Tyres & steering · Sant Andreu
Wheel alignment in Barcelona
An off-centre wheel, a car pulling to one side or tyres eaten along one shoulder: steering geometry gets knocked out by kerbs and potholes, and is corrected by measuring — not by eye.
What does this service include at Tallers Marathon?
Geometry measured, toe adjusted to the manufacturer’s values, and ball joints and bushes checked.
- Full measurementToe and angles compared against the manufacturer’s specifications.
- Toe adjustmentSteering wheel centred and wheels working in the right direction.
- Prior inspectionBall joints, track rod ends and bushes: aligning on worn parts never lasts.
- Values reportWe show you the before and after readings.
When does the steering need aligning?
After a hard hit against a kerb or pothole, when fitting new tyres, if the steering wheel sits crooked or if the car drifts on a straight road. Uneven tyre wear — one shoulder more eaten than the rest — is proof you have been driving misaligned for a while.
Barcelona is hostile territory for geometry: parallel parking against kerbs, speed bumps, tree pits and the odd surprise pothole. A single sharp rim impact can shift the toe enough for a tyre to eat a shoulder in 5,000 km — and tyres cost more than the alignment. The subtlest sign is not the crooked wheel but running your hand across the tread: if you feel saw teeth or one smoother edge, the geometry has been asking for an appointment for a while. Important: if the prior inspection finds a worn ball joint or play, that is corrected first — aligning on worn parts means paying twice. It goes hand in hand with balancing, but they are not the same thing.
Frequently asked questions
Are alignment and balancing the same?
No: alignment corrects the steering angles (wear, crooked wheel); balancing corrects each wheel’s weight distribution (vibration at speed). Often both are needed.
How long does it take?
Around an hour if no seized parts or play need correcting. You can wait at the garage.
Why did my steering wheel go crooked if I touched nothing?
The adjustments shift with the city’s accumulated vibrations and impacts. No accident needed: the sum of potholes does the job.
How often should I align?
No fixed interval: with every new set of tyres, after any hard impact, and whenever symptoms appear. In heavy urban use, an annual check is money well spent.
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