What is Wheel Alignment and Why is it Important?
At Queens Park Garage, we take care of a lot of different makes of car and offer a wide range of support including MOTs, servicing and repairs. One area that our customers often don’t think so much about is wheel alignment.
Here we take a closer look at what this is and how it can have a number of benefits if you want to maintain your car properly and improve things like fuel economy.
What is Wheel Alignment?
It makes sense that you should be able to drive in a straight line. We are all likely to notice if our wheels are hugely misaligned because it will be difficult to control the car. But what if it’s only a minor misalignment?
True wheel alignment means that when you set your wheels straight you should travel in a straight line. A small problem can mean that when you hold the steering wheel lightly, your car will drift either to the left or right. In normal driving, we can compensate for this and may hardly notice there is an issue.
The alignment may not just pull you in one direction, however. The wheels could be working against each other ever so slightly and that can mean you wear down the treads of your tyres quicker. This can also have a long-term impact on your steering, suspension and even the brakes that you don’t see until something goes wrong.
Most experts say that you should check your wheel alignment ideally every six months. It typically involves taking your car to a garage and having it properly tested and adjusted if needs be.
If you’ve had an accident or hit something like a pothole, it’s a good idea to have your steering checked out, even if you have had an alignment test.
What are the Benefits of Wheel Alignment?
Apart from a safer driving experience, wheel alignment prevents pressure being put on your suspension, steering and tyres and you are less likely to have issues with them. You’ll find the car seems to hold the road better, is easier to handle and you might also see an improvement in fuel economy.
Book into Queens Park Garage Today
It’s important to book into a garage that has the facilities to carry out a proper wheel alignment test. We have all the equipment you could hope to find at Queens Park Garage, including our state of the art HUNTER HawkEye Elite™.
This allows us to give you a readout and explain why your car needs realignment and then carry this out for you. We can also check the suspension and investigate whether there are any worn or damaged parts that might cause an issue in the future.
We’ll carry out a professional realignment of your wheels while you are waiting most times and we’ll even offer you free refreshments. If you are looking for a garage that can really help maintain your car, whether it’s a new model or old, contact the expert team at Queens Park Garage in Bournemouth today.
