San Carlos Auto Repair

ALIGNMENT REPAIR & SERVICE

A+ Japanese Auto Repair in San Carlos performs wheel alignment repair and service in conjunction with many steering and suspension related auto repairs.

How do I know if my car needs an alignment?

Wheel alignment can be disrupted on your vehicle by vehicle suspension modification or by running into a curb, pothole, bump, etc. Our auto repair mechanics are trained to look for wheel alignment issues whenever a vehicle is getting an inspection in our shop. 

A few things that you can check to determine if your vehicle needs an alignment:

1. If your steering wheel is off center when you are driving straight on the road
2. The vehicle pulls left or right when you are on a flat straight road
3. When you have to put pressure (or slightly turn) in order to keep your vehicle moving straight on a flat road
4. If your front or rear tires are wearing on the inner or out edges at a faster pace than the rest of the tire (The image below is a perfect example of uneven tire wear. This tire has worn so unevenly on one side the rubber has worn to the internal steel belting structure.)

What do you adjust during a vehicle alignment?

During the wheel alignment, A+ Japanese Auto Repair technicians will adjust your vehicle alignment components by placing an instrument on all four wheels that allows us to adjust your vehicle's toe, tracking, camber, and caster.

In some instances, we may also find worn steering or suspension components that are affecting your alignment. The alignment machines used by A+ Japanese Auto Repair are impressive in the technology they use to align your tires.

Below are a few photos showing what an alignment specification sheet looks like. Alignment machines use laser guided sensors to measure precise angles of suspension so we can make precise adjustments to the steering and suspension components. (Fig A.). The computer of the alignment machine takes the toe, tracking, camber, and caster readings with precise laser measurements and feeds the data back to the alignment machine.

Is the Wheel Alignment and Wheel Balance the same thing?

Wheel Alignment is often confused with wheel balancing but they are actually completely different. The wheel alignment is the angle and direction of the tires relative to the ground. The wheel balance is how the rubber tire and metal rim (wheel) are mated together during tire installation. Wheel balance issues are remedied by adding weights in specific places on the rim (wheel. If a wheel is out of balance, it will cause a vibration at highway speeds that can be felt in the steering wheel and sometimes the rest of the vehicle. If the alignment is out, it can cause excessive tire wear or cause the vehicle to pull left or right.

A+ Japanese Auto Repair are Wheel Alignment Experts

When you bring your vehicle to A+ Japanese Auto Repair in San Carlos you can count on us to perform a high quality four-wheel alignment. Before aligning your vehicle we inspect for any obvious suspension issues and then during the alignment we check again for worn alignment related components.

We will always confirm your alignment by confirming before and after measurements and performing a test drive at freeway, as well as, residential speeds. A+ Japanese Auto Repair Inc. uses the highest quality alignment machines and equipment so we can offer our clients a fast, affordable and accurate alignment.

We are experts on four-wheel vehicle alignments. A+ Japanese Auto Repair Inc. you will have a mechanic who has been trained to perform an accurate wheel alignments on your Honda, Acura, Toyota, Lexus, Nissan, Infiniti, Mazda, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Kia, Scion, Hyundai, Isuzu and Hybrid vehicles. If you have any further questions regarding alignments or need to book an appointment, please give us a call 650-946-1856.

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Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only.  It is not intended as advice for your particular vehicle, and should not be relied upon for that purpose. Please consult a qualified automotive maintenance professional to determine the maintenance and repair needs for your vehicle.