The cost of an alignment will depend on the vehicle’s model and the type of adjustments made to the steering components.
A wheel alignment will cost around $50 for small vehicles and $150 for large vehicles. SUVs and four-wheel drive wheel alignments are more expensive because the adjustment work needed can be time-consuming. The cost of an alignment will depend on the vehicle’s model and the type of adjustments made to the steering components. It is best to budget between $125 - $150 and more, as the cost may vary depending on what needs to get done. With time, the suspension of the vehicle shifts and the tyres are no longer in alignment. A wheel alignment improves handling performance and extends tyre life. The steering axis will not perform optimally if there is a misalignment.
Most people assume that wheel alignment and tyre balancing are the same.
Even though both contribute to a smooth ride, alignment and balancing are different services. The price of both can be included when you buy a new set of tyres, like 17-inch tyres.Wheel balancing corrects any uneven distribution of weight.
Wheel alignment service technicians recommend wheel balancing when you get new tyres for your vehicle as the alignment will ensure that all the tyres have equal wheel weights. If there is an imbalance, it will lead to tire wear, vibration, and suspension component damage.
During a wheel balance service, expert technicians will install the correct tyre weights.
A proper alignment will help prevent the vehicle from veering to the right side or left side and also improves the handling of the car.
The cost is often similar to a wheel alignment - around $50 for small vehicles and $150 for large vehicles. If wheel balancing gets done using special machinery, you will get charged a fixed price. If you combine it with alignment, you will get both services at one cost. Tyre technicians use a computer balancing machine to calculate the weight of the wheel and the tyre.
Tyres undergo a lot of wear, even with daily driving. When the tyres wear down it causes uneven weight distribution, hurting fuel efficiency and causing uneven wear on the tyre. The constant vibration fshortens the life of bearings, shocks, tyres, and other similar components. A fixed cost gets charged if wheel balancing and aligning gets done together.
An alignment service ensures optimal drivability.
In a two-wheel alignment, technicians will adjust only the front tyres - uneven tyre wear is often the symptom of misalignment.
The camber adjustment gets done to factory specifications. Front tyre alignment only is not recommended for modern cars as the rear angles of the wheels are excluded.
A four-wheel alignment is done by the mechanic only on vehicles with four-wheel independent suspension systems. The technician adjusts all four wheels but it will differ for the front and rear wheels. It is typically done on 4-wheel drive tyres.The front-wheel adjustment includes the camber, caster, and toe items. The back wheel adjustment includes the camber and toe.
Irrespective of what car you drive, wheel alignment inspection and balancing should get done regularly. It is advisable to get the wheel alignment checked every six months or 10,000 km, whichever occurs first. It will help in keeping the steering wheel tracking straight. It's best to have a wheel balance every 5,000 – 6,000 km. If a tyre check is not done at regular intervals by an experienced mechanic you may have to spend money unnecessarily on replacing tyres.
You should get the tyres checked at least once or twice a year. If you travel regularly on rough roads, the tyre suffers wear and tear - regular checks are crucial as misalignment signs often go unnoticed. The symptoms of misalignment include steering pull to one side, uneven tread wear and an off-centre steering wheel.