Expert Guide to Wheel Alignments: Everything You Need to Know
If your car pulls to one side, your steering wheel sits crooked when you’re driving straight, or your tires wear unevenly, your alignment is probably off. Left alone, a bad alignment wears out tires faster, hurts fuel economy, and makes the vehicle harder to control.
At Franklynn Automotive in Littleton, CO, we offer three levels of alignment service because not every vehicle needs the same thing. A 2008 Honda Civic and a 2024 Chevy Equinox with lane-keeping assist have very different requirements. This guide explains what an alignment actually is, why modern vehicles need more than just an angle adjustment, and how to know which service your car needs.
What is a Wheel Alignment?
A wheel alignment adjusts the angles of your tires so they make proper contact with the road and point in the right direction. Technicians measure and adjust three angles:
- Camber: the inward or outward tilt of the tire when viewed from the front. If camber is off, one edge of the tire wears faster than the other.
- Toe: whether the fronts of the tires point toward each other (toe-in) or away (toe-out). An incorrect toe causes rapid, uneven wear across the tread.
- Caster: the tilt of the steering axis when viewed from the side. Caster affects steering stability and how well the wheel returns to center after a turn.
All three angles are set to the manufacturer’s specifications for your specific vehicle. The adjustments are made to the suspension components, not to the wheels or tires themselves.
Signs Your Vehicle Needs an Alignment
You don’t always feel a bad alignment right away. Here are the most common signs:
- The vehicle pulls or drifts to one side on a flat, straight road
- The steering wheel is off-center when driving straight
- Uneven tire wear, especially on the inner or outer edges
- The steering wheel vibrates, particularly at highway speed
- The car feels loose or wanders in the lane
If you hit a significant pothole or curb, or if you’ve had suspension work done, an alignment check is a good idea even if you’re not noticing symptoms yet.
Three Levels of Alignment Service
Not every alignment is the same job. Vehicles built since 2012 have electronic systems that depend on knowing exactly where the steering wheel is pointed. Newer vehicles with driver-assist technology require even more. We offer three tiers so you get exactly what your vehicle needs.
Standard Alignment
A four-wheel alignment to manufacturer specs. Includes a steering and suspension inspection, tire pressure check, before-and-after printout, and a road test. This is the right service for pre- 2012 vehicles, or vehicles confirmed as not requiring an electronic steering angle sensor reset.
Complete Alignment
Everything in the Standard Alignment, plus an electronic pre-scan, steering angle sensor (SAS) reset, and post-scan verification with documented proof of work. Most vehicles built since 2012 have a steering angle sensor that tells the stability control computer which direction the wheels are pointing. When alignment angles are adjusted, this sensor needs to be reset so the computer knows the new straight-ahead position. Without the reset, systems like traction control and electronic stability control work off outdated data. This is a manufacturer requirement on the majority of 2012 and newer vehicles. The Complete Alignment is the right choice for most modern cars and trucks.
Total Safety Alignment
Everything in the Complete Alignment, plus dynamic ADAS calibration. ADAS stands for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, the technology behind features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and blind spot monitoring.
These systems use cameras and radar that are aimed based on your vehicle’s alignment angles. When alignment changes, the aim of those sensors can shift. A camera that is off by just one degree will target eight feet off-center at 100 feet of distance. At 30 mph, a vehicle needs roughly 89 feet to stop. That is the margin of error.
The Total Safety Alignment includes a dynamic calibration drive (20-45 minutes at specified
speeds with the scan tool connected), ADAS system verification, and complete documentation.
Pricing varies depending on how many systems your vehicle has.
What Is ADAS Calibration and Why Does It Matter?
