Front End Alignment

Did you know the front end of your car, truck, van or SUV is made up of several small components? When there are so many working pieces, it means that if a single part is out of place, the rest will be affected. All it takes is one incident, one worn part or a single misaligned component to pull the rest of your front end pieces out of alignment. That’s why you should call Team Automotive to inspect your vehicle every time you suspect something could be wrong.

We are proud to be ASE-certified, which means our mechanics have a mastery of your vehicle and can inspect, diagnose and repair, or replace whatever parts you need. Call Team Automotive today to schedule an appointment or come in for a free quote. Trust that if it’s auto-related, we’re prepared to service it.

A front end alignment, also called a 2-wheel alignment, is when all the components in the front of your car, truck, van or SUV are positioned at the correct angles so your vehicle can drive and be controlled smoothly. Poor wheel alignment can be found in the following measurements:

Camber

When you’re looking at your front tires, you may notice they aren’t facing straight toward you. If the tops of the wheels seem to be tilted toward each other, they are experiencing negative camber. If they’re facing away from each other, they are at positive camber — but just because it includes the word “positive,” it doesn’t mean that’s a good thing. It simply means your tires are misaligned and require an adjustment.

Caster

If you stand to the side of your vehicle, you may notice your tires aren’t centered. This is due to a bent, broken or tilted steering axis. If it is tilted toward the front of your car, it is negative caster. If it’s tilted toward the back of your car, it is a positive caster.

Toe

If you had a birds-eye view of your vehicle, you might notice the front of your tires are tilted toward or away from each other. When the tops of your wheels are leaning in toward each other, it is called toe-in. If the tops of the tires are leaning away from each other, it is called toe-out alignment.

Thrust

This is determined by measuring whether the front and rear axles are running parallel to each other. If they aren’t, they need to be adjusted.

Each of these components needs to be fitted at specific angles in relation to one another, otherwise your wheel alignment is off and can affect other parts of your alignment system. Reasons for a misalignment can include collisions, driving into deep potholes at too high a speed and riding up on curbs. This is why it’s so important to be aware of what is on and around the road.

Though it sounds like it would be obvious to see problems with the camber, caster or toe, misaligned components aren’t always exaggerated. Sometimes, the only way to tell if anything is wrong is to have the vehicle lifted and measured by trained mechanics. But there are other signs to look for, such as these:

• Crooked steering wheel when driving straight
• Uneven or unusual tire wear
• Car pulls to left or right
• Tires squeal

If your vehicle is experiencing any of these signs, call Team Automotive, a trusted auto repair shop in Sioux Falls, SD. Our trained and experienced technicians will inspect the suspension components of your car and will diagnose any issues. Trust our friendly and professional mechanics to offer maintenance, repair or replacement options at an affordable price.

Keeping up with maintaining your vehicle is the best way to ensure it lasts a long time. When it comes to your vehicle’s front end alignment, do the following:

• Maintain proper tire air pressure
• Avoid potholes and driving up curbs
• Evenly distribute weight when moving heavy loads
• Check alignment every few years

When you need your alignment checked, call Team Automotive. We believe your auto repair should be as simple and painless as possible. Call today for an appointment or come to the shop and get a free quote from one of our knowledgeable mechanics.