Over time every car starts to develop problems out of the blues. This is very normal and expected from any vehicle as it grows old. In this guide, we shall talk about the time it takes to align the wheels at an alignment shop.
But before we know how long does an alignment takes we need first to understand what Wheel alignment is, how it affects the performance of the car and why it is dangerous to ride a car with misaligned wheels.
We shall also get to know what the right wheel alignment procedures are and the kind of symptoms that makes you certain that you need a wheel alignment.
What is a Tire Alignment?
The tires on your vehicle are carefully angled to provide the perfect contact with the roads you drive on.
Most tires aren’t perfectly straight up and down but set at an angle for improved cornering, grip, and overall handling. These angles get messed up with time and eventually cause your vehicle to stop performing well.
If you notice that your tires have worn out beyond what a tire alignment can fix, it’s important to consider when to replace your tires.
When you get a tire alignment, professionals are carefully adjusting your wheel angles to get each of your tires facing how they were meant to be.
Now you know what an alignment is and that you’ll need them sometimes. With that info, you’re probably wondering, “How long does a tire alignment take?”. Learn what time you can expect and other important details about alignments below.
Different Types of Tire Alignment
Wheel alignment can vary greatly depending on the vehicle suspension. Such as:
- Front-end Alignment: Two-wheeler alignment focuses on the alignment of your front wheel axle. An hour should be enough and a reasonable timeframe for how long a front-end alignment would take.
- Thrust alignment: A thrust alignment is the best option if your vehicle has a solid rear axle. Front end and thrust alignment are required to ensure the alignment of your wheel. A thrust alignment takes barely an hour.
- 4-wheel alignment: This type of wheel alignment is typically performed on four-wheel drive vehicles. It combines elements from the front end and thrust alignment to allow independent suspension. A four-wheel drive alignment can also take an hour.
Factors Affecting Wheel Alignment Time
#1. Type of Alignment.
There are different types of wheel alignments, some take longer than others. For example, if you have a four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive vehicle, you usually need a four-wheel alignment.
Clearly, the more tires that are aligned, the longer you will be visiting the shop. If you have a front- or rear-wheel drive vehicle, you may only need a front-end alignment. This isn’t just the cheaper option, but it’s also the fastest.
There’s also the option to get a Toe-n-Go alignment. Shops will provide a quick toe angle adjustment on the front wheels. This is the most frequent issue, easily corrected in just about fifteen minutes.
However, the high-quality shop won’t offer this type of alignment because it’s not seen as the proper way to handle the tires, according to top professionals.
This is mainly because a wheel misalignment of the camber angle and the caster angle – which are not adjusted for this type of service, can also cause wear and tear.
#2. Type of Vehicle.
You wouldn’t think that the vehicle type would affect how long you are at the shop, but not every car is easy to align.
If you drive a compact sedan with 15” wheels, you are going to be at the shop for less time than the heavy-duty pickup with 33” wheels will be a longer wheel alignment process.
Additionally, the shop needs to easily access the various suspension system components under the vehicle to align it.
With some vehicles, it’s easier to get to the tie rods and other components when compared with others. If you want to know how difficult it is to work on your vehicle, ask the tire shop when you make an appointment.
#3. Component Condition.
For starters, consider the model year of your vehicle to determine how long the alignment might take. If you are driving a 2020 vehicle, the alignment might take less time than working with the 2002 vehicle.
The longer the suspension parts have been on the vehicle, the more likely the bolts or nuts might be rusted or seized. These complications cause the alignment to take longer.
Additionally, if the technician discovers that some of the suspension components are damaged, you might need to have them repaired or replaced before the alignment can take place. There’s no sense doing a wheel alignment on a car with a bad suspension system.
#4. Experience of Technician.
If you visit a shop hiring entry-level technicians, it could take you longer to get the alignment done.
These technicians are just learning how to use the sophisticated machinery, so there will be a learning curve. Of course, these shops offer some of the lowest rates, so you must determine if the savings is worth the extra time.
On the other hand, if you visit a shop with ASE-certified mechanics with decades of experience, you will get the fastest wheel alignment possible.
