Wheel Alignment Shop in Tucson

BRAKEmax technicians are ASE certified and provide wheel alignment services to ensure that your vehicle meets the manufacturer’s specifications. Taking care of this vital service will ensure that your tires last as long as the rubber holds.

Come to your nearest BRAKEmax auto repair shop location for these wheel alignment services and more:

• Computerized alignment check
• Caster, camber and/or toe adjustments as needed
• Steering wheel centering check
• Check of suspension component for excessive wear

Schedule Alignment Service

The actual process for wheel alignment service in Tucson is straightforward and fast. You can expect your car to be lifted on a hoist and the wheels secured to alignment machines. The mechanic will then visually inspect your tires and suspension and adjust the alignment as needed.

While this happens, you can relax in the waiting area or watch the technician work on your vehicle. Once the service has been completed and everything checks out, you’ll be good to go with a vehicle that handles well and you’ll know that you’re getting the maximum life span out of your tires.

What Is Included in a Professional Wheel Alignment Service?

When you visit a professional alignment shop for a tire alignment service, the mechanic tackles the geometry of your car’s suspension system to ensure that your tires make optimal contact with the road. Here’s exactly what’s involved:

• Inspection: The mechanic thoroughly inspects your tires for uneven wear, damage, and proper inflation. They also check the suspension components, including tie rods and ball joints, for excessive play or wear.
• Measurement: Using specialized alignment machines, the mechanic measures three key angles for each tire: camber, caster, and toe (more on these below). They then compare these angles with the manufacturer’s specifications for your vehicle.
• Adjustment: If any angles are outside the acceptable range, the mechanic makes precise adjustments to the suspension components. This typically involves loosening or tightening specific bolts or tie rods.
• Verification: After making adjustments, the mechanic measures the angles again to ensure that they fall within the proper specifications. A final test drive may be performed to confirm that the vehicle tracks straight and handles predictably.

By ensuring that all four tires meet the road at the correct angles, a professional wheel alignment service promotes even tire wear, improves fuel efficiency, and enhances your car’s handling and stability.

How Do I know if I Need a Wheel Alignment?

“My car isn’t ‘pulling’ to one side or another. The alignment must be okay, right?”

Not necessarily. There are several alignment angles; some impact tire wear and some cause a pull. Rarely does tire wear-related misalignment cause a physical pull on the car. 

Unfortunately, a wheel alignment service by a qualified professional is the only way to be certain. A vehicle that is out of alignment can exhibit a number of symptoms like:

• Adverse tire wear: Look out for uneven tread wear across your tires. This could manifest as feathering (wear on the outer edges), cupping (scalloped wear across the tread blocks), or inner edge wear. These signs indicate that the tires aren’t making proper contact with the road surface.
• A ‘pull’ to one side or another while driving: A misaligned vehicle may consistently pull to the left or right while driving on a straight and level road, even when you’re not turning the steering wheel. This can be caused by uneven toe angles (the direction the tires face) between the left and right sides.
• Crooked steering wheel: If you notice that your steering wheel isn’t centered when the car is driving straight, it can be a sign of wheel misalignment. Ideally, the steering wheel should be straight when the vehicle tracks correctly. A car with misaligned tires may require frequent minor adjustments to the wheels to maintain a straight path.
• Poor handling when braking or cornering: A properly aligned vehicle should feel stable and predictable during braking and cornering maneuvers. If you experience vague or unresponsive steering feel, have difficulty controlling the car during braking, or tend to roll excessively during cornering, these could all be signs of misalignment issues affecting tire grip and overall vehicle handling.

The Main Wheel Alignment Angles

The three main angles measured by an alignment check are camber, caster and toe.

Camber 

Camber can best be described as the inward or outward angle of the tire as viewed from the front. For example, the Leaning Tower of Pisa exhibits a negative camber. If this angle is too far outside of manufacturer specifications, the vehicle can pull to one side (sometimes) and cause premature edge wear due to one side of the tire tread making more contact with the ground than the other side of the tread.

Caster

Caster is the angle of the tire towards the front or rear, as viewed from the side. This angle will not generally cause adverse tire wear, but it will definitely cause a pull if it is out of specification.

Toe

Toe is the inward or outward direction of the tires as viewed from above. The most common angle in need of adjustment, misalignment of the toe angle will cause adverse tire wear but not a pull. It is also the easiest angle to ‘knock out’ of spec by hitting a pothole, curb or other object.

View the video below for a further explanation about the three main angles measured during the alignment.

Schedule a wheel alignment service today.

Frequently Asked Questions