Wheel alignment is more important than many vehicle owners realize. A lot of people think it’s just about keeping the vehicle driving straighter, but it’s much more than that. It affects the tire tread wear. It affects handling of the vehicle on straightaways and turns. It affects your safety as a driver.
In other words, if your wheel alignment is off, you’ll want to get it fixed as soon as possible. Schultz Auto and Truck Repair in Hamburg, NY is your local wheel alignment headquarters. We can test the alignment and let you know if there are any concerns. If there are, we can make alignment repairs and ensure that your vehicle is performing its best on the road.
There are three things we look for when testing for wheel alignment:
1. Camber
If you are looking directly at your vehicle from the front or rear, camber is the vertical angle of the wheels/tires. If they are pointing inward at the top, then that is called “negative camber.” If they are pointing inward at the bottom, then that’s considered “positive camber.” Proper camber will improve cornering performance and help keep tread wear more even.
2. Toe
Toe would refer to the angle of the tires as if you are looking at the vehicle directly from above or below. If they are pointing toward each other in the front (like pigeon toed feet), it’s called “toe in.” The other way would be “toe out.” Toe directly affects the straight-line driving ability as well as cornering.
3. Caster
Caster is the hardest to explain because it relates to the steering’s pivot point in relation to the front and back of the vehicle. It effectively impacts the steering ability of the vehicle.
You want your camber, toe and caster all in proper alignment for the best vehicle performance, fuel economy and tire tread wear. Improper wheel alignment can also put more strain on your wheels, brakes, suspension and other drive train components.
Signs You Might Have Wheel Alignment Problems
Here are some of the most common symptoms of poor wheel alignment:
• Vehicle pulling strongly toward one side or the other
• Trouble cornering
• Really uneven tire tread wear
• Reduced gas mileage
• Excessive vibrations while driving on flat roads
Wheel Alignment Tests and Repairs
Trust Schultz Auto and Truck Repair to perform a thorough wheel alignment test to make sure everything is working properly. If repairs or a front-end alignment is recommended, our auto repair experts will get the job done right. You’ll get back on the road safely and your vehicle will run as smoothly as possible.
Call Schultz Auto and Truck Repair today at (716) 422-4008 or book an appointment online to schedule your wheel alignment test or alignment service and repairs.