Wheel alignments and balancing are often overlooked when doing annual maintenance on your vehicle, however they are very important for safety and ensuring key suspension components last a while. Alignments are not an adjustment of the wheels and tires themselves. The key to a proper alignment is adjusting the angles of the tires which affects how they contact the road. A common cause of a vehicle’s wheels going out of alignment is due to impact from potholes, manholes, or small collisions such as hitting a curb. If you are experiencing symptoms such as your vehicle pulling to one side, you feel steering vibrations, or you notice uneven tire wear- it may be time to have an alignment done. Our technicians are concerned with these 3 things when checking your alignment.

1. Camber: This angle is the inward of outward angle of the tire when viewed from the front. Too much inward or outward angle, AKA positive or negative camber, indicates improper alignment and will need to be adjusted. Worn bearings, ball joints and wheel suspension parts may also contribute to a camber misalignment.
2. Toe: A toe alignment is the extent which your tires turn inward or outward when viewed from above
3. Caster: This angle helps balance steering, stability, and cornering. If you have positive caster, the steering axis will tilt towards the driver. A negative caster means the steering axis tilts towards the front of the vehicle

Getting an alignment increases stability and handling, increases fuel economy since the vehicle isn't working as hard to move, and decreases uneven tire wear, thus making your vehicle safer to drive on the road. Balancing is usually performed in conjunction with an alignment. Balancing is compensating for any weight imbalances in the wheel and tire. This reduces vibration and is less stressful on the suspension and steering components. Typically, alignments and balances are done once a year when you are doing your annual service, or whenever you change over your tires. Call our service department at (613) 521 8463 to book an appointment for your vehicle and we will ensure your vehicle is running smoothly and safely.