fills the hole for a permanent repair. Tread punctures can be repaired if they are not too large, but punctures to the sidewall are not recommended. Tires must be removed from the rim to be properly inspected before being patched and plugged.
Tire rotation
For most standard vehicles, rotating tires from front to back and from side to side can reduce irregular wear. Follow Tru-Line gives a free inspection every 4000 miles to our customers. We will discuss any recommendations at that time.
Suspension system modification
Suspension modifications vary widely and are case-specific.
Brake system
A typical brake system is made up of disk brakes in front and disk or drum brakes in the rear. Each wheel's brake is then connected to the master cylinder with tubes and hoses. Electronic braking systems include the anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic control of the front-to-rear bias known as electronic brake force distribution (EBD), traction control system (TCS), a brake assist or emergency brake (BA, EBA), and electronic stability control (ESC or ESP).