Alignments

Q: Is it possible that my car is out of alignment?

A: Yes, most drivers think that if their car is driving straight down the road, that their alignment is okay. In fact, 9 out of 10 cars on the road are out of alignment. When a vehicle is out of alignment, the tires are not making proper contact with the ground causing uneven tire wear and/or pulling problems.


Go Straight: Wheel Alignment For our Automobiles

Posted December 1, 2011 9:47 AM



You may have an alignment problem if your car drifts or pulls to one side, your steering wheel’s off center, you have uneven tire wear or your car doesn’t feel like it handles right as you drive down our local our 12 streets.

When all of a vehicle’s wheels are lined up exactly with each other, your wheels are in alignment. Running into potholes, smacking a curb or other objects around our, 12 are great ways to knock your car out of alignment. Then one or more of your wheels starts pulling in a slightly different direction and the problems begin.

Driving for an extended time when your car is out of alignment causes your tires to wear unevenly and excessively. Sometimes the tire can be worn so badly that it will fail.

At the very least, you’ll have to replace your tires sooner. You could end up with premature wear to your suspension system, which can be really expensive. The front wheel alignment is adjustable on all vehicles, and the back wheels are also adjustable on some cars.

Now, let’s talk about some alignment basics. Wheels are adjustable for toe, caster and camber. The ideal alignment for your car was designed by its engineers.

So, what is involved in an alignment check at our our 12 auto dealership? First, there’s an inspection of the steering and suspension to see if anything is bent or broken. Tire condition will also be evaluated.

From there, the vehicle is put on an alignment rack and we take an initial alignment reading.

If all four wheels are adjustable, they are lined up perfectly parallel with the vehicle’s centerline. If the back wheels aren’t adjustable, the direction they push is determined and the front wheels are aligned to match.

Like most things, your manufacturer has suggested a mileage interval for having your alignment checked. But if you run into a curb, pothole or something else that’s given you a big jolt, pay attention to whether your vehicle is pulling to one side when you drive around the tucson area. It’s better to have your alignment checked before waiting to see if there is uneven tire tread wear – by then, the damage is done.

Getting your alignment checked when needed is a great way to extend the life of your tires and suspension parts. It also makes sure that your tire meets the road properly for maximum performance and safety.

Come see us at BRAKEmax Car Car Centers for more information about your tire alignment. We look forward to seeing you.



Tracking True In 12: Wheel Alignment In vail

Posted September 1, 2011 11:37 AM

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Wheel alignment is often overlooked by busy vail and catalina car owners until serious tire damage has been done. One wheel can be knocked out of alignment from the rest by hitting a curb or pothole on tucson roads.

When a vehicle’s out of alignment, one or more of the wheels does not track true and pulls against the others. The tires will wear out very quickly and will need to be replaced prematurely. It could also lead to suv suspension damage.

Tracking True In 12: Wheel Alignment In vail

But the big issue for vail, catalina, and our motorists is safety. When your suv wheels are out of alignment, the vehicle will pull to one side, which could lead to an accident. When you’re out of alignment, you should have it taken care of right away at BRAKEmax Car Car Centers in our.

At BRAKEmax Car Car Centers, your vehicle is put on an alignment rack where the tires, steering and suspension parts are checked for damage. Then the alignment is charted and checked against the factory settings.

Adjustments are made to bring the wheels back into alignment. This gets all four wheels going in precisely the same direction.

Signs of alignment problems are: Your car pulls to one side. Also, your steering wheel may not be centered when you’re going straight. If you see the edges of one or more tires rapidly wearing down, you should have your tucson service center look it over. If you’ve been in an auto accident in 12 that involved a wheel, you should get your alignment checked.

A big jolt can seriously knock things out of alignment, but vail drivers also need to understand that a series of smaller ones can add up.

That’s why your manufacturer recommends periodic alignment checks. If your suv owner’s manual doesn’t specify, once a year might be appropriate. Or check with Ray Pisciotta or your service advisor at BRAKEmax Car Car Centers in our.

