We decided we wanted to take wheel alignments to the next level and have ramped up the service we provide by installing the top of the class Hunter Hawkeye Elite alignment machine. We have fondly dubbed this baby “Hunter” and are super excited about how it’s going to improve the service we can give to customers.
We recommend that you consider having an alignment about twice a year, due to the road conditions and terrain that we have here in the north, or immediately if you have hit something on the road. The alignment can change on a vehicle from normal wear, potholes, curbs, and minor accidents. Proper alignment is key to tire wear, comfort, and fuel efficiency.
Hunter has Quickgrip adapters and three dimensional targets that grip onto the rubber tire itself, and have plastic protector rings that protect the rim from metal on metal contact. With the targets, we have deep-wheel extensions, so we are able to perform alignments on deep rims, hubs that protrude and dually truck setup.
An increasing number of vehicles include advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). In addition to a mechanical alignment, manufacturer’s specifications often require a Safety System Alignment® on many vehicles equipped with ADAS Systems. With this alignment machine, we are able to reset and calibrate these systems in vehicles.
If the suspension is out of alignment, there is uneven pressure on the tires that can cause your car to work harder on the tires than it should have to. This would happen because there is more resistance between the tire and the road surface. That resistance can cause the tires to wear unevenly, which will ultimately become worn on one side. It can be dangerous to drive on uneven tires, and it will force you to purchase new tires sooner than you would’ve needed to with a proper alignment.
With tires, there’s comfort status. When tires begin to wear uneven, you can start to feel a vibration in the steering wheel and seat. The tires may also produce more road noise when traveling down the road with uneven tread.
Fuel efficiency is another big aspect to why an alignment is so important. The vehicle will have to work harder when the tires wear unevenly. The harder the vehicle has to work, the more fuel it burns.
When we perform an alignment, you’ll be getting your vehicle back in alignment, including camber, caster, and toe.
Camber is the inward and outward tilt of the tire and wheel assembly (when viewed from the front of the vehicle). When the top of the tire is leaning inward, it is negative camber. When the top of the tire is tilting outward, it is positive camber. Each manufacturer sets a specific camber alignment spec for every vehicle it makes. When the camber is at the correct angle, the tire will roll straight.
Caster affects steering and handling. Vehicles run a certain amount of positive caster with the steering axis tilted rearward towards the driver. While caster doesn’t affect tire wear like camber, it does have a big impact on handling and steering.
Toe would be the easiest to fall out of alignment, but is the most important angle for the tire. Toe is the angle of the tire and wheel pointing straight ahead, front and back. When the toe is correct, the tire has less friction when rolling down the road, and will allow your tire to last for its full life, and not wear out sooner than expected. A toe properly adjusted to manufacturer specifications will be at zero when rolling down the road.
We can’t stress enough the importance of making sure your vehicle has a proper alignment done at least somewhat regularly, and definitely if you think something is out of alignment.
Hunter and the JJ team are standing by, ready to help you set things straight!