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Wheel Alignment
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What is alignment and why do I need to have my car aligned?
Wheel alignment is the relationship angles of the tires to the suspension and chassis of the vehicle. Improperly aligned vehicles wear tires unevenly and may have handling difficulties such as wandering or pulling to one side. Sometimes customers ask to have their vehicle aligned to cure a vibration. Alignment may have caused the vibration by wearing the tires unevenly and changing the wheel balance but changing the alignment angles will not eliminate the vibration. Additional services such as wheel balancing may be needed to correct a vibration. An alignment technician also checks the vehicle thoroughly for worn parts since a proper alignment is not possible when worn parts are present.
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What is the difference between front-end alignment, thrust angle alignment, and total vehicle alignment?
A traditional alignment involves measurements and adjustments for three wheel angles: toe in/toe-out (whether the leading edge of the tires are pointing in or out when viewing from above the vehicle), camber (the amount of tilt in or out of the top of the tire), and caster (the forward or backward angle of the “hinge” that permits steering left and right). The advent of optical or laser assisted alignment computers facilitated the measurement of other important angles and made thrust-angle and total vehicle alignment possible. A thrust-angle alignment is a process of starting with the rear axle since the rear axle is a determining factor in the direction of the vehicle. The thrust angle is an imaginary line perpendicular to the rear axle that passes through the centerline of the vehicle. The front end is aligned referencing the thrust angle and therefore the rear axle. This is superior to the traditional front-end alignment. Total vehicle alignment became necessary with the advent of independent rear suspensions with adjustable alignment angles. A total vehicle alignment aligns all four wheel positions in proper relation to each other. Central Tire does thrust-angle or total-vehicle alignment where that is possible. Central Tire has equipment and technicians capable of aligning all autos, light trucks, large trucks, race cars, vintage cars, and trailers.
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How often should I have my vehicle aligned?
Central Tire recommends that routine vehicle alignment and examination for worn parts be done at least annually. Any erratic driving or handling conditions would be cause for concern and may indicate the need to have alignment and parts checked immediately.
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