This is the time of year when it is easy to hit a deep pothole hidden by a puddle of water or a patch of snow. You notice that your car is pulling to the left or right, or there is too much "play" in the steering. Before performing an unnecessary wheel alignment, your mechanic should try to pinpoint any tire problems by inspecting the candor and castor of your front alignment and also by taking your car for a road test. After the problem has been located, the correct service can then be performed--whether it's to correct the front alignment or rotate the tires.
There are Four Basic Steps to Diagnose Steering Problems:
- Eliminate tire problems.
- Make sure all four tires are inflated to the recommended pressure.
- Check to see that the tread and tire size are the same on both front wheels. Don't drive with a snow tire on one side and a highway tire on the other side.
- Check for unusual tread wear or damaged tires.
- Examine the front alignment. There are three different aspects to a front alignment for rear-wheel drive vehicles:
- Toe-in. The front of each tire, when driving straight, points slightly to the centerline of the vehicle. Each tire should have equal traction (bite) when cornering, but if it is angled inward too much, the OUTSIDE tread will wear more quickly.
- Castor. This is the vertices angle of the centerline of the tire from front to back. The castor doesn't vary too much unless the ball joints, control arm bushings, or king pins are seriously worn.
- Camber. This is the vertical angle of the centerline of the tire perpendicular to the cross-section of your car.
- Road test. While driving on a level highway on a calm day, do the following:
- Loosen your grip on the steering wheel enough to let the car proceed on its own. If the car pulls to the left or the right, you may need a wheel alignment.
- Listen for sounds from the front end of the car while driving slowly. Scraping, whining, or grinding sounds may indicate excessive friction as the tire tread rubs against the road.
- Have someone follow you to observe the back to front alignment. If the front wheels are not tracking in the same groove as the back, you may have a bent frame.
- Excessive tread wear. Other causes of excessive or unusual tread wear can include:
- Worn struts or shock absorbers.
- Worn out or loose wheel bearings, damaged gear box, tie-rod ends, ball joints, upper and lower control arm bushings, and other steering components.
- Uneven distribution of heavy loads.
- Poor driving habits--hard cornering, braking, or swerving.
Steering problems caused by a faulty wheel alignment? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Cannon Auto Repair today by calling 507-263-2120 for more information. Our auto repair shop serves vehicle owners in Cannon Falls, MN and the surrounding areas.
This is the time of year when it is easy to hit a deep pothole hidden by a puddle of water or a patch of snow. You notice that your car is pulling to the left or right, or there is too much "play" in the steering. Before performing an unnecessary wheel alignment, your mechanic should try to pinpoint any tire problems by inspecting the candor and castor of your front alignment and also by taking your car for a road test. After the problem has been located, the correct service can then be performed--whether it's to correct the front alignment or rotate the tires.
There are Four Basic Steps to Diagnose Steering Problems:
- Eliminate tire problems.
- Make sure all four tires are inflated to the recommended pressure.
- Check to see that the tread and tire size are the same on both front wheels. Don't drive with a snow tire on one side and a highway tire on the other side.
- Check for unusual tread wear or damaged tires.
- Examine the front alignment. There are three different aspects to a front alignment for rear-wheel drive vehicles:
- Toe-in. The front of each tire, when driving straight, points slightly to the centerline of the vehicle. Each tire should have equal traction (bite) when cornering, but if it is angled inward too much, the OUTSIDE tread will wear more quickly.
- Castor. This is the vertices angle of the centerline of the tire from front to back. The castor doesn't vary too much unless the ball joints, control arm bushings, or king pins are seriously worn.
- Camber. This is the vertical angle of the centerline of the tire perpendicular to the cross-section of your car.
- Road test. While driving on a level highway on a calm day, do the following:
- Loosen your grip on the steering wheel enough to let the car proceed on its own. If the car pulls to the left or the right, you may need a wheel alignment.
- Listen for sounds from the front end of the car while driving slowly. Scraping, whining, or grinding sounds may indicate excessive friction as the tire tread rubs against the road.
- Have someone follow you to observe the back to front alignment. If the front wheels are not tracking in the same groove as the back, you may have a bent frame.
- Excessive tread wear. Other causes of excessive or unusual tread wear can include:
- Worn struts or shock absorbers.
- Worn out or loose wheel bearings, damaged gear box, tie-rod ends, ball joints, upper and lower control arm bushings, and other steering components.
- Uneven distribution of heavy loads.
- Poor driving habits--hard cornering, braking, or swerving.
Steering problems caused by a faulty wheel alignment? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Cannon Auto Repair today by calling 507-263-2120 for more information. Our auto repair shop serves vehicle owners in Cannon Falls, MN and the surrounding areas.
