Wheel Alignments: What Are They & Why You Need One
Here at Master Tech Automotive, we have a brand new Bosch alignment machine with the newest innovations in alignment technology. Our machine has 6 cameras which check 6 different angles on your wheels. Most alignment machines only have 4. It has the latest computerized technology so you can be assured your car is getting the best alignment in town. But what does all this mean?
Sometimes customers are confused about wheel alignments. It’s an easy thing to be confused about- wheels are aligned to your car in three different ways and even people with more advanced automotive knowledge can get a little foggy about the three ways wheels are aligned.
So, what is a wheel alignment and what are the three ways wheels are aligned to your car? A wheel alignment, put simply, is making adjustments to the car’s wheels so the wheels are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. What are the three ways your wheels are aligned to your car? Here’s an explanation:
Camber: Camber is the angle of the wheel when viewed from the front of the car. If the top of the wheel is leaning away from the center of the car, that’s called positive camber. If it’s leaning toward the center of the car, that’s called negative camber.
Caster: Caster is the angle to which the steering pivot axis is tilted forward or rearward from vertical, as viewed from the side. Consider a shopping cart. Their wheels are on casters. If the casters do not align, what happens? The cart drives oddly and you spend a good 2 minutes considering whether it’s worth the time to go back to the cart area and get a new cart. Your car’s caster setting is similar to the shopping cart.
Toe: Toe refers to whether or not the tires are parallel to each other. If the tires point toward each other, it’s called “toe-in” and if they point away from each other, it’s called “toe-out.”
Caster and camber are not easily adjustable on most modern front wheel drive vehicles. Often if the caster or camber is seriously out of line, this means some part of the suspension is bent or broken and need to be replaced. Toe is the setting most commonly adjusted with a wheel alignment.
What a wheel alignment will do:
- If your car is pulling to one side, an alignment can normally fix that. Occasionally other problems cause your car to pull to one side, such as incorrect tire pressure adjustment, certain types of brake issues, and some suspension issues.
- It will help ensure you get the best amount of wear time on your tires. Improper wheel alignment can cause a multitude of tire issues, especially uneven wear and “spots”.
What a wheel alignment will not do:
- Fix a vibration in your car. Wheel balancing issues, tire wear, certain brake problems and certain suspension problems can cause vibrations in your car.
Making sure your wheels are in good alignment can make a major difference in how long your tires last. Tires are expensive- taking care of them is an essential way to save money. Come in today and get an alignment for your car!
{ 1 Comment }The Ruthies Love Master Tech!
Master Tech Automotive was recently awarded by the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal “Ruthie Awards” as the “Best Import Auto Repair” finalist for 2009. Here is owner Michael Searcy and manager Jeff Ford smiling as they receive yet another Ruthie for outstanding customer service. After receiving the award Michael said, “After 14 years and numerous awards for customer service it still is humbling to receive this award. This is a testament to the people who work for me and our Christian principles that have guided us through the years. I must say, thank you to the people of Murfreesboro, my devoted employees, and God.”
{Comments Off}Bank Customer Comments
Gentlemen,
I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for the great care that you show to all of us here at the bank, but especially for the exceptional service you provided to me on Friday! You really “over delivered” on Friday and I wanted you to know how much I/we appreciate you all! From flat tires, bad starters, leaky radiators and oil changes, you take care of it all!
Our husbands and boyfriends also “thank you” because they either don’t have the knowledge or aren’t ever around to be able to come to our rescue. Thank you ALL for coming to our rescue, taking care of our cars and taking the “worry” out of taking care of these vehicles.
We will continue to refer all of our friends and family to you! Great job!
Elizabeth and all the bank ladies at Regions
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