Alignment Service

Alignment Service at Stanley Ford Gilmer

Proper alignment is one of the critical aspects of prime performance and efficiency for your Ford vehicle. The service department at Stanley Ford Gilmer provides alignment service and a full range of tire and wheel services to keep your Ford in prime condition as you drive around Gilmer, Longview and Tyler. You may not think about how your vehicle steers so easily as you drive down the highway, but the alignment of your suspension system is the reason for a smooth ride. If your vehicle needs to be realigned, you may need wheel alignment service at Stanley Ford Gilmer.

Service Specials

Schedule Service

Why Wheel Alignment is Critical

The alignment of the wheels or tires with the vehicle’s suspension system is important to stability and tire wear. An alignment corrects the angles of the wheels to help them make better contact with the pavement.
When there is a misalignment, the vehicle becomes harder to drive. You will likely feel a vibration and perhaps a pulling to one side as you drive. If you’re driving in a straight line, the vehicle will still drift off to one side. Another issue is that tires wear out faster and are more likely to have a flat. The alignment of your wheels impacts the way the tires touch the road. It affects how smooth of a ride your vehicle provides and how much difficulty you have with steering. Your wheels may be out of alignment because of normal wear and tear, from hitting a pothole or curb, or due to being in an accident.
Poor alignment can cause your tires to wear down faster and need to be replaced more often. If you notice issues, you should bring your vehicle to the service department of Stanley Ford Gilmer for alignment service.

Checking Alignment

Here at Stanley Ford Gilmer, our service technicians will check the alignment with a focus on the camber, toe and caster. If an alignment is needed, we’ll get the job done quickly.
The camber is tested, using the correct diagnostics equipment. The camber alignment is how the tires look when someone is standing in front of the vehicle. The tires should be on center point. If they tilt out or in, a camber alignment is needed. The problem can be caused by worn wheel bearings and ball joints or from an accident.
The toe alignment is checked from above. If the tires turn out or in, it means an alignment is needed. When this is a problem, you may notice that one side of the tire feels smooth to your hand while the other is sharp. Tire inflation is important to prevent this issue, along with tire rotation.
The caster is also checked, which is the angle of the steering axis. It is checked from the side of the vehicle, and it is critical for stability as well as cornering and overall steering.
The service technician may suggest balancing the tires as well as an alignment. They will check the tires and add weights to make sure they are in balance. Regular rotation and balancing can extend the life of your tires while an alignment will prevent further damage.
Contact Stanley Ford Gilmer to find out more about wheel alignment or to set up an appointment with our service department for tire care. You may need a wheel alignment if you notice any of the following:

• The vehicle pulls to one side while you’re driving.
• The steering wheel turns to one side when you’re driving straight.
• The vehicle starts to shake or vibrates while you’re on the road.
• The tire tread wears unevenly and may even have wires sticking out on one side. 

Testing Alignment

When you come in for alignment service at Stanley Ford Gilmer, our service technicians will check your vehicle to see where alignment is needed. There are three areas where you may have a problem.
The camber is tested by looking at the vehicle from the front. Tires that tilt in or out indicate that the camber is out of alignment. This is fairly common when ball joints and wheel bearings wear out. You may notice one side of the tire wears quicker than the other with a camber misalignment.
The toe is also tested but from above to see the angle of the tires. The wheels may angle in or out if the toe isn’t in alignment. The tire may have sharp edges on one side when the toe isn’t in correct alignment. If you don’t get your tires rotated or keep them inflated correctly, it can lead to this problem.
The caster is another test, viewed from the side of the vehicle. The caster determines the angle of the steering axis and impacts steering, especially on turns and curves.
Regular tire service includes tire rotation, tire tread check, and wheel alignment to ensure a smooth ride with fewer repairs for your vehicle. By having regular service on your vehicle, you can reduce the wear and tear on tires and other components of your suspension system.
Schedule service for your vehicle if you think you need a wheel alignment. Set up an appointment online or give us a call at Stanley Ford Gilmer and let us help you keep your vehicle providing smooth performance.