Proper wheel alignment is crucial for the safety, efficiency, and longevity of your heavy duty trucks. Here’s why it matters and what you need to know:

What is Wheel Alignment?

Wheel alignment refers to adjusting the angles of a truck’s wheels to ensure they’re parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground. This involves three main components:

1. Camber: The vertical tilt of the wheel
2. Toe: The horizontal angle of the wheels
3. Caster: The forward or backward tilt of the steering axis

Benefits of Proper Alignment:

1. Improved Handling and Stability: Correct alignment enhances your truck’s responsiveness to steering inputs, ensuring optimal control in various driving conditions.
2. Extended Tire Life: Proper alignment prevents uneven tire wear, significantly reducing tire-related expenses. Misaligned wheels can reduce tire life by up to 20%.
3. Enhanced Fuel Efficiency: Aligned wheels reduce rolling resistance, decreasing the strain on your engine and improving fuel economy. You could be spending an extra 2% on fuel with misaligned wheels.
4. Increased Safety: Well-aligned wheels respond predictably to steering inputs, crucial for emergency maneuvers or sudden stops.

Signs Your Truck Needs Alignment:

1. Steering wheel drifting to one side
2. Abnormal tire wear patterns
3. Steering wheel vibrations
4. Noisy steering or squealing tires.

How Often to Check Alignment:

While it depends on usage and conditions, a general rule is to check alignment every 50,000 to 60,000 miles or at least once a year.

Professional alignment ensures accurate results, extends tire life, improves fuel efficiency, and enhances overall vehicle safety. Don’t wait for your suspension and steering components to break – regular alignment checks can prevent costly repairs and downtime..

Remember, proper wheel alignment is not just a maintenance task; it’s an investment in your truck’s performance, safety, and your business’s bottom line.

Be sure to book your alignment at GreatWest Kenworth Today!