Why Is Wheel Alignment Essential?

Routine auto maintenance is critical in order to uphold the value of your vehicle and extend its life for as long as possible. Furthermore, not following through with proper maintenance schedules can cause a chain reaction of issues to occur over time in your vehicle if problems go unaddressed for extended periods of time. One of the most common routine maintenance procedures that can severely affect the other components of your vehicle is wheel alignment. Wheel alignment is essential for the overall health and performance of your vehicle because it can directly affect the parts that rely on it when it is not accurate. It isn’t always easy to follow vehicle maintenance, and drivers have many reasons for prioritizing it last on their list of things to do; however, in the interest of saving time and money in the long run, you can really save yourself some heartache and inconvenience by following your car’s scheduled maintenance plan set forth by the manufacturer. It is also important to consider the fact that not all people with the same model car have similar driving habits, and if you hit a pothole or frequently drive on rough roads, you may need an alignment sooner than your owner’s manual designates. With the help of professional automotive technicians, you can get a better idea of when you schedule an alignment. For informative purposes, here are some of the reasons why wheel alignment is critical:

Fuel Efficiency

Proper wheel alignment has a profound impact on fuel efficiency. When manufacturers estimate fuel economy in a vehicle, they do so under a specific set of conditions that include optimal vehicle care levels. This, of course, includes proper wheel alignment. If your alignment is off, in a sense your car has to work harder to maintain stability and performance levels, which generally wastes gas. Over time you may notice your fuel efficiency going down, and this can be helped through having an alignment performed, assuming it hasn’t damaged other parts of your vehicle already. If you own a luxury, European import, this can be especially concerning. When you invest money into a luxury vehicle, every little repair can become a frustrating encounter. Unfortunately, even the most well-engineered vehicles still need alignments, and a good automotive shop will help you take proper care of your luxury vehicle so that you can enjoy it at its peak performance at all times, which is likely what you purchased it for in the first place.

Tire Wear Patterns

The wear pattern on your tires can tell you a lot about a vehicle and what may be potentially wrong with it. Your tires often reflect the condition of various aspects of your vehicle, such as the suspension and wheel alignment. If wheel alignment is off, you can usually detect it by a number of different signs or symptoms, including the wear pattern on your tires. If the wear pattern is off-center or seems uneven at all, it is likely that you need an alignment. Furthermore, when your tires wear unevenly it can cause you to replace or rotate them more often—this is problematic, because as we all know, tires aren’t cheap.

Suspension Issues

Wheel misalignment can be a causative factor or a result of suspension issues. If your alignment is off, it can cause unnecessary wear to various components of your suspension system which can be costly to repair. Wheel alignments are relatively cheap in comparison to such repairs, and it is in your best interest to address them immediately. Furthermore, it can alter your steering response and render your vehicle unsafe to drive.

How We Can Help

Wheel alignments should be a part of every driver’s routine maintenance for their vehicle, but the reality is that not everyone follows their car’s designated maintenance plan. At Pro Car Mechanics, we serve clients from all over the Gardena, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Glendale, and Anaheim, CA, areas; therefore, we are familiar with a plethora of individual driving styles—we’ve seen it all! We take pride in our ability to perform routine maintenance procedures with extreme precision, accuracy, and in a timely manner. If you need help adhering to your maintenance plan or would like to schedule a wheel alignment, contact us today—we aim to keep our clients safe and enjoying their European import for many years to come.