Honda Wheel-Alignment Service

The single most important thing you can do to get the maximum of life out of your tires is to keep your wheels properly aligned. Whether your tires are new or have thousands of miles on them, a misalignment can cause a harsher ride, compromised handling, and uneven or accelerated wear. To explain what a wheel alignment consists of, and why it’s so important, Germain Honda of Ann Arbor has put together this helpful guide.

Wheel Alignment Explained

The goal of a wheel alignment is to keep all of the wheels at the correct angle relative to each other and to the vehicle. This is actually accomplished with adjustments to the suspension, which connects the wheels to the vehicle. There are three different angles to consider when performing a wheel alignment:

Camber – The angle of the wheel when viewed from straight ahead. Essentially, whether the top of the wheel is pointed inward or outward. Incorrect camber can cause excessive wear on one side of the tire, and puts extra stress on ball joints and other suspension components.

Toe – Also to do with the angle of the wheels, but this time when viewed from above. Think of looking down at your feet, and whether or not they’re pointed straight ahead.

Caster – This refers to the angle of the steering axis relative to the wheel. It doesn’t have an effect on tire wear, but it is still important for handling, especially at high speeds.

Signs or Symptoms of Improper Wheel Alignment

Improper alignment is really one of the easier problems to spot warning signs of. And that’s good, considering how important it is. The experts at Germain Honda of Ann Arbor have identified these four warning signs of an improper alignment that you should be looking out for.

OFF-CENTER STEERING WHEEL – When driving in a straight line on a level surface, the steering wheel should be centered. It being off is a sure sign of misalignment.

VEHICLE PULLING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT – Related to the off-center steering wheel, but a more extreme form it. If you’re having to fight to keep your vehicle heading straight, you absolutely need an alignment.

STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION – Sometimes this is caused by uneven tire wear from an existing problem. But sometimes it’s from damaged suspension components, and bringing it in for service can help prevent further damage.

UNEVEN TIRE WEAR – More wear on one side than the other, or unusual patterns in the wear on the tread is a sign that there is something wrong with your alignment. This can lead to serious safety problems, so it is imperative to have it serviced as soon as you see the problem.