What is wheel alignment?
Wheel alignment is the process of adjusting your vehicle's suspension angles so that all four wheels point exactly where they should — perfectly parallel to each other and perpendicular to the road — according to manufacturer factory specifications.
Three measurements define alignment, and all three are adjusted on every alignment we do:
Camber
- ·The inward or outward tilt of the wheel when viewed from the front
- ·Too much in either direction causes the inner or outer edge of the tire to wear faster
- ·Negative camber (top leaning in) is normal for most performance vehicles
Caster
- ·The forward or backward tilt of the steering axis when viewed from the side
- ·Affects straight-line stability and steering feel
- ·Bad caster: steering wheel doesn't return to center, car wanders on highway
Toe
- ·Whether wheels point slightly inward (toe-in) or outward (toe-out) when viewed from above
- ·Single biggest cause of tire wear
- ·Even 1/8" of incorrect toe scrubs tread off a new tire in 5,000 km
Signs your car needs an alignment
Book an alignment if you notice any of the following:
- •The car pulls to one side on a flat, straight road
- •Steering wheel is off-center when driving straight
- •Steering wheel vibrates at highway speeds
- •Tires are wearing unevenly — inside edges bald, outside still has tread
- •Recently hit a significant pothole, curb, or speed bump
- •Just installed new tires (always align with new tires)
- •Recently replaced tie rods, control arms, ball joints, or struts
- •Vehicle feels "loose" or "wandering" at highway speeds
Reading your alignment report
Every alignment we do comes with a printout. Green values mean the angle is within manufacturer spec. Yellow values are close to spec but near the edge. Red values are out of spec.
The "Before" column shows where your car was when it came in. The "After" column shows where it is now. We aim to get every angle into green, but in some cases (older vehicles, worn bushings, aftermarket lowering springs), the best achievable is yellow. We'll always explain why if anything isn't green.
Pricing & timing
All alignments include pre-inspection of suspension components, printed before/after report, and road test. If worn parts prevent factory alignment, we tell you before starting.
Frequently asked questions
Can you align my lowered car?
Yes — lowered vehicles often have excessive negative camber that can only be fully corrected with camber bolts or adjustable control arms. We'll measure and tell you honestly what can be fixed without additional parts.
My car pulls to the right on the highway. Is that alignment or tires?
Could be either. Tire pull from a bad tire typically changes when you swap tires side to side — alignment pull doesn't. We run a brief tire-swap test if we suspect tire pull before running the alignment.
Is a 4-wheel alignment worth the extra cost over a 2-wheel?
On any vehicle with independent rear suspension — absolutely yes. This includes most sedans, SUVs, and crossovers from 2000 onward. 2-wheel alignment is only appropriate for older trucks and body-on-frame vehicles with a solid rear axle.
Will alignment fix my vibration?
Alignment rarely causes vibration. Vibration at highway speed is almost always tire balance (per wheel). Vibration during braking is usually warped rotors. Vibration only above 100 km/h could also be a bent wheel or failing wheel bearing.
Do I need an alignment with new tires?
Highly recommended. Installing new tires on a misaligned vehicle ruins them fast. We bundle alignment with any 4-tire purchase at a discount (ask for bundle pricing).
Can you do alignment on AWD vehicles?
Yes — AWD is alignment-friendly. What AWD is picky about is tire matching (all four tires should have similar tread depth). We can check tread depth during the alignment and tell you if any tires need replacement to match.