You might be surprised by how important wheel alignment is. If your wheels are out of alignment, it can be nearly impossible to control your automobile. Road hazards are the most common reasons why wheels get knocked out of alignment. We here at Demore’s Automotive believe that if you know what those hazards are, this helps you to avoid them. As such, we are going to list six things that will knock your wheels out of alignment below.
1. Accidents
We hope that you never get into an automobile accident, but even a minor incident can knock your wheels out of alignment. It really depends on how you were hit or how you did the hitting. It’s a good idea to have your vehicle inspected after you’ve been in an automobile accident even if there doesn’t appear to be any damage. The jolt can cause problems that are not visible to the naked eye. One of those problems could be your wheel alignment.
2. Bumps
Obviously, you cannot avoid every bump in the road, but you can slow down. Take it easy on bumpy roads. Avoid bumps when you can. It’s also important to slow down when you drive over speed bumps. Did you know that the maximum recommended speed for driving over speed bumps is less than 5 mph? Keep this in mind whenever you are faced with driving over these steep road hazards.
3. Curbs
One of the most common ways people knock their wheels out of alignment is by hitting curbs. They hit the curbs when they make turns around them. It’s important to avoid hitting curbs not only when you make turns but also when you parallel park. Slow down and take it easy when you are turning corners and parallel parking.
4. Markers
Parking space markers can also be a huge problem. These cement markers push your wheels back if you hit them. It’s even worse if you drive over them. Take it slow pulling into a parking space and stop before your wheels make contact with the cement marker.
5. Potholes
One of the worst things for your wheel alignment is potholes. Potholes are wheel alignment killers. When you drive through a pothole, your wheels are jolted in all kinds of directions that are not normal. If you can avoid potholes, do so. If you can’t, drive through them very slow.
6. Road Construction
Finally, road construction can mess with your wheel alignment in two ways. First, if you go flying over the hole covers, this can cause your wheels to become misaligned. Second, you need to watch out for construction debris.
Another thing that can cause your wheels to be misaligned is avoiding regular maintenance. If you’ve been doing this, call Demore’s Automotive in Palmer, MA, today.
