Advice September 10, 2026, 3 minute read
Pothole season: how to tell if that hit knocked out your alignment
Three driveway tests for alignment problems, what an alignment actually adjusts, and when to check the suspension first.
Every spring the freeze-thaw cycle opens craters on Telegraph, Ford Road and 8 Mile. Every spring we align a lot of cars. Here's how to know if yours is one of them.
Three tests you can do in your driveway
- Straight road, hands off for two seconds. If the car drifts, it's pulling.
- Look at the steering wheel while driving straight. If the logo is tilted, the toe is off.
- Run your hand across the tire tread. If the inside or outside edge is sharper than the other, you've been out of alignment for a while.
What an alignment adjusts
Toe (whether the tires point in or out), camber (whether they lean in or out) and caster (the steering axis angle). We set all three on a computerized rack and print a before-and-after sheet so you can see what changed.
Why we check the suspension first
An alignment on a car with a worn tie rod or ball joint won't hold. We inspect the front end, for free, before any car goes on the rack. If a part is worn, we'll show you and quote it.
Need wheel alignment?
Four-wheel computerized alignment, with a printout of before and after.