5 Signs Your Subaru Needs All-Wheel Alignment - Service Questions at Carter Subaru Ballard in Seattle, WA

Five Signs That Your Subaru Needs All-Wheel Alignment

A misaligned Subaru can cause all kinds of problems. When your wheels aren't aligned properly, you'll end up spending more money and compromising your safety. Fortunately, there are symptoms that can help you figure out if your Subaru needs this important service. Here are five common things to keep an eye on; if you notice them, bring your Subaru in for an inspection and alignment.

5. The Steering Wheel is Crooked

This is a classic sign of a misaligned vehicle. If your vehicle is driving straight, but the steering wheel is crooked, you might not feel like it's as important to bring it in. However, since this can be due to an issue like a toe that's out of adjustment, it's good to get it looked at.

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4. Your Subaru Vibrates

If you notice that your Subaru is vibrating--especially around the steering wheel--the wheels or tires could be slightly pulling in opposite directions. Though there are other reasons you might notice vibrations, a misaligned vehicle is a very common one.

3. You Notice Uneven or Faster Tire Wear

When your Subaru is properly aligned, the tires will wear down more evenly, giving them a long life. However, tires on a vehicle that's out of alignment will wear down at different rates and in different places. Check your tires to see what the wear patterns look like. If they're all the same, you may not have an alignment problem. However, if the tread looks different on different tires, have your vehicle inspected.

2. The Vehicle Pulls to the Left or Right

If your tires are properly inflated and your Subaru is pulling to the left or the right, a bad alignment is the most likely cause. As you can imagine, this is a dangerous situation to be in, since a momentary slip in attention can lead your vehicle onto a curb or into another lane.

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1. Your Drive is More Fatiguing

If a vehicle is only slightly misaligned, the serious symptoms listed earlier may not yet be present. Of course, it's best to keep on top of things so you can avoid dealing with these bigger problems. A good way to do that is to keep track of how tired your drive makes you--particularly in your arms. If your commute leaves you more tired than usual or gives you sore arms, you may be making constant slight corrections to your vehicle's course without even noticing it. If you've caught a misalignment this early, you may not have to replace tires when you get it aligned properly.