Why does my car pull to one side?
A pull has more than one cause, and only one of them is alignment. Uneven tire pressure is the simplest: a low tire on one side drags the car toward it. A tire with a shifted belt can pull even when the alignment is perfect, and so can mismatched tires on the same axle. Worn steering and suspension parts, such as tie rods, ball joints and control arm bushings, let the wheel move while you drive, so the car wanders or pulls under braking or acceleration. A sticking brake caliper can pull the car to one side too. Front Line Auto checks the tires, the pressures and the steering and suspension parts first, because an alignment cannot fix any of those.
Do I need an alignment or new parts?
Look at how the tires are wearing. Wear on one edge of a tire is the classic alignment sign, but worn ball joints and control arm bushings cause the same pattern because they let the wheel angle shift as you drive. Cupped or scalloped wear usually points to worn shocks or struts, not alignment. If the steering parts are loose, an alignment will not hold; it drifts again within weeks and the tires keep wearing. So the order matters: replace worn parts first, then align. Front Line Auto inspects the steering and suspension, tells you which parts are worn, and, after any repair, tells you when the car needs an alignment so you can have it done at an alignment shop.
What does the check cost?
Diagnostic time at Front Line Auto is billed at $200 per hour. If the check finds worn parts, repair labor is $200 per hour for non-European cars and $250 per hour for European cars, or $180 and $225 for Easy Care members. You get an itemized estimate with parts and labor hours listed separately, and nothing is replaced until you approve it. Call (954) 714-8099 before you come in and say how the car behaves: which way it pulls, whether it happens when braking or all the time, whether the steering wheel is off-center, and which edge of the tires is wearing. The shop is at 3575 NW 31st Ave in Oakland Park, open Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 6 PM.
Full inspection checklist
The quick answer
Front Line Auto does not do wheel alignments. The shop checks whether a pull or uneven tire wear comes from the tires, worn steering or suspension parts, or alignment, repairs the parts, and tells you when the car needs an alignment.
What Front Line Auto checks
- Check tire pressure and tire wear patterns.
- Inspect tie rods, ball joints, control arm bushings and other steering and suspension parts.
- Road-test for pulling, wandering or vibration.
- Check for wheel-balance and tire clues.
- Tell you whether tires, parts or an alignment at an alignment shop is the right next step.
When to call
Call when the vehicle pulls, wears tires unevenly, feels loose, vibrates, or recently hit a curb or pothole.
Front Line Auto is an auto repair shop in Oakland Park, FL at 3575 NW 31st Ave, Oakland Park, FL 33309. Call (954) 714-8099 before bringing in diagnostic, inspection, towing, or repair work.
Questions customers ask
Does Front Line Auto do wheel alignments?
No. Front Line Auto does not do wheel alignments. The shop checks whether a pull or uneven tire wear comes from tires or worn steering and suspension parts, repairs those, and tells you when the car needs an alignment.
Why check before getting an alignment?
An alignment does not hold on a car with loose tie rods, ball joints or worn bushings, so the pull and the tire wear come back.
What does the check cost?
Diagnostic time is $200 per hour. Any repair is quoted in writing and approved by you first.
Can a tire cause a pull?
Yes. Low pressure on one side, a tire with a shifted belt or mismatched tires can pull a car even when the alignment is correct.