This is Part 1 of our 6-part series: Wheel Alignment Myths & Mistakes That Cost You Thousands. In this post, we’re pulling back the curtain on one of the most misleading offers in the industry: the “free alignment check.”
Free Doesn’t Mean Complete - In Most if Not All Cases, It Means Incomplete and Sales-Driven
When a tire shop or general repair center offers a free alignment check, what are they really doing? Usually, it’s a basic toe and camber check - nothing more. It takes the machine about 60 seconds to set up and measure. They will show you if the two alignment measurements are "Green" for in specification or "Red" for out of specification. These shops skip the critical measurements of caster, SAI and thrust angle. Most importantly, a full inspection of your suspension and steering system and test drive is not performed. If an inspection is performed, it is partial and performed by the most inexperienced tech in the shop.
Quick and free checks may save you time today, but cost you tomorrow.
The Real Problem With “Free” Alignment Checks
- No comprehensive suspension or steering inspection - they won’t catch worn ball joints, bushings, control arms, tie rods and more. If no test drive is performed drift and pulls are missed.
- Only 2 angles measured - toe and camber, while skipping caster, SAI and thrust, which affect tracking and stability.
- Sales pitch, not a safety check - these shops are fishing for tire sales, or other repairs, not diagnosing your vehicle properly.
Why You Could End Up Paying More
Here’s the danger: trusting a free check can lead you to think everything’s fine - when it’s not. Minor misalignments or worn components go untreated until they cost you much more down the line.
- Uneven tire wear from missed alignment angles or worn parts.
- Steering pull and poor handling due to ignored thrust and caster angles.
- Premature suspension damage from unresolved issues left unchecked.
3 Questions You Should Ask Before Saying Yes to a Free Alignment Check
Before you agree to a free check, protect yourself with these questions:
- What angles do you actually check - just toe and camber, or also caster, SAI and thrust?
- Do you inspect the suspension and steering system before aligning?
- If so, do you have qualified techs perform the repairs and will I receive a digital report?
- Is the goal of this check to diagnose & inform or to sell me something?
At Spring Works, we don’t lure you in with “free.” Because as the old saying goes, “nothing good is free, and nothing free is good.” We’d rather give you honest, thorough service from the start - no gimmicks, no shortcuts. Schedule An Appointment Today.
