Wheel Alignment Near Me | Firestone Complete Auto Care (2024)

FAQs

How long does a full alignment take? ›

An alignment is not a time-consuming procedure and should typically take an hour or less. A four-wheel alignment (as opposed to a front-wheel one) will take a little longer, and if the mechanic finds broken or worn-out parts in the suspension system, replacing them will take longer as well.

A front-end alignment usually costs between $65 and $100 (some brands, of course, are more). At that price, it should be a regular part of your car care regime. To make an alignment even more economical, some car care facilities offer lifetime alignment packages for around $200.

Why Your Alignment Is Important. Regular alignments should be done twice a year as part of your basic auto maintenance. Why? Because misaligned tire and wheel assemblies will impact your gas mileage, cause tires to wear out faster, and reduce drivability.

That's because some vehicles require specialized equipment or have engineering designs that make the job more difficult and time consuming. While performing the alignment, the technician may find that more work — like tire balancing or car suspension repairs — is needed.

It can lead to having to replace your tires early, decrease your fuel economy, and other more costly repairs. The actual length of time differs from one car to the next, but generally speaking, you want to get an alignment every 5,000 to 8,000 miles under normal conditions.

Consequences of Waiting too Long

Neglecting this checkpoint can lead to dangerous problems, including: Steering Problems: When wheels become out of line, they aren't facing in the directions necessary for optimal handling.

Driving a car with bad alignment is never recommended and can cause more than just an annoying driving experience. Doing so could lead to reduced fuel economy, expensive tire replacement costs, and steering concerns that could put you, your passengers, and other motorists at risk.

For the most part, doesn't matter whether you get your alignment before or after having your new tires put on. Most experts agree that the only effect worn tires have on your alignment is a change to the vehicle's ride height which, given today's steering and suspension design, should be negligible.

The cost of an alignment depends on several factors: The number of wheels. A front-end alignment, which involves only the two wheels on the front of the car, typically costs anywhere from $50 to $75. Four-wheel alignments cost more, usually $100 to $175.

Can you do an alignment at home? ›

Using a tape measure or string, you can do a full and complete wheel alignment at home. This includes: Castor: the slope of your steering axis, which you can determine by drawing a vertical line through the upper and lower ball joint. Camber: the vertical angle that your tires are tilted, either in or out.

Driving a vehicle with improper wheel alignment will result in uneven tire wear. If the problem is not corrected right away, the lifespan of the tires will be drastically reduced, and you will end up spending a lot of money to replace your tires prematurely.

Keep this in mind…a good, precise alignment should take about 60 to 90 minutes to complete. If you're in the waiting area for 20 minutes and they come out and tell you your car's done, chances are someone was cutting some corners. Nobody's good enough to do the job that fast.

Tire alignments typically take 30-60 minutes. However, this time frame can vary as it depends on several factors. That includes the type of alignment, the type of vehicle, the condition of the vehicle's components, and the technician's experience.

A proper wheel alignment should take about an hour and a half. If you're only in the waiting room for 10 minutes, it probably wasn't done right. A proper alignment involves aligning three angles: caster, camber, and toe-in.

Alignment is accomplished by adjusting four specific suspension angles—toe, thrust, camber, and caster back to their factory settings. These angles are adjusted by a trained technician using some complex, and expensive machinery, so it's unlikely you'll ever find yourself performing your own alignment.