Having trouble in keeping your car straight on road? Your Tires Likely Need an Alignment.

Help your vehicle’s tires last longer and perform properly by keeping in mind the symptoms of bad alignment of tires.

Are you having trouble keeping your vehicle straight on the road? Does your vehicle need alignment? Alignment is a very important term in auto parts dictionary. This is because a tire or wheel alignment not only keeps your vehicle in one direction but also improves its handling and prevents unusual vibrations.

Wheel Alignment of car means adjusting vehicle’s suspension system that connects vehicles to its wheels. Vehicle’s alignment plays a pivotal role in vehicle’s performance. It saves tires from premature tire wear and your money. Safety is one of the critical aspects of driving. If the vehicle is pulling to one direction either left or right, this could not only create risk for you but also the driver behind you. As the car’s performance increases with perfectly aligned wheels, your comfort also increases.

In this article, we shall read about causes of misalignment of your car. It’s better to notice the problem in its initial stage rather rushing to the mechanic when things go out of hands.

What are Symptoms of your car being out of alignment and some tips to prevent them?

Proper wheel or tire alignment requires manufacturer recommended tools and equipments to be used for best performance. Have a glance at some symptoms of misalignment.

Uneven tire wear

Tire alignment refers to vehicle’s steering and suspension components that controls the motion of wheels. Improper tire alignment can cause the tire to wear prematurely. Various tread wear patterns of car's tires can be noticed in this situation.

Excessive positive or negative toe can cause the tread blocks to feel like a saw teeth when you touch them. Misalignment also causes one side of the tire to wear faster than the other side.

Also, don’t forget that tires and wheels are made within certain degree of tolerance that include run out and radial force variation. Any fluctuation in the tolerance can cause your vehicle’s steering to pull. In this condition, to cancel the pull you can move the worst tire to a non steering axle for the time being. But it is a temporary solution, as the pull could return during next rotation.

Some balancers can be installed to cancel the effect of steering pull on your vehicle and assign the correct position to it.

Under the situations of unusual wear patterns and premature tread wear, get the wheel alignment checked by a professional mechanic.

Under inflated tires

Most alignment problems occur with tires and wheel so it is to be noted that tires are not perfect! Tires and wheels should be of proper size and fitting. Tire pressure is a very important factor. It not only increases the rate of tire wear but also increases the possibility of car needing an alignment. Alignment service depends upon size of tire gravely, if they do not match, then alignment service is just impossible. The car will pull towards the side with wide or small tire.

So before getting alignment service performed, it is wise to check the tire size and pressure and consider manufacturer’s recommended specifications if any change is needed regarding both factors.

Worn out Steering and Suspension Components

There are some pre checkups that should be performed before getting your car aligned. They are essential because, alignment changes if there are some parts are not detected beforehand. One of those important components is steering and suspension system.

You must inspect steering components like ball joints, tie rods, steering arms for traces of wear and excessive movement. Refer to the owner’s manual or get these auto parts replaced according to manufacturer specifications for better alignment. You can also shop for good quality car's upper and lower Ball joints, automotive tie rod ends and other steering components at Parts Avatar.

Car’s alignment can be affected by leaky struts, missing and cracked suspension rubber bushings.  Partsvatar also offers suspension replacement parts and car's suspension struts at cheap prices. A worn suspension spring affects vehicle’s ride height severely. So check the springs and height along with steering and suspension parts. It is to be strictly noted that every replacement should be done according to manufacturer’s specifications.

Vehicle pulling to one side

Camber, caster and automotive toe are the three main matters of concern for the mechanic when he proceeds to check the alignment. There are certain things that you need to know about camber, caster to get perfect alignment for your car.

CAMBER

When viewed from the front of your car, it is outward or inward angle of a tire. Tilting too much inward and tilting too much in outward direction is called negative and positive camber respectively. car's Camber angles should be properly inclined according to manufacturer specifications. Worn out steering and suspension auto parts may contribute to camber misalignment. So camber adjustment must be checked before proceeding further.

