Our Truck Alignment Service Process includes the following key steps, available for both 2-axle and 3-axle trucks and trailers:
- Initial Inspection: Visually inspect each axle and note any unusual wear or issues.
- Tire Verification: Make sure that tires are in optimal condition for alignment.
- Suspension and Shock Adjustment: Inspect suspension components.
- Alignment Equipment Setup: Attach alignment sensors to each axle.
- Initial Alignment Measurement: Measure the current angles of each axle.
- Angle Adjustment: Correct the angles of all axles.
- Adjustment Verification: Confirm each axle meets the manufacturer’s alignment specifications.
- Road Test: Take the truck on a test drive to ensure it rolls straight and stable.
- Final Inspection and Cleanup: Check everything one last time.
- Customer Handover with Explanation: Explain the completed work to the customer and hand over the truck with a 2-month guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the alignment process work for a 3-axle truck and 2-axle trailer?
For trucks, we align each axle to ensure they work in perfect harmony, keeping the truck straight and stable on the road. This not only reduces tire wear but also improves fuel efficiency and overall vehicle performance.
For trailers, we adjust both axles so the trailer follows the truck smoothly, preventing any drift that could lead to uneven tire wear. This alignment allows the trailer to track straight, even at high speeds or around curves, providing safe and smooth handling.
Why is two months a good warranty period for an alignment service?
Complete Wear and Adjustment Evaluation Period:
Two months of operation provide ample time to assess the alignment under real-use conditions, including heavy loads, varying speeds, and diverse terrains. During this period, any minor misalignment or irregular tire wear becomes clearly noticeable, allowing for thorough performance validation.
Stability Validation of Components and Structure:
A 2-month warranty period allows us to identify any instability in the steering and suspension system components. Alignment affects not only axle angles but also load distribution and the vehicle’s structural stability while in motion, ensuring that alignment holds its precision and meets safety standards, even under high-demand conditions.
Comprehensive Monitoring of On-Road Performance:
Two months enable a full assessment of on-road performance. This includes the ability to evaluate fuel efficiency, tire wear, and steering responsiveness across different routes. This period ensures that alignment consistently delivers stable and safe handling, confirming that the service meets its technical objectives effectively.
Is aligning a heavy-duty truck different from aligning a trailer?
Absolutely! Aligning a heavy-duty truck is different from aligning a trailer. Here’s how:
Frequency of Alignment: Since the truck bears the primary load and controls steering, it usually needs alignment more frequently than the trailer, which simply follows the truck’s path.
Alignment Components: In a truck, alignment focuses on the steering axle and rear axles, ensuring the truck tracks straight and stays stable. For a trailer, there’s no steering axle, so alignment focuses only on the rear axles to make sure they follow the truck without any lateral pull.
Alignment Goals: In the truck, alignment aims to optimize handling, stability, and fuel efficiency. In the trailer, the main goal is to minimize tire wear and ensure it trails the truck accurately without side-to-side drift.
Procedures and Tools: Alignment procedures differ; a truck requires adjustments to angles like toe and caster on the steering axle, while a trailer alignment focuses only on thrust angle adjustments on the rear axles. The alignment equipment used also adapts to the specific axle configuration of each vehicle.
What happens if I ignore alignment issues in my truck or trailer?
Ignoring alignment issues in your truck or trailer can lead to a host of costly and potentially dangerous problems:
Risk of Breakdown: Over time, ignoring alignment issues can cause enough wear and tear to lead to unexpected breakdowns, resulting in downtime and potential delays in delivery schedules.
Increased Tire Wear: Misalignment causes uneven tire wear, which means you’ll have to replace tires more frequently, adding to operational costs.
Reduced Fuel Efficiency: Poor alignment increases rolling resistance, causing the truck to work harder and burn more fuel, which hits your wallet over time.
Poor Handling and Safety Risks: Misaligned wheels make steering less responsive and can cause the truck or trailer to pull to one side. This makes handling less predictable and could lead to accidents, especially in wet or challenging road conditions.
