There are several potential warning signs that a vehicle’s wheels are not properly aligned. One of the most common of these symptoms is the need to constantly correct course. If you’re driving on a straightaway and you find yourself adjusting the steering wheel regularly, it may be that your vehicle is pulling to one side or the other. But not all alignment problems lead to this symptom. Sometimes, the steering wheel may feel loose, or the ride may be harsh. Steering may be difficult or unstable, as well. In addition, your tires may become unevenly worn.
Alignment Services
Two-Wheel Alignment & Four-Wheel Alignment: Fixing the Issue
After alignment inspection, the technicians can adjust whatever is out of whack. Interestingly enough, this might not be the same as making everything neutral. Most front-wheel drive vehicles have slightly positive camber (though performance vehicles tend to have slightly negative camber) and a slight toe-out. When you bring your Lexus to a certified dealership, the technicians will be able to reset the camber, caster, and toe to factory specifications, whether two wheels or all four are out of alignment.
Alignment Services
- Two-Wheel Alignment - Also known as a front-end alignment, two-wheel alignment is generally performed on vehicles with a solid rear axle; it involves inspecting and adjusting the camber, toe, and caster angles on the front wheels.
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- Four-Wheel Alignment - Vehicles with independent or semi-independent rear suspensions will need to have the camber, toe, and caster angles inspected and adjusted on all four wheels; this is also called an all-wheel alignment.
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Lexus Alignment FAQs
The consequences of letting a misaligned vehicle continue unchecked are numerous. Perhaps the least serious of these is driver fatigue: correcting the steering wheel, even if it’s unconsciously, can make you much tenser and more fatigued after a drive. Though this may not be serious, it’s still less than what you expect from a Lexus. If the tires get overly worn, you’ll need to replace them earlier than might have otherwise been necessary. And of course, if the misalignment is severe enough, a momentary lapse in concentration may cause you to accidentally steer into a ditch—or even a lane of oncoming traffic!
Alignment Inspections: Diagnosing the Problem
Though we call it “wheel alignment," the wheels themselves are just symptoms of the problem; really, it’s a suspension issue. Generally, the camber, caster, or toe is the source of the problem. The camber refers to whether the wheels are parallel or tilting when you’re looking at the car head-on; positive camber is seen when the tops of the wheels lean inward, while negative camber is when the tops of the wheels lean outward. Toe refers to whether the wheels are parallel when you look at the car from the top or below; toe-in is when the fronts of the wheels are closer to each other than the rear of the wheel, while toe-out is the opposite. Finally, caster is about the balance of steering; think of the caster on a grocery cart. Our technicians will inspect the camber, caster, and toe of all four wheels on your Lexus to see whether and alignment is needed.
Schedule Service
Schedule Your Next Appointment at Lexus of Towson
Scheduling a service appointment has never been easier; simply use our online tool! When the time for your appointment comes, head to Lexus of Towson, serving Pikesville and Woodlawn. We can’t wait to help you get your Lexus back to peak performance.