When Does Your Vehicle Need An Alignment? I'll Shoot You Straight!

As a general rule, I like to have my vehicle aligned once per year. I usually do it in the spring or early summer, just before a road trip.

A straight steering wheel, a car that doesn’t pull left or right, and relaxed highway driving all make long trips more enjoyable. A proper alignment also reduces driver fatigue — you’re not constantly fighting the wheel just to stay in your lane.

But comfort is only part of the story.

A quality alignment also provides one of the most valuable inspections your vehicle can receive. Here’s why it matters.

________________________________________

1. A Good Alignment Includes a Real Inspection

The most important part of an alignment isn’t the machine — it’s the mechanic.

A quality alignment always starts with inspecting the components that hold the alignment. Otherwise, any adjustment made won’t last.

Here’s what a good mechanic checks:

Tires Tell the Story

Tires reveal alignment and suspension problems long before most drivers notice them.

A trained mechanic looks for:

• Uneven wear across the tread

• Cupping (often caused by worn shocks or struts)

• Belt separation or abnormal wear patterns

• Low tire pressure wear indicators

Cupping, in particular, happens when worn shocks allow the tire to bounce down the road — creating a pattern that looks like shallow cups in the tread and often sounds like a failing wheel bearing.

________________________________________

Steering Components

The mechanic will grab the front tires at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions and check for excessive play.

Some movement is normal, but too much indicates worn:

• Tie rod ends

• Ball joints

• Upper strut bearing plates (on strut-equipped vehicles)

Symptoms you may notice:

• Excessive steering wheel play

• Vibration

• Having to “hold” the wheel slightly off-center to go straight

________________________________________

Suspension Components

A visual inspection looks for:

• Broken or leaking shocks/struts

• Damaged springs

• Loose or worn bushings

A proper jounce test should also be performed. The vehicle should settle after one bounce — not continue oscillating.

________________________________________

Wheel Bearings

While inspecting steering components, the mechanic should also check for bearing wear by testing wheel movement at the 12 and 6 o’clock positions.

Any movement here usually means:

• Further inspection for serviceable bearings

• Replacement for sealed bearings

________________________________________

What a “Quality Alignment” Actually Means

This part is critical.

Many shops perform what mechanics call a “toe-and-go” alignment:

• Minimal inspection

• Only toe is adjusted

• Steering wheel is centered

• Vehicle is sent on its way

Toe is important, but it’s only one of three alignment angles.

A proper alignment also verifies:

• Camber (inward or outward tilt of the tire)

• Caster (steering stability and return-to-center)

Skipping these checks means:

• Tires wear faster

• Vehicle may still pull

• Alignment won’t hold if worn components aren’t first replaced

________________________________________

Where I Take My Own Vehicles

As a Master Mechanic without access to an alignment machine, I take my vehicles to the dealership — and here’s why:

• Adjustment methods vary by manufacturer

• Some caster or camber adjustments require specific shims or hardware

• Dealerships stock these parts

If worn components are found, you’re not obligated to have the repair done there. You can:

• Take the inspection results to your own mechanic

• Perform the repairs yourself

• Return later for the alignment

You may only be charged for the inspection — which is money well spent.

________________________________________

The Bottom Line

A yearly alignment:

• Improves tire life

• Reduces steering fatigue

• Catches suspension problems early

• Makes road trips more enjoyable

And if you find a shop that actually inspects your vehicle before checking and adjusting all three alignment angles?

You will have two things:

• A car that drives straight

• An alignment shop that isn’t crooked