Wheel Alignment

A wheel alignment consists of adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. The purpose of these adjustments is maximum tire life and a vehicle that tracks straight and true when driving along a straight and level road. Not only does a poor alignment decrease gas mileage and tire life, but it also adds stress to your vehicle’s steering equipment and structure.

Normal driving conditions, after time, can easily cause the necessity of wheel alignments. Abnormal driving conditions, such as driving on dirt or potholed roads, can intensify the problem and necessitate the need for frequent alignment checks and adjustments. If you are looking for an auto shop that provides quality wheel alignment service, our ASE certified technicians are here to provide your vehicle with the best care.

If you know anything about wheel alignment, you’ve probably heard the terms Camber, Caster and Toe-in.

Camber is the angle of the wheel, measured in degrees, when viewed from the front of the vehicle. If the top of the wheel is leaning out from the center of the car, then the camber is positive, if it’s leaning in, then the camber is negative. If the camber is out of adjustment, it will cause tire wear on one side of the tire’s thread. If the camber is too far negative, for instance, then the tire will wear on the inside of the thread.

Caster is the angle of this steering pivot, measured in degrees, when viewed from the side of the vehicle. If the top of the pivot is leaning toward the rear of the car, then the caster is positive, if it is leaning toward the front, it is negative. If the caster is out of adjustment, it can cause problems in straight line tracking. The toe measurement is the difference in the distance between the front of the tires and the back o fthe tires. It is measured in fractions of an inch in the US and it is usually set close to zero which means that the wheels are parallel with each other.

Toe-in means that the fronts of the tires are closer to each other than the rears. Toe-out is just the opposite. An incorrect toe-in will cause rapid tire wear to both tires equally.

Symptoms include:

  • Off-center steering wheel
  • Vehicle that pulls to one side
  • Uneven tire wear
  • Vibration when driving

LOCATION

1620 136th PL NE
Bellevue, WA 98005