The importance of your vehicle’s braking system can not be downplayed. Your vehicle’s alignment is something that receives less attention, but it is also very important to the safety and performance of your vehicle. Having poor wheel alignment can actually have a negative impact on your vehicle’s braking performance.
Does Alignment Affect Brakes?
Poor wheel alignment can negatively affect your braking performance. When the wheels aren’t properly aligned, one tire can have less traction than the tire on the other side. This makes it hard for the brakes to apply pressure evenly to each side. A car with ABS will reduce the amount of braking force at the tire with less traction. If the car is properly aligned, equal pressure will be applied to each brake ensuring maximum performance.
Your alignment can be impacted by daily driving. Driving on bumpy roads and potholes can throw your alignment out. Worn suspension components can also cause misalignment.
Can Bad Alignment Cause Uneven Brake Wear?
Bad alignment does not only impact the braking performance, but also the health of the brake components. When the wheels are not aligned, uneven brake pressure is applied to the wheels. This can cause certain brake pads to wear out faster.
You can identify uneven brake pad wear by measuring the thickness of your brake pads. If you have a newer vehicle, you may have a brake pad wear sensor. This sensor will alert you when it’s time to replace your brake pads. You can read more about wear sensors here.
What Are The Signs Of Bad Alignment?
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Uneven Tire Wear: If you notice that your tires are wearing unevenly, poor alignment could be a culprit.
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Crooked Steering Wheel: When a vehicle is misaligned, you will sometimes have to hold the wheel crooked to go straight.
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Steering Drifting: If you let go of your steering wheel on a flat road and notice your car drift left or right, then it is likely misaligned.
