Alignment Shop Near Kansas City | McCarthy Collision Centers

What do we mean by "wheel alignment?"

Looking for a reliable wheel alignment near you ? McCarthy Collision Center, serving Blue Springs , Lee's Summit , Olathe , & Overland Park is your one-stop shop for expert wheel alignment services.

Why is wheel alignment important? Your car leaves the factory with its wheels meticulously positioned at specific angles. These angles are crucial for optimal performance, fuel efficiency, and safe driving. However, various factors like collisions, uneven road surfaces, and worn suspension components can alter these angles, leading to:

Decreased fuel economy: Misaligned wheels can cause your car to work harder, leading to increased fuel consumption.
Uneven tire wear: Improper alignment can cause your tires to wear unevenly, reducing their lifespan and requiring earlier replacement.
Reduced handling and safety: Misaligned wheels can affect your car's handling, making it less responsive and potentially compromising safety in critical situations.

McCarthy Collision Centers offers comprehensive wheel alignment services:

Advanced equipment: Our technicians utilize the latest equipment to diagnose and correct even the most minor alignment issues.
Experienced mechanics: Our team is highly trained and experienced in wheel alignment services for all makes and models.
Preventative maintenance: We recommend wheel alignments after collisions, new tire installations, or as part of regular car maintenance routines.

Schedule your wheel alignment today!

Contact your nearest McCarthy Collision Center location or call us at 1-800-New-Again to schedule an appointment and ensure your car is safe, efficient, and performing at its best.

Do You Need a Wheel Alignment?

The only way to answer this question definitively is to have your tires and wheels inspected at a qualified service center or body shop. However, there are some classic signs and symptoms of a poorly aligned set of wheels, including the following:

Vehicle pulls - If your car is pulling to the left or right, even slightly, that could mean anything from misalignment to a faulty steering column or bad tires. If the vehicle pulls very sharply, underinflated tires could be a culprit, but it's more likely that you just need an old-fashioned tire alignment.
Noticeably uneven tire tread - Tires, when installed as a set and are maintained properly, should wear at about the same rate. If one of your tires is showing more signs of tread wear, your vehicle may need a check-up and tire alignment.
Steering wheel shakes - When your tires are not aligned well, they can pull in opposite directions of each other. This usually produces a somewhat violent vibration in your steering wheel, particularly when traveling at highway speeds. If left untreated, your entire steering column can become crooked, leaving you with even costlier repairs than an affordable wheel alignment would cost.
Poor handling - Loose steering can be caused by many car problems, and one of them is bad wheel alignment. Aligning your wheels to factory default should remedy these issues right away.

If you notice any of these issues, then you might need to realign your wheels! Kansas City drivers can visit our collision centers for alignment service, even if they haven't been in a crash.

Why Wheel Alignment Matters

A car's only contact with the road is via each tire's contact patch. Car manufacturers set wheel angles to provide contact patch geometry that is optimal for a particular model's performance. At McCarthy Collision Centers, we focus on three primary angles - toe, caster, and camber. Getting a tire alignment restores these angles to factory settings after a collision.

Toe: The Toe is the angle the wheels make relative to the front-back axis of a car when the steering wheel is centered -- that is, it is not the angle introduced by steering the car. During an automotive wheel alignment, technicians measure and adjust toe to meet manufacturer or customer specifications.
Camber: This is the inward or outward lean of the wheel and tire. Positive camber is when the wheel tops are farther away than the bottoms; negative camber is the reverse. When performing a tire alignment, technicians will take a close look at your vehicle's camber angle.
Caster: This is the angle made by a pivot line between the upper and lower ball joints relative to vertical. If the Caster is misplaced due to a collision, wheels tend to wander and the driver will have to manage actively the steering wheel to stay on a straight line. This is one of the clearest signs that it's time for a tire alignment.

Our Wheel Alignment Service in Kansas City

If you are looking reliable wheel alignment in Kansas City, stop by any McCarthy Collision Centers location. We offer the latest equipment to detect front end alignment problems, and our skilled technicians will correct issues quickly and accurately. We're leaders in collision repair, offering the most modern, advanced equipment necessary to repair today's complex vehicles. During your auto wheel alignment service, our technicians examine the three major angles, as well as secondary angles, including:

Setback
Frame angle
Ride height
Wheelbase and track and more.

When it comes to wheel alignment service, there are three primary collision repair techniques:

Two-Wheel Alignment

Two-wheel alignment, also known as front-end alignment, is the process of aligning the front wheels only. This technique is suitable for vehicles with a solid rear axle or those with a non-adjustable rear suspension. Two-wheel alignment involves measuring and adjusting the camber and toe angles of the front wheels.

Four-Wheel Alignment

Four-wheel alignment, also known as all-wheel alignment, involves aligning all four wheels of the vehicle. This technique is suitable for vehicles with an independent rear suspension. Four-wheel alignment involves measuring and adjusting the camber, caster, and toe angles of all four wheels.

Thrust Alignment

Thrust alignment is a type of four-wheel alignment that involves measuring and adjusting the rear axle's thrust angle. The thrust angle is the angle between the centerline of the rear axle and the centerline of the vehicle. This angle must be aligned correctly to ensure the vehicle moves in a straight line.

It's important to note that the type of alignment technique used depends on the vehicle's make and model, as well as the type of suspension system it has. A professional mechanic from one of our local auto body shops can determine the best alignment technique for your vehicle.

A proper car alignment following a collision is a must to ensure that all angles are restored to their correct settings and your vehicle performs well. Contact McCarthy Collision today to learn about wheel alignment services, limited lifetime warranty, free estimates, help with insurance claims, towing assistance and six days a week service. Put your vehicle in the best hands - choose McCarthy Collision, your best choice for collision repair in Kansas City and the surrounding area.

Dedicated Wheel Alignment Experts

McCarthy Collision Center is pleased to offer the convenience of scheduling wheel alignment service. No one knows your vehicle like our auto body technicians, and we are committed to keeping your car in the best possible condition to extend its lifespan.

Wheel Alignment in Kansas City