Why Is It Important to Have a Vehicle's Suspension Aligned?

If you notice changes in your vehicle’s handling or steering, you may need an alignment. First check to ensure that the tires are properly inflated, and if they are or if inflating them properly doesn’t fix the problem, an alignment may be in order.

Any time you have new tires installed, getting an alignment is a good idea. This is particularly important when changing to a different brand or model of tire, and it’s definitely necessary when changing wheel sizes.

If the vehicle is in an accident, even one that doesn’t seem very serious, or if you hit an obstacle hard with one or more of the wheels, get the alignment checked. Even a seemingly minor bump like running over a curb can throw the alignment far enough off to warrant an alignment.

Periodically checking the alignment, even if none of the above occurs can produce long-term savings, primarily in reduced tire cost. If it’s been two years or 30,000 miles since the vehicle’s last alignment, it’s probably time to have it checked; every 15,000 miles is more like it if you drive on rough roads a lot.

One thing to note when getting an alignment: you can have either a two-wheel (the fronts only) or four-wheel alignment. If your vehicle has an adjustable rear suspension (as most cars and trucks sold in the last 30 years do), then it’s almost always worth the small incremental cost to get the four-wheel alignment, for the long term savings on tire cost if nothing else.