They know exactly how to get the wheels and brakes locked and aligned quickly and accurately for a good end result.
Still, you need to be prepared to pay a premium price for this level of experience. It’s worth paying more if your time is money, keeping you from working by being at the shop.
Wheel Alignment Procedure
The first thing you need to know is that wheel alignment is an adjustment of the suspension system that is connected to the wheels but not adjusting the wheels themselves.
You, therefore, adjust the angles of the tires which translate to how they make contact with the road. Let us now learn the right procedure to make successful wheel alignment.
- The first thing is to make some preparation and do some checks ups. Start by checking the air pressure inside each tire. The wheel pressure must be accurate as the manufacturer recommends. Secondly, check if the wheels have any uneven shapes or cracks in them. The tire itself must meet standard quality and have a recent production date. Go ahead and check the suspension parts to make sure that every part is in order since any excessive wear in these factors may affect the quality of wheel alignment.
- Hook your vehicle into a computerized wheel alignment machine. Lock the steering wheel at the center and apply the brake pedal using specialized tools. Hook the measuring tools in each wheel and read each angle as shown on the computer screen. These readings will guide the mechanic on how to adjust angles in the right way.
Each vehicle has 3 angles that should be fully adjusted, and the angles are:
- Camber Angle: If you are watching the vehicle from the front and see that the tire is inclined on the vertical line, then the camber angle needs to be adjusted. Camber misalignment happens due to failure in bearings or ball joints.
- Toe Angle: The toe angles are viewed from above the car. If the two wheels are angled inwards or outwards, they need to be adjusted.
- Caster Angle: The caster angle is responsible for balance steering, stability, and cornering. This is identified from the side view of the car. If it is a positive caster, the wheel will be bent toward the driver, and if it is a negative caster, it will have bent toward the front of the car.
We have now known the procedures of alignment, but one crucial question is; why is alignment a vital operation?
Misaligned wheels cause uneven wear to the vehicle’s wheels. It makes the vehicle imbalanced at high speeds. It also produces a high noise during driving which causes damage to the wheel bearings.
How Long Does an Alignment Take?
Let’s crack on and explore how long it actually takes to get your wheels aligned. Spoiler alert: it’s probably not as long as you think!
The Average Time For Wheel Alignment
On average, wheel alignment can take anywhere from 1 to 2 hours. However, several factors can affect this timing:
- Vehicle Make and Model: Some vehicles, like certain trucks or luxury cars, might have more complex suspension systems that require extra time to align properly.
- Alignment Type: As we mentioned earlier, a four wheel alignment typically takes longer than a two wheel alignment. That’s because the mechanic is adjusting all four wheels instead of just the front two.
- Existing Condition of the Vehicle: If your vehicle has worn parts or damage, it might need repairs before the alignment can be done. This can add time to the overall process.
But Can An Alignment Be Done in 20 Minutes?
Well, in some cases, yes. If your vehicle is in good shape and doesn’t have any major suspension problems, a skilled mechanic using a modern alignment machine might finish a simple front end alignment in 20 minutes.
However, this is the exception rather than the rule, and it’s always good to plan for a bit more time to ensure the job is done right.
What To Expect During The Alignment Process
Here’s a little sneak peek into what goes on during a wheel alignment:
- Pre-alignment Inspection: Before the actual alignment, the mechanic checks your vehicle’s suspension and steering systems for any issues that could affect the alignment. This might include checking tire pressure and wear, suspension parts, and the steering bushing.
- Vehicle Mounting: Your vehicle is then mounted onto the alignment machine. This machine uses special sensors and lasers to measure the alignment angles of your wheels.
- Alignment: The mechanic adjusts your vehicle’s suspension angles to the correct specifications. They’ll ensure your wheels are properly aligned to roll in the same direction and that your steering wheel is centered.
- Post-alignment Check: After the alignment, the mechanic will test drive your vehicle to make sure everything feels right and that the steering wheel is centered when driving straight.
How Long Does an Alignment Last?
