After a deer strike, check more than the bumper
In country with deer on the roads, a collision with one is something many drivers in southeast Missouri deal with sooner or later. The damage people see is at the front: a cracked bumper cover, a broken headlight, a bent grille.
The damage they do not see is underneath. An impact at road speed travels into whatever is behind the bumper, and a hard hit, or a swerve that put a wheel into a ditch edge, can move the front end out of alignment or bend a steering part.
The body shop fixes what it was asked to fix. The alignment is often a separate question, and it is easy for it to fall between the two.
What to watch for after a hit
- The steering wheel sits off center when you are driving straight.
- The vehicle wanders or pulls where it used to track straight.
- The steering feels different: heavier, looser, or slower to return.
- A new noise from the front when turning or going over bumps.
If any of those appear after a collision, or after the body work is finished, book an alignment check. If the steering feels loose or noisy, mention it, because a bent or damaged part has to be replaced before an alignment will hold.
Doing it in the right order
Body repair first, then any suspension or steering parts, then the alignment. Aligning before the parts are replaced wastes the alignment.
Suspension repair is at this store, so the parts and the alignment can be done in one place. A shake rather than a pull is more often balance, and tire and wheel balancing is here too. The national alignment page explains what the measurement covers.
Other stores nearby
De Soto and Paducah, KY also align cars and light trucks.
About this store
The Jackson store carries all nine Purcell tire categories and is managed by Mike Rhymer.
See the national car and light truck alignment page for all 40 locations.