WHEEL ALIGNMENT
AAA Approved Auto Repair in Chicago
Did you know that a pothole or a small bump in the road can affect your car’s wheel alignment? Wheel alignment problems can lead to premature wear and tear on your tires and suspension, increase your car’s fuel usage, and cause poor handling.
Here at Logan Square Auto Repair we provide you with professional, reliable, and affordable alignment service.
We can ensure your steering geometry and vehicle suspension is aligned properly to match your car manufacturer’s specification, leaving your car running good as new.
Benefits of a Wheel Alignment
- Wheels last longer
- Rolling resistance minimized
- Improved handling
- Safer driving
Our staff is fully qualified to deal with all possible wheel alignment issues, providing you with professional and reliable service at an affordable price—a price you’d unlikely receive at a dealership.
Do you need a Wheel Alignment?
If you’re concerned your car is not driving the way it should be, bring it to our garage where we can check to see if your tires are aligned properly. But you can do a simple check yourself. To determine if your car needs a wheel alignment, check each tire and look for any uneven wear patterns. If you see any wear and tear, your tires need to be aligned.
Wheel Balancing
If a wheel on your BMW is out of balance this will cause your car to vibrate at high speeds which can be felt in the steering wheel. If you have wheel balancing problems, it can cause steering or tracking problems as well as excessive tire wear.
If you’re looking for professional service for your BMW to deal with alignment issues that are more affordable than a BMW dealership, please
contact Logan Square Auto Repair and let us provide you with a safer driving experience.
Why Proper Wheel Alignment Protects Your Tires, Fuel Economy, and Safety
Wheel alignment is one of those services that's easy to overlook because misalignment often develops gradually and the car feels 'mostly fine.' But even a small alignment error causes your tires to scrub against the road at a slight angle with every revolution, wearing them unevenly and consuming fuel. Chicago's roads are hard on alignment—a single significant pothole can knock a wheel out of spec. A vehicle with poor alignment is also subtly harder to control: it drifts, requires constant steering correction, and doesn't respond as predictably in emergency maneuvers. An alignment check costs relatively little; the set of tires you'll prematurely ruin without one costs significantly more.
Signs Your Wheels May Be Out of Alignment
- The vehicle pulls to the left or right on a straight, level road.
- The steering wheel is off-center when driving straight.
- Tires are wearing unevenly—particularly heavy wear on inner or outer edges.
- The steering feels loose, or the vehicle wanders.
- You feel vibration through the steering wheel.
- You've recently hit a large pothole or curb or been in a minor collision.
- Your fuel economy has decreased noticeably.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I get a wheel alignment?
We recommend an alignment check once a year and after any significant impact—a hard pothole hit, striking a curb, or a minor accident. Chicago roads are particularly rough on alignment; many of our customers find they need an alignment adjustment more frequently than they expected.
What's the difference between a wheel alignment and a tire balance?
Wheel alignment adjusts the angles of the wheels relative to the vehicle and each other—it affects how the car tracks and how tires wear. Tire balancing corrects uneven weight distribution in a wheel-and-tire assembly—it addresses vibration. They're different services that address different problems, but both affect tire wear and ride quality.
Can I drive with bad alignment?
You can, but every mile is costing you tire life and fuel. A vehicle out of alignment wears tires unevenly and causes the engine to work harder to overcome the drag. In significant cases it also affects handling safety. It's one of those issues where addressing it promptly saves money.
Will an alignment fix my steering pull?
In most cases, yes—a pull to one side on a level road is one of the classic signs of misalignment. However, a pull can also be caused by uneven tire pressure, a defective tire, or a brake caliper dragging on one side. We diagnose the cause before recommending a fix so you're not paying for an alignment that isn't the actual problem.
