Four-Wheel Drive Alignment Service in Lewisville, TX

What Does Wheel Alignment Do?

Ideally, all four of your tires should make even contact with the ground. Not only does this give you better traction, but it also ensures some parts of your tires don't wear faster than others. Unfortunately, the alignment of a car's suspension tends to become a little off over time, which means the tires can't make that even contact.

Taking your vehicle in for four-wheel alignment gets things back in order, so your tires are touching the ground. This is important to do every once in a while because it keeps your tires from wearing down too quickly. You should have the alignment of your vehicle checked at least once per year, and it's a good idea to have four-wheel alignment services done every two or three years at the very least.

Warning Signs Your Vehicle Needs a Wheel Alignment

Wheel alignment issues tend to occur over time and, if left unresolved, will cause damage to your vehicle. Pay attention to the following signs that your vehicle needs a wheel alignment:

• Your car pulls to one side: Do you notice your vehicle keeps drifting to one side on its own while you're driving? That's a sign of alignment problems that deserve urgent attention. Misalignment makes steering harder and puts you at risk of an accident.  
• Your vehicle experiences uneven tire wear: Driving with misaligned wheels causes irregular tread wear, which can reduce the life span of your tires and increase the risk of blowouts. 
• Your steering wheel feels loose: Have you noticed that your steering wheel isn't responding as it should? If so, your vehicle's wheels likely need an alignment check.
• You're experiencing a vibrating steering wheel: Poor wheel alignment can cause an uneven pressure distribution, leading to steering vibrations. These vibrations tend to be more pronounced at high speeds. 
• Your vehicle isn't getting good gas mileage: Wheel misalignment increases rolling resistance. This resistance forces the engine to work harder. If you're suddenly going to the gas station more frequently than usual, it's time to have your vehicle's wheel alignment checked.

Understanding Wheel Alignment Services: 2-Wheel vs. 4-Wheel

Two-wheel (2-wheel) alignments are performed on trucks and older SUVs with solid rear axles. Usually, only the front suspension and steering are adjusted to achieve the correct alignment. However, a service tech may also adjust the camber, toe, and thrust angle if necessary.

A four-wheel (4-wheel) alignment, on the other hand, adjusts both the front and rear suspensions and the steering. The camber, toe, and caster angles of the front and rear suspensions are also calibrated. Almost every all-wheel-drive vehicle typically requires a four-wheel alignment.

What to Expect During a Professional Wheel Alignment Service

Every wheel alignment appointment begins with a service tech inspecting your vehicle's suspension, steering system, and tire treads. Your mechanic must first repair any damaged or worn components that may be causing alignment issues.

We use advanced cameras and sensors to obtain accurate readings of a vehicle's caster, camber, and toe angles. Based on these measurements, we make precise adjustments to each component's angle to restore your vehicle's wheel alignment. Our tools let us make accurate adjustments to match alignment settings recommended by your vehicle's manufacturer.

After we complete alignment corrections, we'll take your vehicle for a road test. This final step ensures that your vehicle's wheel alignment is correct.