As you’re driving to work, something doesn’t quite feel right. The steering wheel is slightly off center, the vehicle pulls to the left and you hear a constant noise. You haven’t been involved in any major accidents, so what could be wrong? The fact is, you don’t have to be in a full-on collision to throw off your car’s alignment. Simply hitting a pothole or curb can throw everything off. Sometimes, driving over rough terrain can throw your car’s alignment off its desired position.
However misalignment occurs, it’s not just an inconvenience when trying to get from point A to point B. Poor alignment accelerates your tires’ wear, placing more stress certain spots, and might even cause your car to consume more gas.
Experts recommend getting your car’s alignment checked every 6,000 miles, but if something seems strange before then, it’s crucial to make an appointment. What might indicate your car’s suspension system needs some work?
1. Your Tires Display Uneven Wear
When you check your tires, some portions seem more worn out than others. The front bears the brunt of it, with most of the damage concentrated around the inside or outside edge. If your car is properly aligned, the wear gets evenly distributed across the tire treads. Also, when your wheels are thrown out of place, your tires may fail sooner, causing you to hydroplane in a rainstorm or get into an accident because you can’t stop soon enough.
2. Your Vehicle Pulls to the Left or Right
As you’re driving, you feel as if your car is struggling to stay straight. In response, you work a bit harder to keep the steering wheel centered. However, if you took your hand off the wheel for even a moment, your car would start pulling in one direction. All of these issues point to misalignment, with the suspension system or wheels somehow knocked out of place.
3. Your Steering Wheel is Crooked
Ideally, your steering wheel should be straight; a crooked position clearly indicates misalignment. For instance, the “10 and 2” position are not level or not where they should be when you start to drive.
4. Your Steering Wheel Vibrates
Especially when you reach a fast speed, does it feel like that your steering wheel starts to vibrate for no reason? Even if your car drives well in general, this also points to something off with the suspension.
5. Squeaking Tires
When your car is manufactured, its wheels are set at specific angles, which help the vehicle travel the way it’s supposed to. When these angles are offset, your tires may not only show signs of wear, but may make a squeaking, tapping or thumping sound as you drive.
When you bring your car in, a technician may check its configuration and positioning. He may adjust certain components, so that the wheels line up to each other or with the road’s surface. Also, the person who assesses the suspension system must make sure no components are worn, broken or stretched out.
To figure out what’s wrong with your vehicle and what needs to be fixed, make a diagnostic appointment with DaSilva’s Auto Body. Our team uses top-level equipment to assess your vehicle and determine which repairs are necessary. To learn more, contact our Naugatuck location today.
