Does Your Car Need Frame Alignment? Here Are Ways To Tell

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Your vehicle's chassis or frame is responsible for supporting your car's body and other mechanical components. If you have recently been involved in a car crash, the chances are that your car frame is misaligned. Dents on your car are a sure sign you need frame straightening, but this isn't the only way to tell that you need professional auto body repair. Check out more signs indicating a need for frame alignment.

The Doors Don't Fit Properly

After an accident, you may not notice that your car frame is out of alignment, especially if the damage is underneath your vehicle. However, various issues indicate a misalignment. For instance, when you have frame misalignment, your vehicle doors may not fit properly on the frame. That means you will have trouble opening and closing the trunk and doors.

The Car Moves Slightly to the Side When Driving Straight

If you have challenges controlling how your car moves, your vehicle's frame is likely bent. Typically, your steering will begin pooling to the side when driving straight due to a bent frame. This scenario also occurs when the car tires aren't correctly aligned. It's crucial to let an auto body repair professional fix the frame or tire misalignment immediately since it poses a risk of an accident. 

There's Damage to the Shocks

When your vehicle's frame is in great shape, the weight of your car gets distributed evenly on the suspension system. But if the frame is out of alignment, most of the weight will lie on one side of the car. When you notice excessive vibration on one side of the car or the vehicle shocks wear on one side, you could have a bent frame. Seek professional auto body repair services to avert the additional cost of replacing the shocks. 

There Are Strange Sounds While Driving

When you notice unusual noises coming from your vehicle's engine as you drive, don't ignore them. Even if there aren't visible signs of a bent frame, clunking sounds when driving over rough terrain is a sure sign you need frame alignment. Creaking and squeaking noises can also arise if your vehicle has an improperly-aligned frame. Inspection by a professional will unearth the root cause of the problem.

When you notice any of the signs mentioned above, it's advisable to seek the help of a professional auto body repair expert. Doing this guarantees your safety on the road and averts problems that may arise from a misaligned car frame. Look into auto body repair services near you.

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18 April 2022

Knowing the Early Signs of Car Trouble

After my car died and I was stranded on the freeway a few years back, I knew that I had to do what I could to avoid similar issues in the future. I began working hard to identify different issues with my car, so that I could prevent problems. I began working with a mechanic to get help, and he taught me a lot about going through my car and being able to evaluate different things that were problems. It was really interesting to explore the possibilities of different car failures, and before I knew it, I could tell when my car was struggling. Read more about the early signs of car trouble on my blog.