Mobile Wheel Alignment

Mobile Wheel Alignment

Wheel alignment Reading

Mobile Wheel Alignment near me

Whilst it some signs that you car needs wheel alignment may not seem as dangerous if you suspect issues with your wheel alignment it is good practice to get it looked at sooner rather than later.

As with any car issue. If one problem is left it can have a knock on effect putting additional work and strain onto other components which can end up costing a lot more to fix in the long run.

Misaligned wheel cause uneven tyre wear and with the price of tyres only going one way it makes sense to make them last s long as possible.

If you car does have a quite noticeable veer then this does cause a road danger both to yourself and other road users and it is very easy to get a slight distraction whilst driving and for the vehicles position to be a lot further out than you may have anticipated and too late for correction.

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Wheel Alignment Reading

So what are some of the symptoms indicating that you will need to arrange wheel alignment in Reading?

The most obvious is a pulling of your vehicle to the left or right. If you are on a straight road and let the steering wheel hold its own line and it doesn't then this is a sign. Similarly if you know you need to apply turning pressure to the steering wheel just to keep straight on the road - there is an issue, especially if you steering wheel is not in the straight position but your wheels are.

However, since a veer to one side can also be caused by a deflated tyre please eliminate this as the cause before getting in touch. Check all you tyre pressures regularly as this is very good practice as it will help your vehicle run efficiently, prevent premature tyre wear and at least give you assurance that if your car is veering that it isn't a tyre issue. If you notice uneven tyre wear and you have been on top of your tyre pressure this is an indicator that there is a misalignment issue.

If you notice your steering wheel shaking or the whole car shaking on a smooth road these are two more indicators and you'll need your wheels realigning.

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Wheel Alignment services near me

So why is it important to arrange wheel alignment services near me, when you notice some of the above symptoms? As we've already touched upon as well as the potential driving risks there are other mechanical risks. Tyre wear being one of the main ones. Aside from the costs of replacing worn tyres, the tread on a tyre plays an important part in the car's on road performance. Uneven tyre wear can effect stopping distances. So if you suspect issues with your alignment or wheel tracking as it is sometimes called do get your car booked in. The alignment criteria for your wheels should be done to the specific alignment recommendations made by the car manufacturer for your vehicle's make and model and at Mobile Mechanic Reading we always car out our wheel alignment to your manufacturers specifications to ensure top performance of your vehicle.

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Wheel Alignment Reading

To sort out the issues you may be having with your vehicle we will need to get your vehicle to our garage workshop in Reading as the wheel alignment machine is a heavy piece of equipment which isn't readily mobile. To configure the wheel position properly three different adjustments are made to the camber, caster and toe. The toe position effects the handling of the car in relation to the steering wheel and the centre position on the vehicle. The castor angle related the the front to back angle of the vehicle (an exaggerated version of this will be seen in drag racing cars where the rear wheel is much larger than those at the front). The camber related to the tilt of the wheel. If the top of the wheel is leaning slightly inwards this is a negative camber and if outwards it will be termed a positive camber. Camber angles and suspension play a major part in Formula 1 racing where slight negative cambers help traction when cornering a high speed.

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Frequently Asked Wheel Alignment Questions:

  • What causes wheel alignment issues?

    There are three main causes of wheel misalignment. 

    The first and most common is caused by a hard impact on the wheelbase. This scenario can come from hitting a pothole, hitting a curb or taking a speed bump too quickly and causing additional strain on the wheel axle.  

    Another cause is general wear and tear on the suspension - if the shocks or struts are a little loose this will cause misalignment. This is a tricky one to pick up as changes to steering may be subtle and gradual.

    The last main issue can be a result of a vehicle modification made to the suspension. 


  • How do I know I need wheel alignment?

    If you start to feel your vehicle pulling to one side or notice that while you are driving in a straight line that your steering wheel isn't perfectly straight these are the two main indicators that your tracking is out. The most common cause of wheel misalignment are potholes - especially the deep ones which will give your car a jolt. Similarly, harsh driving across speed bumps can also start to cause misalignment.

