Ride and handling come from dozens of parts working together: tie rods, ball joints, control arm bushings, sway bar links, wheel bearings, the steering rack and the alignment settings that hold it all in place. A luxury sedan is tuned for a quiet, smooth ride; a sports car is tuned to stay flat in corners. Either way, when one joint wears, the car stops behaving the way it was designed to.
Steering and suspension work and wheel alignment are services Anywhere Automotive lists on its core service menu, and they are areas Mike Babcock mastered early in his career at Goodyear.
Common steering and suspension symptoms
- The car drifts or pulls to one side on a straight, level road
- The steering wheel is off-center when driving straight
- Clunking or knocking over bumps and driveway entrances
- Loose, vague steering or a humming noise that changes with speed
- Tires wearing on the inside or outside edge
Our approach
We lift the vehicle and check every joint for play, inspect bushings for cracks, test wheel bearings, and look at the steering rack and power steering system for leaks. Then we measure the alignment angles (camber, caster and toe) and compare them to the manufacturer's specifications.
Worn parts are replaced before the alignment is set, because aligning a car with a loose tie rod or ball joint does not last. You get a printout of the before-and-after alignment readings.
Driving in Concord and Contra Costa County
Potholes, curb strikes in tight parking lots and the steep driveways common in the hillside neighborhoods of Contra Costa County are some of the most common reasons alignment gets knocked out. An alignment check is also a good idea whenever you install new tires.
Questions about ride & handling
How often should I get an alignment?
Have it checked when you buy new tires, after hitting a large pothole or curb, after suspension or steering repairs, or any time the car pulls or the wheel is off-center.
Can bad alignment ruin new tires?
Yes. A toe or camber setting that is out of spec can wear the edge of a tire down in a few thousand miles.
Published by Anywhere Automotive, Concord, CA. Diagnosis and pricing are confirmed after inspection.