CASTER

The job of caster is to adjust the steering, cornering and balancing stability of the vehicle. Caster angle of car is the angle of your steering axis when viewed from the side of your car. Positive caster means steering axis will tilt towards the driver and negative caster means steering axis will tilt towards the front of your car.

Caster is only set on the front suspension of your car. Most cars prefer positive caster manner for better steering and stability of vehicle at high speeds.

As read above toe is also an important part of alignment. It tells the extent to which tire turn inwards or outwards when viewed from above. Toe wear could indicate underinflated tires or lack of rotation.

Overall vehicle’s performance is gravely affected by misalignment. So, it is important to understand the wear pattern, steering axis and tilt angle for to analyze alignment issues with your vehicle. You can also take help of some camber/caster tools of car and automotive camber/caster alignment kits available at aftermarket. If you are unable to observe the angle and axis then you may take help of a professional.

Vibrating Vehicle and Strange noises

Unbalanced tires, warped brake rotors, worn out suspension parts and wrong caster angle of your vehicle can cause the vehicle to vibrate.

Noises are very helpful in detecting a problem. Same happens in misalignment situation. Strange noises like creaking, knocking or squeaking may indicate loose or worn out suspension and steering components. It is better to check and replace car's steering and suspension components that are causing your car to go out of alignment.

Replacing tires is quite expensive. To prevent frequent tire wear and other steering and suspension damage, it is important to always be aware and get your tires and wheels aligned 5000 miles to maximize their life along with your car’s performance and your safety.

Parts avatar is one of the best aftermarket dealers of auto parts across Canada, that offers good quality and budgetary priced replacement and performance auto parts. You can get free shipping of auto parts at your doorsteps for orders exceeding $99. 

Misaligned wheels? Steering Drifting? Know the Symptoms of Damaged or Worn out Ball Joints @PartsAvatar Canada

Know the symptoms of worn out ball joints as you may start steering to the right or left unintentionally.

The ball joints are the important suspension system component that are spherical bearing in a socket whose main function is to connect the control arm of the vehicle to the steering knuckles.

In this article we will read about the symptoms of worn out front ball joints as they are responsible for the front wheels and suspension to move back and forth while driving. When a ball joint fails, the driver eventually loses control of the vehicle. So it is very important to notice damaging symptoms of a ball joint.

By ignoring this, you not only damage the suspension but also the other components of vehicle like axle shafts and brakes of car. Before moving further, let us read about ball joints and its types.

Ball joints and its types

Ball joints basically connect the control arm with the steering knuckle and works as a pivot between suspension and wheels. On most vehicles, in the front suspension, there are car's upper and lower ball joints on both sides. On the other hand the car strut equipped vehicles have only two lower joints in the front suspensions.

Some front wheel drive cars with independent rear suspension use rear ball joints.

LOADED JOINTS

A loaded joint carries or supports the weight of vehicle and a follower joint that positions control arm assembly or strut. These are designed to support the weight of the vehicle while providing hinge point for the steering system. They decrease the wear rate by centering themselves in their own sockets.

FOLLOWER JOINTS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         These carry no weight. The follower ball joint is used in a strut suspension to connect lower control arm of car, steering knuckle and strut. These are designed to maintain precise dimensional tolerance in a car's steering and suspension system parts. A change can be noticed in camber, caster or toe angle due to wearing.

Symptoms of Worn out Ball Joints

By turning and driving on rough or bad roads, a constant friction is created between ball stud and bearing which causes the ball joints to wear prematurely. Lack of lubrication and corrosion of joints can also increase the rate of wear. Let us read some other symptoms of a worn out ball joint.

Excessive vibration from the front of the vehicle

Excessive vibrations from vehicle’s suspension are also one of the common symptoms of worn out ball joints. The vibration may be felt from right of left side of the vehicle or sometimes even the steering wheel can give the feeling of vibration. The cause of vibration is loosened ball joints in the sockets and they vibrate heavily when the vehicle is in motion.

Abnormal Drifting of steering

If the steering is not getting back to the centre, then there may be issue with the ball joints. When the ball joints are in good condition and wheels are in proper alignment the steering wheel should also stay straight. Damaged ball joints will cause the steering wheel to wander from right to left and it will eventually lead to damage or accident.

