If you've just gotten major suspension work done on your vehicle, you might be eager to get out and drive. Chances are, your car's performance has suffered from those issues and so has your enjoyment of driving it. But before you do, make absolutely certain you get an alignment done after your suspension repairs. There are a few reasons why you shouldn't skip this important step.
New Suspension Parts May Fit Differently
When you get major suspension repairs done, you'll usually be replacing one or several parts. Even if you're using all OEM parts, these components may not always match up exactly with your original parts. In addition, the wear and tear on your other components will mean that they've changed a little over time. New parts just won't give you a 100% perfect match. Sometimes that can translate to a misaligned suspension.
Parts Can Become Misaligned During Suspension Repairs
Repairing anything on a car can be a difficult job. That's why mechanics spend so much time learning how to do the work. During suspension repairs, it's easy for things to get misaligned. Tightening one nut can pull other components slightly in another direction. Installing a new strut can move a control arm out of place. It's not hard at all to accidentally bump something during an install or repair, either. No matter how skilled your mechanic is, alignment issues are common after you've gotten suspension repairs done.
It's Easier to Tell if There's Still an Issue
If you're getting major suspension repairs done, it's probably been some time since you've felt how your car drives with a properly working suspension. You'll want to learn how that feels. This can help you troubleshoot future problems. And if you're sticking with an active suspension instead of converting to coils, you will have problems. An alignment done resets your vehicle's suspension. Once you get one done, you can get a good idea of what your vehicle's suspension is supposed to feel like. That way, you'll be able to recognize when something feels off.
What Happens if You Don't Get an Alignment?
Let's face it. Getting an alignment done on your vehicle isn't always high on everyone's list of things to do. Most people consider it more of an annoyance than anything else. But driving around in a poorly-aligned vehicle can lead to serious problems:
- You'll blow through tires. One of the most common symptoms of a misaligned vehicle is uneven tire wear. Since your vehicle is not sitting evenly on your wheels, this causes tires to wear out in ways that the manufacturer didn't intend. This seriously increases the risk of blowouts and shortens the life of your tires.
- You'll wear your suspension out early. Your suspension is meant to hold your vehicle up in a certain way. If your car is misaligned, it puts stress on your suspension in ways that it wasn't designed to bear. That can lead to your suspension wearing out well before its expected lifetime is up.
- It can hurt your brakes, too. You might not usually think of it in this way, but your car's suspension is an important part of its braking system. It absorbs a lot of the force of stopping. If it's not aligned properly, that force isn't being distributed evenly throughout the suspension system. That can wreak havoc on your brakes, as they're forced to pick up the extra load.
- You'll waste fuel. Misalignments cause a phenomenon known as tire drag. This is when one or several wheels isn't spinning exactly as it should, causing the tires to create friction with the road. That can seriously reduce your car's gas mileage and cost you significant amounts of money.
- It can put you in danger. The suspension in your car is one of its most important safety features. It's an essential part of your steering and braking systems. When you're driving at highway speeds, a misaligned suspension can make steering much more difficult. It also makes braking more difficult, meaning your car will take longer to come to a complete stop. A bad suspension makes driving more difficult and makes accidents much harder to avoid.
Why Camber Kits Are Important for Alignments
So you've gotten your suspension repairs done and you've been a good car owner and gotten an alignment done before you did any major driving. But you're still feeling the car pulling, or maybe you're noticing some uneven tire tread. What gives? As the factory parts in your vehicle wear down, differences in that wear and tear can cause camber issues. Camber is the inward and outward tilt of the wheels in your vehicle. Even a proper alignment service can't always fix these problems 100%.
But thanks to a new camber kit from Strutmasters, you now have an easy way to make adjustments. These hex chromate-free 700-hour salt spray-tested cam bolts are exactly the kind of durable solution you need for your vehicle. You'll enjoy the same adjustment range as your factory cam. They provide you with a range of ±2° for camber and caster, making it easy to make adjustments as needed. Our engineers have designed each kit specifically for the vehicle it matches to ensure maximum compatibility. They're the perfect complement to any Strutmasters suspension conversion kit.
Like our conversion kits, it's a simple, low-cost, high-quality solution that helps you get back on the road and back to enjoying your vehicle. It's important to note that you'll need a kit for each wheel that needs adjustment. Make sure to get everything you need so you don't need to order again.
Ready to Fix Your Vehicle's Alignment for Good?
Are you ready to stop putting all the extra stress on your vehicle and give it the new suspension and alignment it deserves? Our Suspension Experts are standing by ready to take your call and help you get exactly the parts you need to get your vehicle driving smoothly again. Just call 866-830-5450 and speak with one of our professionals. They'll be happy to line you up with the right solution for your vehicle and answer any questions you may have.
