The German Car Blog

3 Top Frequently Asked Questions about Truck Wheel Alignment

12 July 2019 by Yvonne Carter

Who doesn't love the perks that come with aligned truck wheels? From long-lasting tires to fuel efficiency, wheel alignment ensures optimal truck performance. Unfortunately, most truck owners know little about wheel alignment and only discover that their vehicle needs an alignment check when a mechanic points it out. Since waiting longer than is necessary to align your truck's wheels can have fatal outcomes, it is essential to learn as much as you can about it. This article, therefore, looks at some of the frequently asked questions about truck wheel alignment. Read on. 

How do Trucks Wheels Loose Alignment? -- This is one of the very first questions that most truck owners ask when they are informed that their truck needs an alignment check. In most cases, truck owners do not know what caused their truck wheel alignment to go off. However, you will be surprised to realise that you are familiar with some of the causes. For instance, if you mostly travel on roads that are riddled with potholes, hit curbs quite often or bump into concrete parking walls, then the impact will loosen the ball and socket joints on the axle. Over time, the alignment will progressively get worse and require repairs to correct the angles. 

What is the Recommended Frequency of Wheel Alignment Check? -- As a general rule, wheel alignment scheduling is not cast in stone. However, it is recommended that you schedule your truck's alignment check every time you go for an oil change. The reason is that a lot happens between oil changes, especially if you consider the number of potholes you drive through or the number of curbs you hit accidentally. By scheduling wheel alignment with every oil change, a mechanic can identify and correct potential misalignment early on. On the other hand, if you feel like the wheels have hit a pothole or curb hard enough, then it is wise to take your truck for inspection immediately. 

How Easy is it to Determine if my Truck's Alignment is Off? -- There are two ways to answer this question. First, it is hard to determine because wheel alignment is measured in tenths or hundredths of inches. As such, the human eye cannot see changes in alignment without the help of auto service technology. That said, you can quickly tell if your truck's wheel alignment is off if you notice uneven wear on either the front or rear tires. It happens because misalignment wheels tend to shift more weight to one side of the vehicle. However, if it gets to that point, then it is an indication that you are driving a truck whose alignment has been off for quite a while.

If you think that your alignment may be off, consider getting truck wheel alignment services. 

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