Double services are offered in combos at the autocenters, but one of them should be done more sporadically
Steering alignment is one of the most frequent services to be done in a car, including electric ones. It is usually offered by workshops along with balancing, and the price is usually fixed.
Fortunately, these services are among the cheapest as they rely more on labor. However, the driver needs to be careful not to pay for additional and unnecessary services.
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Performing only the steering alignment costs between R$ 80 and R$ 150; The value may vary according to the workshop and the size of the car. Balancing costs from R$ 20 to R$ 80 per wheel, depending on the size and type of wheel.
Automotive centers offer packages that include steering alignment and four-wheel balancing. The values are between R$ 200 and R$ 250.
The suspension assembly of a car was designed to work with a specific geometry, acting in the way idealized by engineering. With use, the wheels end up coming out of this square.
Alignment brings components within manufacturer-recommended parameters. A misaligned car has impaired performance, higher fuel consumption and irregular tire wear, in addition to making the steering pull.
The weight distribution in the wheel and tire assembly needs to be balanced. Otherwise, it will generate vibrations that can harm stability.
Balancing uses small lead weights to make this balance. It should be done when a new tire is fitted, to compensate for weight differences caused by the position of the inflation valves and the tire structure itself.
When it is already in use, it is only necessary to perform a new balancing if there is any damage to the tire that requires repair or if the steering starts to shake.
It is recommended by manufacturers to perform steering alignment every 10 km. However, the service can be anticipated if the suspension suffers strong impacts. The car itself warns of the need, as the steering starts to pull somewhere.
Balancing, on the other hand, needs to be done when mounting a new tire on the wheel or if the tire has undergone any repair. That is, most of the time, it is only necessary to do the alignment.
