Signs your alignment is out
- The car drifts or pulls to one side on a straight, flat road.
- The steering wheel sits crooked when you are driving straight.
- The inside or outside edge of a tire is wearing faster than the middle.
- You hit a pothole or a curb hard, and something has felt different since.
- You just put on new tires, or had tie rods, ball joints or control arms replaced.
How we align a car
The car goes up on our alignment rack with a target clamped to each wheel. We check tire pressures first, because a soft tire throws off the reading. Then we measure camber, caster and toe on all four corners and compare them to the manufacturer's specs for your exact vehicle.
Before we adjust anything, we check for worn parts. If a tie rod end or ball joint is loose, the alignment will not hold, and we would rather tell you than charge you for an adjustment that drifts out next week. Alignment has been one of the shop's specialties for a long time, so this part gets real attention.
You get a printout with the before and after readings.
What it costs
When to get one
Any time you buy new tires, after suspension or steering work, after a hard hit, and once a year as a check. Spring is the busy season in Ottawa, right after the potholes open up, so booking a little early helps.
