Wheel alignment determines how your car handles, and for an everyday driver, there’s no telling what kind of obstacles you’ll encounter. This is why it is very important to keep your vehicle’s wheels in-line.

Suspension is what connects your vehicle to its wheels and provides a smooth, safe ride over uneven streets. Parts of your vehicle’s suspension will bend over time or as a result of collisions with curbs or potholes. As these parts change shape, your wheels may become misaligned and cause your car to veer to one side or go through your tires very quickly.

Your vehicle’s suspension has many adjustable components that allow technicians to adjust the wheel’s angle. When you take your vehicle in for an alignment, your BMW Repair Vacaville shop uses special equipment to make sure the wheels are straight and your vehicle reacts properly to the road and your inputs.

Camber is the angle of the wheel (measured in degrees) when viewed from the front of the vehicle. When a pair of wheels has their leading edges pointed slightly towards each other, the wheel pair is considered to have a toe-in or a negative camber. If the top of the wheels are leaning out from the center of the car, then the camber is positive or the pair is said to have a toe-out. Excessive camber angles may not be noticeable when driving, but it can wear out tires unevenly and possibly reduce cornering performance.

Misaligned wheels may cause the tires to “scrub” or skid along the road at odd angles and will decrease their lifespan. More power is also required to turn misaligned wheels, which will result in wasted fuel. Safety also becomes an issue, as misaligned wheels tend to impact the handling of the car.

To check your alignment, find a straight, flat stretch of road. If the vehicle automatically steers to one side, it may be misaligned. Most streets slope for drainage and usually cause vehicles to pull right. This is normal.

It is a good idea to have an alignment performed annually at a professional BMW Repair Vacaville facility. If you notice that you have to constantly fight the steering wheel to keep the car straight, bring the car in for an alignment immediately!

An ASE-certified technician will be able to diagnose the problem and offer solutions to fix it. In most cases, a simple alignment is all that is required.