Services
Wheel alignment
If the car pulls, the wheel sits crooked or one edge of a tire is going bald, the alignment is the first thing to check. Every alignment at RoadStone comes with a before and after printout, so you see what changed.
What an alignment adjusts
An alignment sets the angles of the wheels so they point the way the car is going and sit square to the road. There are three main angles.
- Toe: whether the fronts of the tires point in toward each other or out, seen from above.
- Camber: whether the tops of the tires lean in or out, seen from the front.
- Caster: the tilt of the steering pivot, seen from the side. It helps the wheel come back to center and the car hold a straight line.
These drift with normal driving and can jump out of spec after one hard hit on a pothole or a curb.
Alignment is not balancing
Alignment is a steering and suspension job: it sets angles. Balancing is a wheel and tire job: it evens out weight. A pull to one side is usually alignment. A shake at speed is usually balance.
Signs you need one
- The car drifts left or right on a straight, flat road.
- The steering wheel sits off center when you drive straight.
- One edge of a tire is wearing faster than the rest.
- The tread feels feathered, smooth one way and rough the other, when you run a hand across it.
- The tires squeal on easy, slow turns.
- You hit a curb or a deep pothole.
- You had steering or suspension parts replaced.
- You just put on new tires and want them to wear evenly from the start.
What the wear on your tires tells us
| What you see | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Inside or outside edge worn smooth | Camber is off |
| Feathered edges across the tread | Toe is off |
| Uneven, stepped wear | Caster is off, or parts are worn |
| Cupped dips around the tire | Worn shocks, struts or other suspension parts |
The table is a starting point. We read the tires and the alignment numbers together, because cupping and some stepped wear come from worn parts that an alignment alone will not fix.
Front-end, four-wheel and thrust angle
A front-end alignment sets only the front wheels. That was common on older cars and some trucks.
A four-wheel alignment is the norm on most cars today. The rear wheels are set first, then the front wheels are set to match, so all four point the same way. We do four-wheel alignments and tell you which kind your car takes.
Thrust angle is the direction the rear wheels push the car. If it is off, the car goes down the road slightly sideways, and the steering wheel sits crooked even when the front is set right. On cars where the rear cannot be adjusted, a thrust angle alignment sets the front to match the line the rear is pushing.
What happens when you come in
- Walk in any day we are open. No appointment.
- Tell us what the car does: a pull, a crooked wheel, a tire wearing on one edge.
- We check the tires, the pressure, and the steering and suspension parts before we touch the angles.
- We tell you what it needs and the price before any work starts. No surprise fees.
- We measure, adjust to the carmaker's numbers, and hand you the before and after printout.
Industry sources put a typical alignment at 30 to 60 minutes, longer for some four-wheel jobs. Ask us when you come in how busy the shop is.
Your before and after printout
The printout shows each wheel's angles as the car came in, the range the carmaker calls for, and where we left them. Keep it. If the car starts pulling again later, you have the numbers to compare against.
Lane keeping or adaptive cruise
Tell us if your car has lane keeping, adaptive cruise or automatic emergency braking. The cameras and sensors for those are aimed off the line the wheels point. Some cars need a steering angle reset or a camera calibration after an alignment. We tell you before we start whether yours does.
When an alignment cannot be finished
An alignment only holds if the parts that hold the wheel are tight. A worn tie rod end, ball joint or bushing lets the wheel move around, so the angles will not stay where they are set. Bent parts, or adjusters rusted solid, can keep us from reaching the carmaker's numbers at all.
If we find that, we stop, show you the part, and tell you what it needs and what it costs before going further. Aligning around a worn part wastes your money, because the car will be back out of spec soon.
Related services and tires
Questions we get
How do I know I need an alignment?
A pull to one side, a crooked steering wheel, or a tire wearing on one edge are the usual signs. A hard hit on a curb or pothole is a good reason to check even if you feel nothing.
Does an alignment fix a shaking steering wheel?
Usually not. Shaking at speed is more often a balance problem. A pull to one side is more often alignment. We can check both.
How long does an alignment take?
Industry sources put a typical alignment at 30 to 60 minutes, longer when parts are worn. Ask us when you come in how busy the shop is.
Should I get an alignment with new tires?
It is a good idea. If the angles are off, new tires start wearing unevenly right away.
How often should I get an alignment?
Your owner's manual is the first place to look. Tire sellers commonly suggest a check about once a year, and any time after a hard hit, new tires, or steering and suspension work.
Do I get a printout?
Yes. Every alignment comes with a before and after printout showing each wheel's angles and the carmaker's range.
Do I need an appointment?
No. Walk in any day. We are open seven days a week.
Related
- Services
Tire rotation
Spreads the wear across all four. - Services
Mount and balance
Done while you wait. - Tires
New tires
The major brands, quoted to your size. - Guide
When to replace your tires
Tread, the penny test, cracks and bulges. - Guide
Hydroplaning and flooded roads
Rain, tread depth, and what to check after high water. - Guide
Hit a pothole? What to check
Bulges, bent rims, pulls and the 311 report.
Walk in any day, or text us first.
6302 Westheimer Rd at Winrock. No appointment. You get the price before we start.