Stress on Suspension and Steering Components: Misalignment puts extra strain on the suspension, steering, and even braking systems, leading to premature wear and the need for costly repairs.
How does a truck alignment improve fuel efficiency?
Reduced Rolling Resistance: When a truck’s wheels are aligned properly, they roll straight and smooth, reducing friction with the road. Misaligned wheels create drag, forcing the truck to use more power—and fuel—to maintain speed.
Optimized Power Usage: With proper alignment, the engine doesn’t have to work as hard to keep the truck moving in a straight line. This efficient use of power leads to less fuel consumption, especially noticeable on long hauls.
Balanced Load Distribution: Alignment ensures that each axle and wheel is carrying its load evenly. When weight is distributed evenly, the truck requires less effort to move forward, further improving fuel efficiency.
Longer Tire Life Means Less Energy Lost: Proper alignment prevents uneven tire wear. Uneven tires can create additional drag on the road, using up more fuel over time. Aligned wheels maintain even wear, which reduces energy loss and saves on fuel.
What are the symptoms of truck alignment issues in heavy-duty trucks and trailers?
This is the list of the main truck alignment issue symptoms for heavy-duty trucks and trailers. These signs help spot alignment problems before they cause major wear or safety risks.
Uneven Tire Wear: Misalignment causes tires to wear out unevenly, often on one side more than the other. This leads to shortened tire life and costly replacements.
Pulling to One Side: A truck with alignment issues tends to drift or pull toward one side, forcing the driver to constantly adjust the steering to keep it straight.
Steering Wheel Vibration: Misaligned wheels create extra resistance on the road, causing the steering wheel to vibrate or shake, especially at higher speeds.
Off-Center Steering Wheel: If the steering wheel isn’t centered when driving straight, it’s a strong indication of misalignment that affects both stability and control.
Reduced Fuel Efficiency: Misalignment creates more road resistance, causing the truck to use more fuel to maintain speed. Over time, this cuts into operational costs.
Poor Handling: The truck or trailer may feel unstable, especially on turns, with a looser or more difficult-to-control steering response.
Increased Braking Distance: Misalignment can affect braking performance, often increasing stopping distances due to uneven tire contact with the road.
Unusual Tire Squealing: Misaligned wheels can lead to tire squealing, especially noticeable during turns or on sharp bends.
How often should heavy-duty trucks and trailers get a truck alignment service?
For optimal performance and to prevent premature wear, truck alignment service should be performed every 40,000 to 50,000 miles (or roughly every six months), depending on operating conditions. If the truck or trailer encounters rough roads, heavy loads, or extreme conditions, alignment should be checked more frequently, even every 3 to 4 months. Additionally, any signs of uneven tire wear, pulling to one side, or steering wheel vibrations indicate that an alignment inspection is needed immediately.
What are the direct cost-saving benefits of regular truck alignment for heavy-duty trucks and trailers?
Fuel Savings: Proper alignment reduces rolling resistance, allowing the truck to move with less effort. This improves fuel efficiency, saving between 2% and 10% in fuel consumption, which adds up significantly on long hauls.
Extended Tire Lifespan: Keeping axles aligned ensures that tire wear remains even, extending their lifespan. This reduces the frequency of tire replacements, saving between 20% and 30% on tire costs.
Lower Costs in Key Maintenance Components: Maintaining proper alignment reduces wear on critical systems like suspension, steering, and brakes, which typically account for around 30% of the total maintenance budget for a heavy-duty truck in the United States.
We are The Truck Savers
A company with 22 years of experience in preventive and corrective maintenance for trucks and trailers. We specialize in alignment, suspension repair, steering, and brake systems, with a focus on maximizing the efficiency, safety, and durability of every truck that comes through our doors. Additionally, we have expansion plans to open new locations, aiming to be closer to our clients—share your ideas here Socios!