An alignment only holds on a tight front end
An alignment sets the angles of the wheels relative to the truck. Every one of those angles depends on the parts holding the wheel in place: kingpins, tie rod ends, drag link, wheel bearings, and on the drive axles, the suspension bushings and torque rods. If any of them is worn, the wheel has room to move.
A truck with a loose front end can be measured, adjusted and printed out perfectly in the bay, because it is sitting still with no load on it. On the road, under braking, over bumps and with weight on the axle, the worn parts let the wheel shift, and the angles are no longer what the printout says. The steer tires keep wearing, the driver keeps correcting, and the alignment gets blamed.
That is why a proper truck alignment starts with an inspection of the front end and the suspension. Play in a kingpin or a tie rod end has to be fixed first, or the alignment is money spent on a number that will not survive the first mile.
Make one visit do it
For a fleet that drives some distance to Princeton, finding worn parts at the alignment and then having to come back for them is a wasted trip. When you book:
- Ask for the front-end inspection to come first, with the findings reported before the alignment.
- Approve repairs in advance up to an agreed amount, so worn parts can be replaced in the same visit.
- Mention any recent front-end or suspension work, since parts changed elsewhere change the starting point.
A tractor pulling a trailer that is out of square will keep wearing steer tires whatever the tractor's alignment says, so check the trailer alignment in the same trip. Vibration rather than wear is often tire and wheel balancing. The national heavy-duty truck alignment page covers when to align.
Other stores nearby
Paducah Commercial & Consumer to the west and Henderson to the northeast also align trucks.
About this store
The Princeton store runs sixteen services and is managed by Stephanie Fakouri.
See the national heavy-duty truck alignment page for all 40 locations.