What to Expect With an Alignment
1. Schedule Your Appointment
Whether scheduling online or over the phone be sure and let us know what you're experiencing so we can provide fast and accurate service advice.
2. Diagnostics and Inspections
Drop off your vehicle and the shop will get to work with inspections and diagnostics using the same equipment as the manufacturers to determine issues and next steps.
3. Digital Vehicle Inspection Report and Estimate
Following the diagnosis we will text you a digital vehicle inspection report, containing pictures and videos of our findings and recommendations.
4. Review and Approval
A service advisor will reach out to walk you through the findings and recommendations to determine how you would like to proceed, or you can approve work directly in your DVI.
5. Work Performed or Scheduled
Most work can be completed immediately, or scheduled based on parts and customer availability.
If you're concerned about the tread on your tires, we recommend the “penny test” to check your tread depth. Simply insert a penny into your tire's tread groove with Lincoln's head upside down and facing you. If you can see all of Lincoln's head, your tread depth is less than 2/32 inch and it's time to replace your tires.
Understanding the Importance of Wheel Alignment
A proper alignment is more than just about driving straight; it's a critical component of vehicle maintenance that impacts your car's handling, tire longevity, and fuel efficiency. When your wheels are misaligned, they create increased rolling resistance, which forces your engine to work harder and consume more fuel. More critically, misalignment causes tires to wear down unevenly, significantly shortening their lifespan and potentially leading to a dangerous blowout. By keeping your vehicle properly aligned, you protect your investment in new tires and enhance your safety on the road. We recommend having your alignment checked every 6,000 miles or six months, or after any significant event like hitting a pothole or curb.
Is Your Vehicle Speaking to You? Signs of Misalignment
Your vehicle will often show clear signs when it's in need of an alignment. Ignoring these symptoms can lead to more serious and costly issues down the line. Keep an eye out for these tell-tale indicators:
- Uneven tire wear: One of the most common signs is when the tread on your tires is wearing down more on one side than the other. This can also appear as "cupping" or "scalloping," where the tread shows dips or scoops around the edges.
- A crooked steering wheel: When you're driving straight on a level road, your steering wheel should be centered. If it's tilted to the left or right, your alignment is likely off.
- Vehicle pulling: Your car consistently drifts or pulls to one side when you're trying to drive in a straight line, requiring you to constantly correct the steering.
- Vibrations: You may feel vibrations through the steering wheel or the floorboards, especially at higher speeds. This can be a sign of a significant alignment problem.
- Poor handling: The car may feel less responsive or "sloppy" when you turn, making it harder to navigate corners with confidence.
If you've recently been involved in a collision, even a minor one, it's wise to have your alignment checked to ensure everything is in proper working order.
Our Alignment Services in Crestwood
At Christian Brothers Automotive Crestwood, we offer a full range of alignment services to meet your specific needs. Our technicians are trained to perform various types of alignments, including:
- Front-end alignment: This service focuses on the front wheels and is a common procedure for many front-wheel-drive vehicles.
- Four-wheel alignment: A comprehensive service that adjusts the alignment of all four wheels, ensuring your car's suspension geometry is fully optimized. This is particularly crucial for all-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive vehicles.
- Thrust angle alignment: We correct the relationship between the front wheels and the rear axle to ensure all four wheels are parallel to the centerline of the vehicle. This prevents the car from crabbing or pulling.
No matter the service, our goal is to get your vehicle back on track, restoring its handling and safety. We're proud to serve the Crestwood community with our commitment to integrity and quality service, and our Nice Difference® warranty stands behind all our work. Give us a call today to schedule your alignment check and experience the peace of mind that comes with a perfectly aligned vehicle.
Steer straight in Crestwood! Our car alignment services correct steering and tire wear. Book a service online or call (502) 743-4495 today.
Your Local Christian Brothers Amenities
FAQs
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Q. "What is the difference between a wheel alignment and a wheel balance?"Wheel alignment is the term for how your wheels sit when mounted to your car and wheel balancing is what’s done to perfectly balance the weight of a tire and wheel assembly so that it travels evenly.
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Q. "How often should I get a wheel alignment?"We recommend every 6,000 miles or when you experience signs of misalignment.
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Q. "What causes bad alignment?"Normal wear and tear can eventually cause your car to come out of alignment, but perhaps a more sudden occurrence would be things like hitting potholes, bumping curbs, or even minor accidents. Click here to read more on the causes and consequences of bad alignment.
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Q. "Do you offer a shuttle service?"Yes! we understand you have a full schedule. Whether you need to get to work, school, or need to attend to other responsibilities, we can take you where you need to go. Click here to learn more.
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Q. "Do you offer a warranty?"As part of our Nice difference.® commitment to providing our customers the best auto service experience possible, we also offer a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty on all the work that we do. We offer this warranty at every Christian Brothers Automotive nationwide, and it will be honored at any location, regardless of which branch did the initial work.
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Q. "Can you provide service under my extended warranty?"Yes. At Christian Brothers Automotive, we work with all major extended warranty providers to make needed repairs for our customers. If you have an extended warranty, you can discuss your carrier with our team when scheduling an appointment and confirm that the work will be covered. You can find a partial list of the extended warranty companies we work with here.
Have more Questions?
Our friendly auto service experts have the answers.
Call your local Christian Brothers Automotive car shop today
Hear What Our Customers Had to Say About Us
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"thank You all, very Professional & Caring. We will tell everyone we know to see Christian Brothers. they will take very care of you & your car. They came to the store to help where my wife was stranded. they all were very friendly, caring. & ev"
- HR & Eloise Guyton