Your Melbourne, FL Wheel Alignment Experts
Wheel Alignments
Drivers of European vehicles from brands such as Alfa Romeo, Fiat, and Porsche love the experience every time they get behind the wheel. Some choose to drive European imports for the incredible performance they offer — high horsepower, fast fun. Others make the choice for their luxurious interiors, impressive technology, and smoothness of the ride. No matter what the motivation, a European vehicle offers a driving experience like no other.
This high-performance, luxurious driving experience can be easily hindered by the improper alignment of the vehicle’s wheels. Based on where and how you drive your vehicle, improper alignments can happen quickly. One solid hit to a deep pothole can force your alignment out of adjustment, and, in turn, not only ruin your driving experience but could also cause uneven tire-wear and possibly become a safety concern.
What is a Wheel Alignment
Simply put, a wheel alignment is a procedure that ensures all of your wheels are pointing in the same direction and at the proper angles. When your wheels become even slightly misaligned several issues can occur, some of which can be dangerous for you and your passengers. The following are issues you can expect if you have improperly aligned wheels:
- Uneven Tire Wear
- Vibrations or Shaking While Driving
- Damage to Suspension Components
- Wheel Damage
- Loss of Control of the Vehicle
Left unchecked, improper wheel alignment can cost thousands of dollars worth of damage to your vehicle, or even worse, potential issues to your safety.
WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIALISTS
How Alignments are Completed
Although wheel alignments are relatively inexpensive, they require complex and expensive equipment to complete properly. This equipment helps the auto mechanic understand what adjustments need to be made to the vehicle’s axles to ensure that the wheels are running parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground.
The equipment uses lasers to measure each wheel’s current alignment and gives a readout that can be assessed. Then, the repair technician uses the manufacturer’s recommended specifications to adjust the wheels back into proper alignment. To do this, suspension components are adjusted in several ways to change the angle of alignment. These angles are known as toe, thrust, camber, and caster. Once properly adjusted, the lasers are used again to verify that the vehicle falls within the manufacturer-approved specifications.
Other Common Issues and Practices
If a vehicle’s wheels are very far out of alignment, there is a good chance that one or more damaged suspension components are causing the problem. When a vehicle comes in for an alignment, our team thoroughly inspects all relevant components such as the:
- Entire suspension system
- Tire pressure and condition
- Entire steering system
If other parts of a suspension or steering system are damaged, it is very likely that a wheel alignment would not stay in place once reset (even if it were possible to adjust back into the manufacturer’s specifications). In the event of damaged parts, the wheel alignment service is halted until the owner is informed of all their options.
Your Space Coast Dealership Alternative
Proper wheel alignment is critical to enjoying a smooth and safe ride in your European vehicle. Melbourne Motorsports has been trusted for over a decade to help owners get back on the road quickly and enjoy all the excitement their chosen vehicle has to offer without worrying about high dealership pricing.