Having your vehicle aligned is a basic maintenance tool meant to keep the vehicle driving straight and achieve maximum life of the tires.
Did you know the most important alignment to perform on your vehicle is within the first 10,000 miles of ownership? The vehicle usually will come off the transport truck out of alignment, and during the first few thousand miles of driving, the suspension will start settling into place. Even after the initial break-in process, the suspension will continue to change due to wear and contact with curbs or other imperfections in the road.
It is recommended to have your vehicle aligned once a year, every 12,000 miles, or after new tires are installed. This will ensure proper wear patterns and longevity of the tires.
When deciding to have your vehicle aligned, it is very important to choose a repair shop capable of doing the alignment correctly. Unfortunately, there are plenty of places that will perform your alignment per basic specifications only. When this occurs, you still may have a tire wear issue. This is because the specification is a range and not an exact measurement.
The second concern is some vehicles do not have enough adjustability built into them in order to obtain proper alignment. So, some service shops adjust what they can and do not give an option to correct the problems. So, in the end, you leave with a vehicle still out of alignment and wearing your tires unevenly.
There are three settings to a proper alignment—toe, which is how your tires are pointing forward; camber, which is how your tires are leaning; and caster, which is where the wheels are set in accordance to the center of the vehicle. Although, it is true, most alignments will require only a toe adjustment. This is also the only adjustment a lot of shops make. Camber is the next most important adjustment because it will cause uneven tire wear if not correct. Caster will affect only how the vehicle drives in a straight line.
Front-wheel-drive vehicles have specifications for both the front and rear axles. Sometimes, the adjustments cannot be made unless certain parts are changed on the vehicle first. Your alignment professional should inform you if there are repairs needed before a proper alignment can be performed.
H and I Automotive, located at 5338 E. Main St., has the latest 3D imaging alignment system from Hunter Engineering. We employ two Automotive Service Excellence master technicians who know how to perform the alignment on your vehicle to ensure optimum performance and tire wear. H and I can service all makes and models, including routine oil changes, repairs and general maintenance.
You can reach H and I Automotive by calling (480) 985-9279. You also can visit the website at handiautomotive.com.