The roads can be a dangerous place. Not only do you worry about getting into automobile accidents, but the roads themselves present plenty of hazards that can knock your wheels out of alignment. Signs your wheels are not aligned include drifting to the side and an off-center steering wheel. Trojan Auto Care lists specific road hazards that can knock your wheels out of alignment below. Knowing what they are will help you avoid them.
Bumps/Speed Bumps
It’s important to drive over bumps and speed bumps slowly. Flying over them cannot only knock your wheels out of alignment but also damage your vehicle’s suspension. Generally, the maximum speed limit for driving over speed bumps should never be anything higher than five miles per hour. Gauge the bumps before you drive over them and slow down accordingly depending on how severe they are.
Construction Zones
Construction zones can be difficult on your vehicle’s alignment, especially if the road work has road covers that you must drive over or uneven pavement. Slowing down in construction zones is not only important for the safety of the workers but also to protect your automobile. Slower speed limits are required to ensure that you don’t drive over something too fast that will knock your wheels out of alignment and damage the suspension.
Curbs
Hitting curbs can also knock your wheels out of alignment. In fact, this is one of the most common ways that people do this. When you make contact with the curb, the wheel is pushed inward, and this affects its alignment. Go slowly around corners to make sure that you don’t make contact with the curbs. Also, take parallel parking slowly to avoid hitting the curbs during this difficult parking maneuver.
Parking Space Markers
Concrete parking space markers will jolt your wheels backward if you hit them. This can knock them out of alignment and also damage the tires. Pull into parking spaces slowly to make sure that you can stop before you make contact with the concrete marker. It’s also important that you never drive over these markers, as this will definitely cause damage to your vehicle suspension.
Potholes
Finally, you don’t need us to tell you how difficult it is to drive through potholes. These things can damage your tires, wheels, suspension, and even break an axle if you fly through them too quickly. Take your time going through potholes. If you think about how they affect your wheels as they roll through them, you can easily see how they can knock them out of alignment.
Trojan Auto Care is the best auto shop in Troy, OH, and failing to maintain your vehicle’s suspension will also misalign your wheels. Your wheels should be aligned every one to two years. Call us today to schedule an appointment if you suspect your wheels are out of alignment.