After you get to know the importance of wheel alignment, what it takes to get your wheels aligned, and the process to get this done, here is a fundamental question, how long does an alignment last?
Only you can answer this question since this depends on the road conditions, driving habits, and the status of the suspension parts and the car wheels.
All these factors affect how long the alignment will last. This is because hard driving conditions such as driving through pumps at high speed or through potholes will damage alignment sooner than a lightly used car.
You now understand wheel balancing and how it may affect the balancing of the car. Many car experts state that you need to balance the wheels whenever you perform a wheel alignment.
Why Do Some Wheel Alignments Take Longer?
Several important elements influence the time it takes to accomplish a wheel alignment.
Car Model and Complexity
Some vehicles have more complex suspension systems that take more time and accuracy to position correctly. High-performance or luxury cars may have particular alignment requirements that necessitate extra care.
Condition of Different Suspension Components
Control arms, tie rods, and bushings can have an impact on the alignment process. These parts may need to be changed if worn or damaged before an alignment. Replacing worn components might extend the total procedure.
Technician’s Skill Level
A well-trained and experienced technician is more efficient in diagnosing alignment problems and making appropriate adjustments. Less experienced professionals may need more time to accomplish the alignment correctly.
It’s critical to set expectations and give specialists enough time to accomplish a correct alignment since this improves safety, tire life, and overall vehicle performance.
How much does it cost to get an alignment?
The cost of aligning your tires can vary based on several factors: the scope of the job, your location, the company or mechanic doing the work, and even the make and model of your car and the type of tires you are running.
However, compared to many other repair or maintenance jobs, alignment is relatively inexpensive.
A rough estimate of an average price would be $75 for a front alignment, and a little over twice that for a full alignment (see below for more on the difference between the two type of alignment).
FAQs.
Q: How Much Does An Alignment Cost?
Wheel alignment cost varies depending on the car model and how complicated the suspension system is. It will also depend on whether there are any other adjustments or repairs needed before carrying out the wheels’ alignment process.
Another factor that determines the cost is how modern the wheel alignment machine is. As expected, the more modern the machine is, the more accurate the alignment is.
Aligning two wheels is also not the same as aligning 4 wheels. It all depends on the suspension system of the vehicle. So, generally, you are expected to pay around $200 to align four wheels.
Q: Why Do Alignments Take So Long?
In most cases, there are many adjustments that need to be performed to have correctly aligned wheels. Some of them include tightening and adjusting the control arms or steering tie rods. All this takes time to be done to ensure that you have a fully accurate alignment.
Q: How Do You Know If You Need An Alignment?
There are some signs which help you know that you need an alignment. The first sign that you feel is whenever you drive straight the car bend to the right or left. This is a sign that you have misaligned wheels.
The second sign is hearing a high noise when driving at high speed. The third sign is steering wheel vibration. Finally, the vehicle will move in the wrong direction when taking a corner.
Q: Is It OK To Drive With Bad Alignment?
It is never advisable to drive a car with bad alignment. The wheels became very weak at some points, and the car will bend to the right or left, making it difficult to control the vehicle.
Q: How Can I Self-Align My Car?
- Raise your car on jack stands.
- Look at the wheels from the front of the car and see if the wheel is bending. If it is bending towards the center of the car, it means that the outer tire rod needs to be tightened. If the wheel is bending in the outside direction of the car, it means the tire rod needs to be loosened.
- If the tire needs to be turned inward, the tire rod should be turned counterclockwise. If it needs to be turned outwards, the tire rod should be turned clock-wise.
- After aligning one wheel, test if it has worked the way you want. If yes, then you can repeat the same process to the other wheel.
Final Words
Keeping your car in good condition protects you and your family when on the road and prevents you from costly repairs. One of the ways is to have a periodic wheel alignment check if it is misaligned.
This will keep the tires last longer than expected. You need to know that wheel alignment is mandatory after repairing or replacing any suspension parts.
Always make sure that the wheel alignment center you work with has the correct alignment measurements purposed for every car model. These simple maintenance tasks protect you and keep your driving always safe.