Tire wear

Uneven tire wear is also a symptom of worn out ball joint. Worn ball joints may cause the outer or inner edges of the front tires to wear faster than the tire tread. Worn ball joints also create cupping on the inner edge of the tire tread of car;s tire. Sometimes under inflated tire can also cause the side edges to wear at faster rate than the middle, so for this you may need to take a professional advice.

Noises

One of the most common symptoms is clunking noises coming from vehicle’s front suspension. Sometimes it is like a banging sound coming from the corner of the vehicle. You can hear these noises when the vehicle is going on a speed bump, rough road and potholes or around the corner. As the ball joints become loose in the socket they start to knock as the suspension travels up and down. Ignoring the noise may just add to the damage as by the time the sound will become louder and eventually the ball joint will fail and break.

So if we make a check list of factors that contribute in damaging ball joints is:

·        Improper service damaging the boot

·        Out of round tires

·        Lack of lubrication to the joints

·        Over greasing that causes boot failure

·        Severe potholes and rough roads

Ball joint Maintenance

Do not ignore the warning signs of worn out ball joints as they may break eventually. Ball joints may last 70000 to 150000 miles. Road conditions, driving, exposure to contaminants are the factors that affect lifespan of a ball joint.

 It is advised to replace all the ball joints while replacing a worn out ball joint as it will be economically convenient and also better for suspension performance.

For replacing a ball joint, you can jack up your car from the side where the replacement is needed.

Now grasp the top and bottom of the tire. By rocking it in and out, you can configure which ball joint is bad.

Pry apart the lower control arm and wheel hub with the help of a pry bar. Moving grease fitting indicates bad ball joint or grease fitting. You can detect if it is the ball joint or grease fitting that has gone bad by moving the ball with the fitting. If the fitting is dry and can move, there may be only issue with grease fitting.

If the ball joint is attached to the arm, then the whole car's control arm assembly should be replaced if the joint has worn out. You can take mechanic’s help if you cannot separate ball joints.

The replacement cost varies from vehicle to vehicle. They depend on year, make, model and even number of ball joints your vehicle is using. so, aftermarket parts can be taken into consideration if you want to shop for them. Partsavatar is one of the best aftermarket parts dealers that offer auto parts under your budget. take a look.

Get the joy of smooth ride by replacing your worn out steering and suspension auto parts at partsavatar canada

Feeling bumps in the road? Is your steering whining? Enhance your steering and suspension system at parts avatar Canada.

 The auto steering allows you to point the car to where you want to go and suspension helps to get there without feeling any bump in the road. The main function of steering and suspension system is to allow wheels to move of the car independently. The steering andsuspension system of car closely controls the vehicle alignment.

STEERING COMPONENTS

Worn or loose components may result in loss of directional stability and accelerated tire wear. The main steering components are:

 STEERING GEARS

The steering gear converts the rotation from steering wheel into the right or left motion that steers the front wheel. There are two types of steering gear as: rack and pinion and recirculating ball. The rack and pinion gears are popular in small vehicles while recirculating balls are more popular in large vehicles. The rack and pinion gear has long bar with gear teeth while the recirculating ball has a round gear in it.

BALL JOINTS, TIE RODS, LINKAGE

When the suspension moves up and down, lowerand upper ball joints of car and tie rods help the steering gear to move. This allows the suspension to move up and down and keep the tire flat to the ground. Tie rods connect the steering gears to drive wheel. Linkage is used as connecting bar to hold and tie rods together and connect them to steering gear.

POWER STEERING

Car's power steering uses hydraulic or electric power to assist in the turning of the wheels. Hydraulic systems are run by pump that is hooked to a belt that runs off the front of the engine.

SUSPENSION COMPONENTS

SPINDLES

The spindles hold the wheel and brakes in place and rotate on top and bottom mounts to turn the drive wheel. Spindle is for rear wheel drive car and the shaft in the middle is connected to bearing that allow the wheels to move freely. A front wheel drive spindle will have a hole through the drive spindle feeds and rotates the wheel.