One thing’s for sure: the cost of the alignment at BRAKEmax Car Car Centers is cheaper than having to buy a couple of new tires because of neglect.



Trip Inspection Video

Posted February 3, 2010 2:30 PM



North Americans love their cars. And nothing goes with cars better than the road trip. Freedom from daily schedules, new sights and the open road – it’s great! But there’s nothing like car trouble to bring the fun to a grinding halt.

Now you can’t always avoid problems, but you can take steps to reduce the probability of getting sidelined on your trip. The first step is to look at your trip plan from your vehicle’s perspective. What kind of roads will you be traveling – winding byways or super-highways? Mountains or plains? What weather conditions are you likely to encounter? How many miles will you travel? How much weight will you be hauling – passengers and luggage? Lugging a trailer or roof top carrier? Will it be dusty?

Armed with the answers to these questions, you can start a trip inspection to help you prepare your Tucson vehicle for your big adventure. A lot of our Tucson customers prefer to go through this exercise with an automotive service advisor at BRAKEmax Car Car Centers to get their input and make sure they haven’t left anything out.

A great place to start is with the tires. Inspect them for tread wear and proper inflation. Is it time to rotate your tires? Replace them? Are they up to the job – you wouldn’t want to drive regular highway tires on a muddy off-road adventure.

Shocks and struts play a major role in both driving comfort and safety. If they need to be replaced, you’ll really be glad you did once you hit the road. Is it time for a wheel alignment? Fighting a car that’s pulling to one side all day can be tiring and dangerous.

And don’t forget your brakes. Any strange noises, grabbing, soft or hard peddle feel? If there is any doubt, get a brake inspection before you leave.

Moving under the hood, have your belts and hoses inspected. If something is excessively worn or near failure, the stress of a long road trip might just be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

Your engine air filter will be important. For every gallon of gas you burn, your car will filter and use 12,000 gallons of air. If the filter needs to be changed, you’ll notice the fuel savings on your trip.

How close are you to your next oil change? Will you be able to complete your trip before it’s due? If not, just get it taken care of before you go so that you don’t need to interrupt your trip. In fact, a full service oil change is a great idea because they will top off all your fluids and check to see if any other maintenance items are due, such as transmission or cooling system service.

Do you notice any unusual odors in your vehicle? If so, it could as harmless as a dirty cabin air filter. But if it’s an exhaust leak it could be fatal on a long trip. Of course you’ll want to be comfortable, so get an air conditioning service if you aren’t getting the cold air you used to.

Are you wiper blades still working well? If not, that is quick and inexpensive to fix. Headlamps are often overlooked when planning for a trip. If you haven’t changed the bulb in six months or so, replacement bulbs will really light up the night on your trip.

All the items mentioned are part of any good vehicle maintenance plan. These are things that you want to take care of anyway, but they all come into focus as you plan for your trip.

They will always save you money in the long run and may prevent inconvenient delays on your trip. After all, you wouldn’t want to miss the world’s largest ball of string, would you?






















































Alignment Services

Being out of alignment can also cause poor handling when braking and cornering, along with poor gas mileage due to the lack of, or excess, friction between the tire and the road. There are three major adjustments on a vehicle that control the alignment of the wheels: Caster, Camber, and Toe. Camber and toe are considered "wear angles", which means that when they are out of adjustment, it will cause uneven and premature tire wear. These angles are the most common to go out and will usually go unnoticed by the driver.

Caster is a "pulling angle", which when out, will cause the vehicle to pull in one direction or the other. Tire wear, difference in tread design, and/or brake problems can also contribute to a vehicle pull. There are two types of alignments that a technician can perform. First, and the most common alignment, is a "4 wheel alignment", where all four wheels are adjustable. Most new cars, SUV's, and mini vans have all four wheels adjustable. The other type of alignment is a "thrust angle alignment", where the front wheels are aligned in relationship to the rear wheels. Every vehicle is specific to which type of alignment it requires. Contact your BRAKEmax service advisor to find out which alignment your vehicle will require.

What's included in our alignment service

Warning Signs