6 Key Signs of Bad Alignment in Your Vehicle
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As a car owner, one of your primary responsibilities is to ensure your vehicle’s ability to provide a safe ride. One issue that deserves your immediate and undivided attention is improper wheel alignment.
If you think your vehicle has a bad alignment, you must immediately take it to your mechanic. But how will you know if your car has bad alignment issues?
Today’s post will highlight the critical signs of bad alignment in your vehicle. In addition, we’ll discuss exactly what’s wheel alignment in a car and some DIY fixes. Let’s get to it.
What Exactly is Wheel Alignment in a Car?
Also known as tire alignment, a car’s wheel alignment doesn’t just refer to the adjustment of the tire and wheel themselves. When you perform wheel alignment, you adjust the vehicle’s steering and suspension, connecting your car to the wheels.
Proper alignment means that your tires are adjusted at an appropriate angle, which affects how they get in contact with the road or pavement. The optimal wheel alignment for each vehicle can vary based on the make, model, and manufacturer’s recommendations.
Do I Need Proper Wheel Alignment?
Proper wheel alignment is a must for the best possible driving experience. Your wheels need to be aligned based on OEM specifications so it can drive the way it’s supposed to.
Misalignment will result in multiple performance and safety issues, including poor fuel economy, uneven tire wear, poor handling, shorter tire lifespan, and more. In other words, you need proper alignment to make your tires last longer and ensure the optimal performance of your ride.
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What are the Signs of Bad Alignment in Your Car?
Fortunately, you don’t have to be a professional mechanic to recognize signs of bad alignment – Just your senses, driving instincts, and muscle memory. Here are some of the common symptoms you’re dealing with improper alignment:
1. Car Pulls to One Side While Driving
By far, the most common symptom of a bad wheel alignment is when you can’t keep your car straight. With proper alignment, you may take your hands off the steering wheel, and the vehicle should still drive straight. Although this may depend on road conditions, your car shouldn’t pull to only one side while driving.
You can test this on a flat and empty road by taking your hands off the steering wheel. If it consistently drifts either to the left or right side, there’s a good chance of wheel misalignment.
2. Off-Center Steering Wheel
Under any normal circumstances, the steering wheel should be in the center. When your wheels are not correctly aligned, you’ll notice that your steering wheel looks crooked or off-center by a couple of degrees (i.e., the car logo isn’t straight), even when your wheels are straight.
An off-center steering wheel can negatively impact your driving experience and overall handling, increasing the risk of crashing.
3. Uneven Tire Wear
Tires don’t last forever and will eventually need replacements. However, they should wear out around the same time. If you notice that certain tires have treads that look more worn out, you’re likely dealing with improper alignment.
Adequately aligned wheels should have comparable rubber tire depths. Use a tread depth meter to measure the tires’ tread depth on both sides to confirm.
4. Vibration in the Steering Wheel
With a nasty case of misalignment, you’ll feel unsettling vibrations in the steering wheel as you drive. It’s as if you’re going through bumps or potholes, but only on a flat road.
The vibrations are caused by the tire skipping as it hits the pavement. The skipping puts immense pressure on all the parts between the tires and the steering wheel. As a result, you feel the vibrations, and it’s not the good kind.
5. Squealing Sounds Coming from the Tires
Squealing is one of the telltale signs of bad alignment. If you couldn’t check your tires’ tread depths, you should look out for squealing tires instead. Also, pay attention to creaking and knocking noises coming from your vehicle.
The squealing sounds may come from unevenly worn tires as you accelerate and make turns. However, the sounds may also indicate issues with suspension or loose/damaged components.
6. Sloppy or Loose Steering
Sloppy or loose steering is never a good sign, as it may indicate serious issues, including bad alignment. Obviously, loose or sloppy steering makes your vehicle vulnerable to accidents, especially when driving on a busy road.
See a qualified mechanic immediately if something doesn’t feel right with your steering wheel.
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How Often Do I Need an Alignment?
The frequency of your wheel alignment appointments depends on how you drive your car and typical road conditions. However, poor road conditions are the most significant contributing factor to bad alignment.
If your daily commutes involve driving through poorly maintained roads, rough terrain, and potholes, then you’ll likely need wheel alignment sooner rather than later. The general recommendation is to have your alignment inspected at the first signs of bad alignment or every 6,000 miles.
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Are There DIY Alignment Fixes I Can Do?
As a rule of thumb, correcting bad wheel alignments is a job that’s best left to your friendly professional mechanic. However, there are some steps you can do on your end to prevent misalignment:
- Remove heavy, bulky loads from your trunk. Too much weight inside your trunk may cause alignment problems. Take out all the items you don’t need and have your alignment checked if you have been hauling said items for quite some time.
- Be conservative with your driving style. With a conservative style of driving, you’re putting less stress on your steering and suspension components which is crucial for keeping misalignment at bay.
- Maintain correct tire pressure. Proper tire pressure prevents bad wear patterns, which helps maintain good wheel alignment. Making sure that your tires have the appropriate pressure extends their life.
The signs of bad alignment can be subtle, so it’s always best to have your car’s alignment checked regularly.
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