Every car uses a steering and suspension system to provide you with a smooth and comfortable ride. Over time, it’s inevitable that your wheels will end up being out of alignment. When you run over potholes or deal with the endless amount of construction in this part of the country, it can make your alignment go out of whack. Even if you don’t live in a busy area, your steering and alignment settings will move eventually. When this happens, it can cause all kinds of unpleasant problems for your vehicle and your driving experience.
When your car is manufactured, the alignment is already set per factory specs. When it gets misaligned, you might not even notice it, especially when you’re driving under normal conditions. However, if you find that you need to react quickly to something like a small child or animal darting out into the road, your ability to control your vehicle could be compromised. This is a serious issue for safety as well as for general good handling of your vehicle. Another major problem with misalignment is excess wear to your tires. When your tire tread wears out, it can cause a blowout and cost you tons of money and frustration.
There are three main dimensions of wheel alignment: toe, caster, and camber. If the toe is off by even 1/8 of an inch, your tires are being dragged sideways across the pavement and you might not even know it. This happens every time you drive, which will eventually cause some serious tire wear and tear. Not only will it hurt your tires, but it’s also costing you money at the gas pump. Tires with uneven tread wear can reduce your car’s fuel economy by a significant amount.
It’s best to get a wheel alignment or at least an alignment check every year to two years. We offer all kinds of special discounts on alignments, lifetime alignments, and free alignment checks. You should consider wheel alignments as part of your regular vehicle maintenance plan. This will ensure that your car is handling safely and that your tires remain in excellent shape. If you’re in doubt, bring your car to DOC Auto and we’re happy to do a quick alignment check. If we see anything off-kilter, we’ll go ahead and recommend one of our alignment services so you can get back on the straight and narrow.
For all your automotive service needs, visit DOC Auto in Fredericksburg, VA today or give us a call to schedule an appointment.