ADAS calibration is the process of re-aiming your vehicle’s cameras, radar, and sensors after work that changes their position or the angles they reference. There are two types:
- Static calibration: performed in the bay using targets and fixtures positioned at specific distances from the vehicle
- Dynamic calibration: performed while driving the vehicle at specified speeds on well- marked roads, with a scan tool monitoring the system as it relearns
Franklynn Automotive performs dynamic calibrations. Some vehicles require both static and dynamic procedures. If your vehicle needs a static-only calibration, we will let you know and help you determine the next steps.
ADAS calibration is required by the vehicle manufacturer after alignments, suspension work, windshield replacements, and certain other repairs on equipped vehicles. Skipping it is not a shortcut. It leaves your safety systems unable to do their job.
When Is ADAS Calibration Required?
The following types of work can trigger an ADAS calibration requirement:
- Wheel alignment on any ADAS-equipped vehicle
- Suspension component replacement (struts, control arms, tie rods, ball joints)
- Windshield replacement on vehicles with a windshield-mounted camera
- Steering rack or electric power steering motor replacement
- Battery disconnect (can reset the steering angle sensor on some makes)
- Any collision repair affecting the front end
We look up every vehicle in the manufacturer’s coverage database before writing an estimate. If calibration is required, we include it. If it is not, we do not charge for it.
Common Vehicles That Require SAS Reset or ADAS Calibration
The specific requirements vary by year, make, model, and trim. We look up every vehicle before writing the estimate. That said, here are some of the makes we see most often that require these services:
- GM (Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, Cadillac): 2019 and newer models with front cameras and radar often require dynamic calibration. This is a full match for our capability.
- Ford/Lincoln: 2020 and newer models shifted to dynamic-only calibration for the forward camera system.
- Subaru: EyeSight-equipped models require both static and dynamic calibration. We perform the dynamic portion and coordinate the static portion as needed.
- Honda/Acura: Honda Sensing is standard on most 2018 and newer models. Requirements vary by model.
- Hyundai/Kia: SmartSense-equipped models (2019+) often have dynamic self-learning calibration for blind spot monitoring.
- Toyota/Lexus: Safety Sense models require a steering angle sensor drive cycle after alignment.
If your vehicle is not listed here, that does not mean it doesn’t require calibration. We check every vehicle individually.
What to Expect When You Bring Your Vehicle In
When you schedule an alignment at Franklynn Automotive, here is what happens:
- We look up your vehicle in the manufacturer’s ADAS coverage database to determine which tier of alignment it needs
- We present all three options and explain which one applies to your vehicle and why
- We perform the alignment to manufacturer specs, including the steering and suspension inspection
- If your vehicle requires an SAS reset or ADAS calibration, we complete it during the service and document the results
- You receive a before-and-after alignment printout, and if applicable, scan tool documentation confirming the reset or calibration was completed
The entire process typically takes 45 minutes to two hours, depending on the tier. If a dynamic calibration is required, the service includes a road test of 20-45 minutes at specified speeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which alignment tier my vehicle needs?
We look it up for you. When you schedule the appointment, give us the year, make, and model (or even better, the VIN), and we will determine the correct service before you arrive.
Why didn’t my last shop do an SAS reset?
Many shops have not yet updated their processes for modern vehicles. The absence of the service at another shop does not mean it was not required. It may have been skipped. We follow the manufacturer’s procedure every time.
Can I just get the Standard Alignment on my 2022 vehicle?
If the manufacturer requires an SAS reset on your vehicle and you choose not to have it done, we will explain the implications and document your decision. We will not skip a required procedure without making sure you understand what that means for your vehicle’s electronic safety systems.
How often should I get an alignment?
We recommend checking your alignment once a year, after hitting a significant pothole or curb, when you notice any of the symptoms listed above, or anytime you have suspension or steering work done.
Schedule Your Alignment at Franklynn Automotive
Franklynn Automotive is located in Littleton, CO, serving Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Centennial, and the surrounding South Denver communities. Our team is equipped and trained to handle alignments on everything from older vehicles to the newest ADAS-equipped cars and trucks.
Call us at 303-730-4137 or schedule online.
