Front End Wheel Alignment Services in Skokie, IL
Does your vehicle move, even slightly, to the left or the right when you’re not touching the steering wheel? If your answer was, “yes,” then your car, truck or SUV has an issue with its front-end alignment. The good news is that the technicians at Old Orchard Nissan are available to help drivers in the Skokie, IL area with any alignment issues they might be experiencing.
What is Front End Wheel Alignment?
Wheel alignment matches your wheels and suspension to your steering wheel. Properly aligned wheels and suspension cause your car, truck or SUV to drive straight and true. Misaligned wheels and suspension cause your vehicle to drift to the left or the right depending on which way they are misaligned.
Believe it or not, improper wheel alignment isn’t fixed by adjusting the wheels. It’s actually corrected by adjusting the suspension. Modern vehicles come with suspensions that require a precise four-wheel alignment in order to operate properly. There are four aspects of wheel alignment that drivers need to know about.
- Caster is the angle of the steering axis
- Camber is the inward or outward tilt of the tire
- Toe is the direction that the tires point
- Ride height is the distance between the frame and the road
All four of these aspects need to work together to provide a proper ride. If one or more falls out of alignment, your vehicle’s performance will suffer.
What Are The Benefits Of Properly Aligned Tires?
- Improves overall safety
- Increases the life of tires
- Enhances handling and driver control
- Raises fuel efficiency
Why Do Wheels Fall Out Of Alignment?
The answer to this question is simple: Road quality. Wheels would never fall out of alignment if roads were perfectly straight and flat. Even in the Skokie, IL area, roads have potholes, manhole covers, uneven sections, dips, grooves and bumps. Continuing to drive over obstacles causes suspension components to shift and wheels to fall out of alignment.
Are There Any Wheel Alignment Maintenance Tips?
- Check wheel alignment during every other tire rotation
- Examine wheel alignment every time new tires are put on
- Consider flushing your power steering fluid when getting a wheel alignment. The problem might not be your alignment. It could be related to your power steering system.
- The best DIY test is looking at your steering wheel. If it’s not perfectly centered when driving straight, you have a problem.
Contact the auto service team at our Nissan dealership to get more information or set up a service appointment for your front-end alignment. The service center at Old Orchard Nissan offers many auto service specials, coupons and incentives to the Skokie, IL area.