CONTROL ARMS

Control arms enable the spindles or axle to rotate and give the surface to the road. To move the vehicle as needed mostly car's control arm with ball joint is needed. Depending on the suspension designs, there may be one or two control arms per wheel.

SPRINGS

Springs help in smoothing the ride by enabling the wheels to move with road. They also help in turning. Springs absorb the impact from the road but they aren’t very good with dissipating energy. Springs may be coiled or arc shaped.

SHOCKS, STRUT, DAMPERS

Shocks and struts dissipate energy. They convert the moving spring energy into heat and dissipate it. For dissipation they use gases, oil or valves. When the spring wants to return to its original position, it slows the process down. This reduces the bouncing effect of the springs.

Dampers work like mini shocks. They take out the vibrations of the moving parts of the car and dissipate the energy to smooth out the ride. Sway bars of car which are also called anti roll bars or stabilizer bars are used to stiffen the suspension when the car wants to roll. This enables car manufacturers to run softer springs and improve ride quality.

COMMON STEERING AND SUSPENSION PROBLEMS

STEERING PROBLEMS

1.  If your car is pulling to one side then the front steering may need to be aligned. This may be because of damaged steering wheel components and blockage of power steering.

2. If there is leak in hydraulic system and broken belt in power steering pump then it would become difficult for the car to turn.

3. The worn out steering components like tie rods or internal gears may cause the steering system to hang up in certain places.

4.  If you hear whining sound by power steering then this may be due to air bubbles in the lines, power steering pump may be failing or bearing on the pulley may be failing.

SUSPENSION ISSUES

1.  Anything that moves in the front end may wear out and cause vibrations. The ball joints cannot stand against the pressure exerted by the tires so the front begins to vibrate.

2.  Lack of enough greasing to the joints may cause squeaks and noises. Springs and shocks also contribute to noises.

3. If the car hits a large bump and the suspension bottoms out, the suspension may be wearing out.

STEERING AND SUSPENSION MAINTENANCE

If you suspect you have a problem with your suspension system then you can check for damage to specific parts.

BENT COMPONENTS

 Suspensions are generally symmetrical side to side, so check the components against the other for damage.

TORN BOOTS

Due to over greasing tie rod may get torn. It will fail soon if its grease gets pushed out whenever you break the seal. The cover may get torn apart whenever you break the seal. So check all the tie rods if they rotting.

RUBBER COMPONENTS

Check all the rubber components for dry rot, splits or cracks.

LEAKS

Check the power steering connections for leaks and the grease fittings for grease coming out of the fittings.

TOE IN AND TOE OUT

 Pointing your toe towards each other is toe in and vice versa is toe out. On rear wheel drive cars, pointing the front wheel towards each other help keep the car stable. Front wheel drive cars are usually toe out because front wheels are pulling the car rather than pushing. The handle turns better and driving turns straighter if you give tires a slight in or out position.

POWER STEERING FLUID

Check your fluid level and fluid condition on regular basis. Fluid level should always be checked when the engine is running. If the fluid is black colored it means rubber from the seals and hoses is seeping into the system which could cause pump failure. In this case have a professional check it out. You need to fill required amount of fluid in the pump as overfill may cause hydraulic fluid to expand when heated.

LUBRICATION OF SUSPENSION SYSTEM

Ball joints, tie rods and other metal parts need to be lubricated or they will grind against each other and fail. These have special grease fittings called zerk fittings that allow you to pump grease into the joints. Too much grease could break the rubber cover so be careful while filling it.

INSPECT SHOCKS AND STRUTS

Monitoring your car when driving is the best way to examine shocks and struts. If the nose of your car dips towards the road under hard braking then there is some problem with shocks.

If the car is leaning towards the side when taking a turn, then the shocks are worn. If regular road grime is mixed with the oil from the shock, then you need to repair the shocks immediately. Inspect the exposed pistons for the signs of rust or scratches. If the shock is not working properly then it may cause tire to bounce up and down. If you keep in mind these points regarding shock damage then you may save your shocks from getting more damaged.

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