Extend your Car’s life With Wheel Alignment Service and Balancing

Misaligned wheels are a potentially dangerous driving hazard that can seriously affect braking conditions – particularly in wet driving conditions. They can seriously affect your car’s performance as well. Not only are misaligned wheels bad for your tyres, but they wreak havoc on the shock absorbers, steering components, and struts. You can change all that with a wheel alignment service on the Sunshine Coast.

Proper wheel alignment is necessary to ensure your car’s tyres, suspension, steering, and brakes are protected from unnecessary wear. Good alignment of the wheels can optimize tyre life and performance, improve your car’s handling performance, help save fuel, and maximise driving stability. Here’s everything you have ever wanted to know about wheel alignment and where you can get the best wheel alignment service on Sunshine Coast.

What is Wheel Alignment, and Why is Wheel Alignment Service Necessary

Wheel alignment is the angle of wheels in comparison to each other and the body of the vehicle. It refers to an adjustment of your car’s suspension and not the wheels themselves.

During a wheel alignment service, your mechanic will adjust your vehicle’s suspension and steering angles to make sure that the wheels are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground.

Your car’s wheels are perfectly aligned when it is brand new. But several factors can cause your vehicle to fall out of alignment.

1. A sudden disturbance or heavy impact caused by hitting a pothole, a road accident, driving too fast over a speed bump, and even bumping the curb can lead to wear and tear.
2. Your car is made up of several suspension components like struts that, over time, become slack and lead to a shift in the wheel alignment.
3. Your vehicle is designed to work within a specific height that is determined by the manufacturer. If you modify that height without adjusting the suspension, the alignment can go awry.

When Does your Car need a Wheel Alignment Service?

Typically, it would help if you got your vehicle’s wheels are aligned every couple of years. However, to ensure your safety, it’s best to ask for a wheel alignment service every time you drop your car off for servicing.

There are a few ways to tell if your car requires wheel alignment repair. If you notice one or more of the following indications, it’s best to get to the wheel alignment check by a licensed service technician.

1. Uneven tread wear.
2. The vehicle pulls either to the left or right.
3. The steering wheel vibrates.
4. The steering wheel seems to be off-centre when driving straight.
5. Tires squeal when you make a turn, and you might experience poor steering control.

The Difference Between Wheel Alignment and Balancing

Wheel alignment is about angle, direction, and how the wheels sit when mounted to your car. A proper wheel alignment ensures your tyres and steering wheel are in a straight-ahead position.

However, the wheels themselves must be perfectly balanced to roll smoothly. Unfortunately, wheels are not always uniform. There are some areas where the material is thicker than others, and other areas that are thinner and lighter than other areas. When one side or area of a wheel is lighter or heavier than the other, the wheel will vibrate as it rotates. The faster you drive, the greater the vibration. Wheel balancing fixes this issue.Wheel balancing is a technique used to spot imbalances using precision machinery. During wheel balancing, the tyres are perfectly balanced, so they travel evenly.

Signs That Your Tyres Need Wheel Balancing

Look out for these signs to know if your tyres need wheel balancing:

1. Uneven tyre wear.
2. Vibrations in the steering wheel, seat, or floorboard.

Wheel balancing can also be done after a flat tyre repair, as part of scheduled maintenance, after wheel alignment repair, and during a tire rotation.

Wheel Balancing and Wheel Repair, Sunshine Coast

The two types of wheel balance services available on the Sunshine Coast are:

1. Standard computer wheel balancing.
2. Premium computer wheel balancing.

A reliable auto service and repair centre will provide both these services.

What is Standard Computer Wheel Balancing?

A standard wheel balancing service utilizes a wheel spinning machine to diagnose balance/imbalance. The wheel is taken off your vehicle and placed in the wheel balancing machine. The machine spins the wheel for approximately 10 seconds to ensure the wheel is balanced when it rotates – like it would on your vehicle. If any imbalance is detected, small weights are added to even weight distribution.

What is Premium Computer Wheel Balancing?

A premium computer wheel balancing service uses the latest computer wheel balancing technology to ensure your car’s wheels are perfectly balanced, so you have a smooth, vibration-free vehicle.

Summary: How Your Car can Benefit From Wheel Alignment and Balancing

The most significant benefit of both wheel alignment and balancing is that both these services can save your tyres and prevent premature tyre tread wear. Technicians believe that every vehicle needs a tyre balancing service every 5,000 or 6,000 miles. Or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Wheel alignment and balancing can both improve your vehicle’s performance and extend its lifespan. Improved vehicle handling and fuel efficiency are some other benefits of wheel alignment.

When choosing a wheel alignment service on Sunshine Coast, look for a reliable service and repair centre like SVS Autocare, Sunshine Coast. We understand the importance of both alignment and balance. We also have all the necessary tools and equipment to check your car’s wheel alignment and balance and rectify any problems, so your vehicle not only delivers a smooth ride but is safe as well.

Anya Nin is the car services expert at Svs Autocare on Sunshine Coast. With over 5 years of experience in the automobile industry.