Check these three things
- The steering wheel. Drive straight on a flat road. Is the logo level? If it now sits a little off centre, the toe setting has moved.
- Pulling. On a flat, straight road, relax your grip for a second. A slight drift toward the curb is normal because roads are crowned. A clear pull is not.
- The tires. Run your hand across the tread. If one edge feels feathered or is visibly more worn, the alignment has probably been off for a while.
What else a pothole can do
A hard hit can do more than move the alignment. It can bend a rim so it no longer seals or balances, put a bulge in the tire's sidewall, bend a tie rod or control arm, or damage a strut. A bulge in the sidewall means that tire needs replacing, because it can fail without warning.
If the car started vibrating after the hit, it is more likely a bent rim or damaged tire than alignment.
Why spring is alignment season
Freeze and thaw cycles break up the pavement all winter, and by March some Ottawa streets are more pothole than road. We see a lot of cars in April and May that took one hit too many. Getting the alignment checked when the summer tires go on is a good habit.
What it costs
A four wheel alignment at King’s is $129.95 before tax. We check the steering and suspension parts first, because an alignment will not hold if something is worn. Book an alignment.