    If you don't get this repaired this will impact your tyres as they will wear unevenly, which will also have some effect on your fuel efficiency - both of which will end up costing you money. More importantly though it can negatively impact braking performance especially on ABS brakes so it is advisable to get your wheel aligned as soon as you notice one of the above signs

  • Is car remapping worth doing?

    Absolutely - carrying our a car remap will improve what your car is able to achieve both in terms of fuel economy and in power BHP output. So you'll have the best of both worlds in terms of improved car performance.

  • When should I change my timing belts?

    If you still have your vehicle's manual it will normally provide some indicative mileage of when to change your timing belt. Often this will range between 60,000 to 100,000 miles.  Will many things car relating there can be a temptation to try and eke out a replacement for as long as possible. However, if the timing belt brakes whilst driving it is likely to cause your engine some serious damage which will be much more costly than a timing belt replacement. The following list could be indicators that your timing belt is nearing its end and you should not delay in getting it replaced: vibrations of the vehicle, a loss of engine power, issues starting, noises coming from the engine area near the belt, engine light warnings - including overheating

    Contact us to arrange a check or replacement of your timing belt to ensure you can continue to drive your vehicle safely.

  • How frequently should I book a car service in Reading?

    Clearly, it doesn't really matter where you live to how often you need to get your car serviced. Historically the rule of thumb was every 12,000 miles or every 12 months whichever came first. For vehicles, over 10 years this is still a good guide and will help ensure your car stays in good running order and importantly will help keep a more costly car repair from occurring - prevention rather than cure approach. 

    However, for more modern cars with improvements in components, materials and lubricants you should be fine following manufacturers guidelines. If you've not got your manual this information should be relatively easy to find online. For many vehicles now guidelines of 20,000 miles are becoming more common but don't be tempted to stretch things further as there will be certain procedures and replacements of parts are certain service intervals which are important to follow to ensure you get the best performance from your vehicle.

  • What are the most common car issues?

    Lists compiled from motoring organisations often have the main car issue being related to the gearbox.  Whilst not easy to detect - poor gear changes can cause extra stress and strain on a gearbox which can cause costly damage to repair.

    Close behind gearbox problems is electrical issues., which isn't that surprising when you see how many more items of a vehicle are being monitored by a computer. Hardly any new car will have a manual front window, gone are the oil checks with dipsticks and an oily cloth. Even tyre pressure monitoring is now under the watchful eye of the car computer. However, clearly, this is not without its problems as quite often a warning light will be displayed when no fault exists. Fortunately, the reverse of this is a much rarer occurrence but some electronic systems will prevent the driving of the vehicle if a certain fault is detected - which can clearly be infuriating if there is no fault. 

    In closely behind electrical issues in the third position are clutch problems. For older vehicles this is a more common occurrence as simply more driving will lead to wear of the clutch causing slipping and eventual burnout.

    If you suspect any of these problems why not bring your vehicle by and we can run some diagnostics along with some old fashioned visual checks to see if you have an issue, or potential issues, looming...

  • When should I regas my aircon?

    It's quite simple to have an idea of when your car's air conditioning may need a regas: if you notice that your air conditioning is just not as effective at cooling as normal then a recharge is most likely the reason. Of course, we will check that this is the reason and if so, simply topping up your aircon system with additional recharge of refrigerant should get your air conditioning working back to normal along with any air or pollen filters, which may also need cleaning.

  • How can I tell if my exhaust needs replacing?

    There are a number of signs to indicate your exhaust system needs repair or replacement - some will be more obvious than others.

    One of the trickier symptoms to spot is a reduction in fuel economy. A poor performing exhaust burns more fuel in order to provide you with the same power output. However, If you notice your acceleration is slower than usual this will make this aspect a little more obvious.

    The next set of indicators are much more noticeable: if you can hear noises from your exhaust or bottom of your car whether it is a knocking, growling, rattling or banging sound each is a hint that something is wrong with some aspect of your exhaust. If you then have a look and upon visual inspection see that your exhaust is hanging lower than usual there is definitely a problem. Another clear sign is a strong smell of gas or a burning smell each signalling a failure of gases to pass through your catalytic converter properly. 

    If you notice any of these symptoms be sure to get in touch to get the root problem identified and fixed before further damage to your vehicle occurs. 

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