Tires & Wheels
Wheel alignment near you
Wheel alignment on a rack: camber, caster and toe set to specification to stop pulling and uneven tire wear after potholes or suspension work.
- Time at the shop
- 60 min
- about
- Mobile service
- At the shop
- drop-off
- Shops in Canada
- 4
- doing this work
- Your price
- You set it
- shops bid on it
You set the budget
Shops near you send their bids
4 shops in Canada do this
Tires & Wheels
What wheel alignment is
Alignment is the set of angles that decides how each wheel meets the road and how the four line up with one another: toe, how far the wheels point in or out; camber, the lean of the wheel; and caster, the tilt of the steering axis. Potholes, curbs and worn suspension parts knock them out of specification, and the result is a vehicle that wanders to one side, a steering wheel that sits crooked and tires worn on one edge.
Before measuring, the technician checks tire pressures and looks for worn steering and suspension parts. The vehicle is then driven onto an alignment rack, sensors or targets are clamped to the wheels, and the readings are compared with the manufacturer’s numbers. Toe is adjusted on nearly every vehicle, and camber and caster where the design has adjusters, before the steering wheel is centred and a before-and-after report is printed. Worn tie rod ends or ball joints are replaced first, or the settings will not hold.
- For cars, EVs, vans and trucks
- Takes about 60 min
What does wheel alignment cost?
It depends on your vehicle and the shop. Post a job with your budget and compare the bids shops near you send.
Get bids
Name your budget. Shops near you bid.
4 shops across Canada do wheel alignment.
What to expect
Wheel alignment, step by step
What the job normally covers, what to mention in your request, and the signs that it is time. Every shop says what its bid includes.
The job
What’s included
- Tire pressures set and the suspension and steering checked for worn or loose parts before measuring
- Vehicle driven onto an alignment rack and sensors or targets clamped to each wheel
- Camber, caster and toe read and compared with the manufacturer’s specification
- Rear wheels set first on a four-wheel alignment, so all four wheels track together
- Front adjustments made at the tie rods and, where the design allows, at cams, shims or eccentric bolts
- Steering wheel centred and, where fitted, the steering angle sensor reset
- Before and after printout showing what was out and where the angles now sit
- Road test to confirm the vehicle tracks straight with the steering wheel level
Checklist
Before you post
- 01Ask whether the quote is for a front-end or a four-wheel alignment; vehicles with adjustable rear suspension need all four
- 02Ask for the before and after readings so you can see what was out and what was changed
- 03Mention any recent pothole or curb hit, a pull, or a crooked steering wheel so the technician knows where to look
- 04If tie rod ends or ball joints are worn, ask for that repair to be quoted first; an alignment over worn parts will not last
- 05On vehicles with lane-keeping or a front camera, ask whether recalibration after the alignment is included or priced separately
- 06Ask whether a re-check is included if the vehicle still pulls, and how long the shop stands behind its settings
Signs
When you need it
- Vehicle drifts left or right on a flat, straight road with your hands loose on the wheel
- Steering wheel sits crooked while the vehicle travels straight
- Tires worn on the inner or outer edge, or feathered across the tread
- A hard pothole or curb hit, or an accident repair
- New struts, control arms, tie rods or ball joints have just been fitted
Sound familiar?Tell shops near you what you need and what you want to spend.
Get bidsHow it works
Get wheel alignment done in four steps
You set the budget and choose the shop. Posting is free, and you pay the shop you hire once the work is 100% done.
- 01
Post your job
Choose the service, describe the job and your vehicle, and set your budget. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
- 02
Shops compete
Nearby shops that do the work see your request and send their best offer: price, when they can start, what is included.
- 03
Accept the best offer
Compare bids, ratings and distance, then hire one shop. The others are told, politely.
- 04
Talk and get it done
Your conversation with the shop opens right away to agree on the day. You pay only after the job is complete.
Keep exploring
Related services
Mechanical Repair
Suspension & steering repair
Clunks, wander, a bouncy ride or heavy steering traced to worn suspension parts, shocks, struts, joints, bearings or the steering rack, then repaired.
Wheel balancing
Wheel balancing on a spin balancer, with weights fitted where each wheel and tire runs heavy, to stop steering wheel shake and vibration at highway speed.
Tire installation
Tire installation for cars, vans, trucks and trailers: new tires mounted and balanced on your wheels, with fresh valve stems and old tires taken away.
Mechanical Repair
Suspension bushing replacement
Cracked or torn rubber suspension bushings in control arms, sway bars and trailing arms replaced, curing clunks, vague steering and uneven tire wear.
Rim repair
Rim repair for curb rash, scuffs, bends and some cracks in steel and alloy wheels, so the wheel runs true, holds air and looks right again.
Questions
Questions about wheel alignment
General answers for drivers in Canada. The shop you hire confirms the details for your vehicle.
How do I know if I need a wheel alignment?
Watch for a pull to one side on a straight road, a steering wheel that sits off-centre, or tires that wear on one edge. Any hard hit on a pothole or curb, or new suspension parts, is a reason to have it checked. There is no fixed interval, but many drivers have it looked at each spring, once the pothole season is over.
Do I need a two-wheel or a four-wheel alignment?
Vehicles with independent rear suspension, and many all-wheel-drive models, need all four wheels aligned so the rear wheels track with the fronts. Many trucks and older cars with a solid rear axle need only the front adjusted, with the rear axle measured. The shop can tell from your make and model, and four wheels is the safer choice when in doubt.
Do I need an alignment when I buy new tires?
Not automatically. If the old tires wore evenly and the vehicle tracks straight, the alignment is probably fine. If they wore on one edge or the vehicle pulls, align it when the new set goes on, or the new tires will wear the same way. Some shops offer a quick alignment check when tires are fitted.
Why did the shop say my vehicle cannot be aligned?
Usually because something is worn, bent or seized, so an angle cannot be brought into specification or will not hold. A rusted adjuster, a part bent by an impact, or a worn bushing, ball joint or tie rod end is the typical reason. Lowered, lifted and accident-repaired vehicles may need extra parts such as camber kits. Ask what is wrong and get that repair quoted.
How long does a wheel alignment take?
About an hour at most shops, longer when the adjusters are rusted in place. The shop checks tires and suspension first, so allow a little extra time. Because alignment needs a level rack and precise measuring equipment, it is done at a shop rather than in a driveway.
Something else to ask? Once you hire a shop, you talk to it directly in your request’s conversation.
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