Signs That You Need a Wheel Alignment

If you live in Crestwood or Webster Groves, Missouri, chances are you've already been dealing with the rough roads and potholes on Watson Road in Crestwood and Big Bend in Webster Groves. Unfortunately, driving on roads like these can cause your car to get out of alignment. Regularly scheduled alignments will ensure that your vehicle is aligned properly so that you can drive safely and smoothly. So if you've recently noticed any of the signs listed above, don't wait – contact Sant Automotive shop for an alignment today! What are the warning signs of your car being out of alignment? Uneven or rapid tire wear : Uneven or rapid tire wear is a telltale sign that your car is out of alignment. If you notice any areas on your tires with abnormal tire wear or uneven wear, it might be time for a proper wheel alignment, also called a tire alignment, to make sure everything is in proper order. Pulling to one side: The most recognizable symptom of needing an alignment is if your car pulls to one side while driving on a straight road. This means that one wheel will have a tendency to turn further than the other, causing the car to not drive in a straight line and instead pull towards one side. Steering wheel vibration: When driving straight down the road, if you feel a noticeable amount of vibration coming from the steering wheel, it may mean that your tires are out of alignment and are wearing unevenly. Noisy Steering : If your steering is producing a squeaking, grinding or clunking noise when turning, it can be an indication of needing an alignment. This is usually caused by a lack of lubrication, or when parts begin to wear out due to the car being out of alignment. Squealing tires : If your car's tires are squealing when you're driving, it can be an indication that the tires are rubbing against the wheel hub or suspension parts. This is usually caused by misalignment and can be fixed with an alignment from Sant Automotive shop. Pulling to the left or right while driving on a flat surface : If your car pulls to the left or right while driving on a flat surface, it's likely due to misalignment. This doesn't necessarily mean you need an alignment, but it can be an indication that something is out of whack and needs to be looked at. Vibration in the steering wheel when brakes are applied : If you feel a vibration in the steering wheel when you apply the brakes, your rotors may be warped, or it can be due to an alignment issue. This is usually caused by uneven tire wear or misalignment, and can be easily fixed with an alignment.. Poor Fuel Economy : Poor fuel economy can be caused by a variety of factors, but a poor alignment can definitely be one of them. If your car is out of alignment, it can cause the tires to rub against the wheel hub or suspension parts which can create drag and reduce fuel efficiency. Common Misconception: A lot of people think that alignments are only necessary after driving over speed bumps or potholes, but this isn't true. Alignments should be performed regularly to ensure that your car's tires are properly angled and your steering wheel is properly aligned for optimal performance. So even if you haven't recently been driving on any rough roads, it doesn't hurt to get an alignment check just to make sure everything is in order. If any of these symptoms sound familiar, you may have a bad alignment. Additionally, if you replace suspension, like ball joints, or control arms, or steering parts, like steering racks or tie rod ends, the tire angles must be corrected. Contact Sant Automotive shop today at 314-849-2900 to make sure your car is running smoothly and safely. Proper alignment can help extend the life of your tires and improve the overall performance of your vehicle. 
Location: 8720 Watson Rd, St. Louis, MO 63119, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Do Tires Expire?

Image
  Do tires expire is a question that our customers often ask. For years many motorists have relied only on tread depth to know when it is time to replace them. Unfortunately, the age of your tires is also a factor. Over time, tires can dry out and crack. Excessive heat and sunlight contribute to this and can cause tire to unexpectedly fail, even when there is plenty of tread remaining on the tire . Tire manufacturers offer different opinions regarding how long tires will last, but the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NTHSA) recommends that you replace tires after six years . How do you know how old your tires are ? The best way to know the age of your tires is to check the Department of Transportation (DOT) code. The manufacturer stamped it in the sidewall of your tire. DOT numbers identify the manufacturer and the make of tires, but they also tell you when the tires were made . The last four digits of your tires’ DOT code tell the month and year of manufa...
Read more

What is a Belt Tune Up?

Image
A Serpentine Belt is the rubber Drive Belt that causes the pullies on your car's Alternator, Air Conditioning Compressor, Water Pump, and Power Steering Pump to rotate and to create electrical and mechanical power. Rotation of the alternator creates your car's electrical power. Gas powered vehicles have one or more Drive Belts, at least one Belt Tensioner, and they may have one or more Idler Pulleys. Belt Tensioners insure that the Alternator, A/C Compressor, Water Pump, and Power Steering Pump continue to spin with the rotation of the engine. Idler Pulleys are simply pulleys that do not drive other components. Idler Pulleys are used to route the Serpentine Belt.  With use, a Serpentine Belt will stretch and wear.  Belt Tensioners and Idler Pulleys also wear, and this will cause additional belt wear. When a Serpentine Belt breaks, the components that it drives will not longer function. Because of this, Sant Automotive recommends that you replace your Serpentine Belt(s), Idler ...
Read more

What Do Spark Plugs Do?

Image
  Spark Plugs are the small electrical parts that provide the power to ignite the fuel in gasoline powered devices. As electricity passes between the Spark Plug's electrodes, gasoline ignites causing an explosion that powers your vehicle. Spark Plugs fire once every two engine rotations. This means that if your engine is running at 800 RPMs, your Spark Plugs will fire 400 times per minute. The heat produced by these explosions causes the Electrodes to wear which increases the gap between the Electrodes. The increased gap causes your vehicle to use more fuel to produce the same amount of power.  Worn Spark Plugs reduce Gas Mileage, and unburnt fuel will damage your car's Oxygen Sensors and its Catalytic Converter. Also, the longer that plugs stay in a vehicle, the more likely they are to become stuck in the engine's cylinder head. If a spark plug breaks, it can be very expensive and time consuming to extract it. For these reasons, Sant Automotive recommends that you change y...
Read more