8001 Minnetonka Blvd.

952.931.9696

Mon-Thu: 7am -6pm
Friday: 7am – 5pm

6407 West Lake Street

952.922.9696

Mon-Thu: 7am -6pm
Friday: 7am – 5pm

Thank you for choosing D&D Autoworks for your vehicles’ service, maintenance and repair.

Know why Alignments are Important

by | Apr 16, 2015 | Fuel Efficiency, Road Trips, Vehicle Safety Inspections, Wheel Alignment

Having the wheels aligned for your vehicle is an important task to have done. This will help keep the tires in the best condition possible when you drive. Alignments can allow for the tread to wear evenly on the tires. If you notice that the tread is becoming uneven, make sure to bring the vehicle in so we can inspect it for you. Having an alignment done can also help improve the handling and stability of the vehicle. This will improve the fuel mileage of your vehicle, because it will not have to use as much stress and power to operate the vehicle effectively.

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Why the Camber is an Important part of the Vehicle

All vehicles are different when it comes to their alignment setting. While positive camber is used to improve ride quality and vehicle stability, high performance vehicles may require better cornering performance. Either way, the vehicle manufacturer will have the exact angles for this setting. We will use those angles to properly align the wheel camber. Part of your suspension has these things called rubber bushings. Bushings can break down over time, allowing excessive movement to occur in the suspension. This additional flexibility leads to poor turning performance and accelerated and uneven tire wear.

Know what the Caster does

It is all about straight lines with caster. The caster is the reason your vehicle steers in a straight line. When the vehicle travels straight down the road with little handling on your part that is due to your caster setting. If you are driving down a straight path but start pulling to one side, that is a sign the caster is off. The caster angle is determined by your vehicle’s suspension design and the intended vehicle use. If you have a high speed, high performance ride, your vehicle will need more caster to handle better on the straightaway and when coming out of turns. The most obvious and easiest sign to detect is if you feel your vehicle pulling to one side. This may mean your alignment needs adjustment. To be sure though, bring it to us and let us take a look.

How the Toe affects the Alignment of your Vehicle

Total toe is meant to be at zero or close to zero while you are cruising. If the total toe is off, severe tire wear can result. Proper toe settings make it possible for the least amount of resistance to occur when your tires spin. If the total toe is out of whack, you will experience uneven wear on the outside or inside part of your tires depending on whether your vehicle toe-in or toe-out setting is compromised. Toe problems are the leading cause of most tire problems and tire wear. It is easy to miss the signs of a toe alignment problem. Having your alignment performed as recommended will help protect your tire investment in the long run. By inspecting the vehicle on a regular basis, you can help save time, money, and stress in the long run.