How Much Does Les Schwab Wheel Alignment Cost?

Getting your wheels properly aligned at Les Schwab is one of the most important maintenance services to maximize your vehicle’s performance and tire longevity.

But what’s the typical price for wheel alignment at Les Schwab and what services are included? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Les Schwab wheel alignment cost.

Les Schwab is one of the leading tire and automotive service providers in the western United States. Founded in 1952, Les Schwab has grown to over 500 locations across 10 states.

The company is well-known for its excellent customer service, wide selection of tire brands, and competitively priced automotive maintenance services like brake service, batteries, shocks, and wheel alignment.

How Much Does Les Schwab Wheel Alignment Cost?

Les Schwab offers several wheel alignment service packages with prices between $79.99 and $179.99 (≈1.5 days working every waking hour at $15/hour) to meet your needs based on vehicle type, condition, and your budget:

Basic Front-End Alignment

• Adjusts toe on front two wheels
• Best for minor alignment issues
• Price: $79.99 (≈5.3 hours of your workday at a $15/hour wage)

Four-Wheel Alignment

• Adjusts front and rear wheel angles
• Ideal for addressing handling issues
• Price: $99.99 (≈6.7 hours of continuous work at a $15/hour job)

Trusted Care Alignment

• Four-wheel alignment
• Full vehicle inspection
• Price: $159.99 (≈1.3 days of non-stop labor at a $15/hour salary)

Performance Alignment

• Precision four-wheel alignment
• Optimized for handling and responsiveness
• Meets manufacturer tolerances
• Price: $179.99 (≈1.5 days working every waking hour at $15/hour)

Les Schwab technicians use the latest Hunter alignment systems with integrated cameras and sensors to precisely measure and adjust your vehicle's alignment angles.

This professional-grade equipment helps them dial in perfect alignment every time. The company stands behind their work too - most new alignment services come with a 12-month or 12,000-mile nationwide warranty.

Factors that Affect the Cost of Wheel Alignment

There are several factors that influence the total price you'll pay for wheel alignment at Les Schwab:

• Vehicle type - Alignment on trucks, SUVs, and performance cars with greater suspension complexity costs more.
• Front vs. four-wheel - Adjusting all four wheels is more extensive and costs more than a front-end alignment.
• Age and condition - Heavily worn or damaged suspension components will increase cost.
• Additional services - Combining alignment with tire rotation, brake service, etc. adds cost.
• Coupons and discounts - Les Schwab runs frequent alignment coupons and specials to save you money.

While prices start at $79.99 (≈5.3 hours of your workday at a $15/hour wage), most wheel alignment quotes from Les Schwab range from $115 to $180 (≈1.5 days working every waking hour at $15/hour) on average. The specific cost depends on your vehicle, selected services, and any applicable coupons or special offers.

Why Is Wheel Alignment Important?

Before looking at the cost of wheel alignment, it’s helpful to understand why proper alignment is so critical for your vehicle. Wheel alignment refers to adjusting the angles of your car's suspension and steering components to ensure the wheels are pointing in the proper direction. Proper alignment helps optimize:

• Tire wear: When wheels are misaligned, tires wear unevenly and need replacing more frequently. Good alignment extends the life of your tires.
• Fuel economy: Misaligned wheels create more rolling resistance which reduces gas mileage. Aligned wheels enhance fuel efficiency.
• Handling and steering: Proper alignment keeps your vehicle driving straight with precision steering. Bad alignment leads to wandering, pulling, and vibration in the steering wheel.
• Safety: With wheels aligned to factory specifications, your car's steering, cornering, and braking are optimized for maximum control behind the wheel.

What Does a Wheel Alignment Involve?

Wheel alignment requires adjusting the angles of your suspension system and steering mechanism to the manufacturer's specifications. Some of the key angles adjusted include:

• Toe: The parallelism of the wheels when viewed from above. Adjusts tire wear and straight-line stability.
• Camber: The tilt of the wheels from vertical when viewed from the front. Affects grip and tire wear.
• Caster: The forward or backward tilt of the steering axis. Impacts handling and stability.

Using high-tech alignment machines, the technician at Les Schwab will make precise adjustments to realign these angles and dial in your vehicle's alignment to factory specs. This restores optimal handling, maximizes tire tread life, and gives you a smooth steering wheel position.

You might also like our articles about the cost of tire installation at Walmart, general wheel alignment, and wheel balancing.

When Do You Need Wheel Alignment?

Watch for these signs your car needs an alignment service:

• Uneven tire wear - Wear focused on one tire edge indicates misalignment
• Pulling to the left or right - Car wants to drift indicating alignment issues
• Off-center steering wheel - Wheel not straight during normal driving
• Vibration through the steering wheel - Wheels bouncing and vibrating over bumps
• Reduced fuel economy - Car getting worse gas mileage due to misalignment

Any of these symptoms mean it's time to bring your car into a Les Schwab location for an alignment check. Their technicians will inspect your suspension, adjust alignment settings, and have you back on the road in no time.

Final Words

Wheel alignment is critical for performance, handling, tire wear, and safety. Les Schwab offers trusted alignment services starting at just $79.99 (≈5.3 hours of your workday at a $15/hour wage). With high-tech equipment, trained technicians, and nationwide warranty coverage, they can expertly align your wheels to factory specs.

Regular alignment as part of your scheduled maintenance helps maximize the life of your tires and keep your car running smoothly for the long haul. Don't wait for symptoms - stop by your local Les Schwab today to get a quick alignment check or service and get rolling down the road with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it worth paying for wheel alignment?

Yes, wheel alignment is absolutely worth the investment. Properly aligned wheels save you money in the long run by extending the life of new tires and wheels and optimizing fuel efficiency.

Alignment also enhances vehicle handling, control, and safety. Minor alignment issues gradually worsen over time and accelerate uneven tire wear.

Paying for periodic alignment helps you avoid very expensive tire replacements and keeps your car's steering and suspension in top shape. Think of alignment as inexpensive preventative maintenance.

How long does a 4 wheel alignment take?

A four-wheel alignment typically takes 45 minutes to an hour. The exact time depends on the vehicle, technician, and how out of alignment the wheels are.

The technician starts by assessing the current alignment angles and inspecting the suspension for any worn components. They then use the alignment rack and high-tech sensors to adjust all four wheels precisely to the factory specifications.

While on the rack, an experienced tech can usually have your car aligned in under an hour. Overall, plan on your visit taking 1 to 1.5 hours including check-in and paperwork.

Does my car need 2 or 4 wheel alignment?

Most vehicles benefit from a full four-wheel alignment, especially if experiencing handling or vibration issues. Adjusting all four wheels helps center the steering wheel perfectly straight and optimize tire wear at all corners.

Some shops try to sell only front alignments to save money, but this often fails to fix underlying issues that affect the rear suspension too. The small upcharge for four-wheel alignment is worthwhile for the additional precision and thorough service on all your tires.

Exceptions could be minor front-end collisions needing only brief front realignment. Discuss your needs with the technician, but in most cases go for the complete four-wheel alignment.