Stanley Ford Sweetwater

Alignment Service

Alignment Service Near You

Alignment Service at Stanley Ford Sweetwater

Keeping your tires and wheels in top condition is important for vehicle performance. The service department at Stanley Ford Sweetwater provides alignment service for all models, including Ford Super Duty, Ford Escape and Ford Mustang for all our customers in Sweetwater, Abilene, and Roscoe. Continue to enjoy a smooth and steady ride for as long as you own your Ford when you take care of it and have a wheel alignment when needed. You can get any alignment issues taken care of at Stanley Ford Sweetwater.

Why Wheel Alignment is Necessary

Alignment of the wheels impacts the performance of your Ford vehicle. How your wheels are aligned determines how they hit the pavement and other surfaces. Correct alignment ensures they are making good contact with the ground.
If the wheels are out of alignment, it will be harder to drive your vehicle. You will notice that it wants to pull to one side as you drive. Even if you’re driving in a straight line, it will drift off to the side. Check your tires and you will see an uneven wear pattern on the tread. One side wears down faster than the other. Your wheels can get out of alignment when you hit a curb or pothole or when you’re in a collision. Poor alignment makes it harder to steer and control your vehicle. It can also wear out your tires sooner, which adds to the cost of ownership for your car, truck, or SUV.
If your wheels are misaligned, you need to get it fixed right away. The service team at Stanley Ford Sweetwater can take care of the issues and get you back on the road.

How to Know Your Alignment is Bad

Your vehicle will tell you that you’re having alignment issues. If you notice any of the following problems, it may mean you need a wheel alignment.
  • The car pulls to one side as you drive and you have to work harder to steer.
  • The steering wheel stays turned to the left or right when you’re traveling in a straight line.
  • You feel vibrations and the car shakes as you drive.
  • The tire tread wears unevenly and faster than normal.
You can schedule service for your alignment before more damage is done.

Checking the Alignment

When the service technicians at Stanley Ford Sweetwater check the alignment for your Ford, they look at three areas.
They test the camber alignment, which is evident in how the wheels tilt from the front of the vehicle. If they tilt inward or outward, the camber needs realigned. One side of the tire tread may be more worn than the other side. This problem may be caused by worn ball joints or wheel bearings, or it can happen when you’re in an accident with another vehicle.
Toe alignment is also checked, which is seen from above and how the wheels turn. If they turn in or out, an alignment is needed. The wheels should be pointed straight ahead when in position. When this is a problem, the tire may feel smooth on one side and sharp on the opposite side. Toe misalignment can happen if the tires don’t maintain the correct inflation or aren’t rotated as recommended by the manufacturer.
Caster alignment must also be tested, which is done by the side of the vehicle. The caster is the angle of the steering axis and shouldn’t be angled inward or outward.
During an alignment, the technician may also check the balance of the tires. Tires that are out of balance won’t ride correctly. They can add weights to get the tire back in balance.
Tire rotation, balancing and wheel alignment are all part of maintaining your Ford vehicle. You can find out more or schedule an appointment with Stanley Ford Sweetwater.

Testing Alignment

The service technicians use the latest equipment to diagnose issues like wheel alignment problems at Stanley Ford Sweetwater. They will inspect your vehicle and determine where the wheels need to be realigned.
First, the camber must be checked from the front of the vehicle to see if the wheels tilt inward or outward. You may have problems with the camber when the wheel bearings or ball joints need to be replaced. They can wear out or get damaged in an accident. That’s one reason to have alignment checked after a collision even if it’s just a fender-bender.
The toe alignment is checked from above to see if the wheels angle out or in. The tires may have sharp edges poking through on one part and the other is smooth. Toe alignment issues often stem from not rotating tires or keeping them inflated properly.
The caster alignment must be checked from the side of the vehicle, which is the angle of the steering axis. This helps with steering, especially around turns and curves, and is important to safety.
Besides a wheel alignment, you also need to have the tires rotated regularly and tire air pressure checked. Keeping up with routine tire care will help keep you safe and ensure the tires wear as long as possible before they must be replaced.
If you notice issues with your alignment, you can schedule service online or give us a call at Stanley Ford Sweetwater. We want to keep you safe out in Sweetwater, Abilene, and Roscoe, so bring your Ford in for wheel alignment service today.