Happy New Year & Thank you!

The year is almost over and what a year it has been for  Alignment Simple Solutions!  Thanks to all of you, we are well on the way to creating more jobs and establishing ourselves as the foremost authority in quality DIY alignment tools! 

In 2012 you have helped us

Ø  Win the Governor’s Excellence Award

Ø  Take the QT systems global while keeping the jobs at home

Ø  Become an official SEMA member (Sold QT Systems during the show)

Ø  Continue to manufacture quality products here in the USA in our own shop!

Ø  Show the world what true American Made Craftsmanship is all about

We will be running various drawings and contests in 2013 as our continued thank you!

We have been fortunate to attract some major investments and welcome co-owners James & Jill Taylor to our QT Family!

We are off and running for 2013 and we hope you will watch us on the season opening episode of TruckU on SpeedTV the first week of March (More Details to come).

To  Bottom line it… Thank you!  We would not be here without you!  You can keep up with the new designs, contests, our weekly blog on alignment tips & updates on the TruckU episode, by joining us on social media through the icons below.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

https://www.facebook.com/AlignmentSimpleSolutions

http://twitter.com/MrQuickTrick

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!!

How Temperature Affects Tire Pressure..

Keeping your tires in proper condition helps save money and, of course, avoid accidents. Understanding how temperature affects tires and their pressure is imperative for car maintenance.

Tire pressure is the amount of air in your tires. This is measured in pounds per square inch, or psi. The recommended pressure level is usually listed in the owner's manual.

Changes in the air temperature affect your tire pressure. For every 10-degree fluctuation in temperature, your tires gain or lose one pound of pressure. This makes it important to consistently check your levels because changes in the season will affect your pressure. A tire that is inflated just right at the start of August may become underinflated as the winter months begin.

The heat from friction created by the contact between your tires and the road will increase tire pressure. As the temperature of your tires rise, so will the pressure levels. This increase can cause overinflated tires to blow or underinflated tires to appear acceptable. Check your tire pressure often and stay with all regularly scheduled maintenance with your QuickTrick™ Alignment Product.   Stay safe, have better performance & save some money!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!                                See you next week!!!  

The Most Common Reasons for Uneven Tire Wear!

The Most Common Reasons for Uneven Tire Wear:

Uneven tire wear is an costly problem. This is the primary reason people impulsively replace a tire on their car or truck. Irregular tire wear can be caused by a number of issues.

 Incorrect inflation (outer edge wear equals low tire pressure) 

Alignment issues 

Vehicle over-loading 

Worn shocks or struts 

Tire wear on an inner or outer edge only, shows a problem with vehicle camber. 

Feathering, or patchy tread wear indicates tire scrubbing indicating the need for toe adjustment. 

Cupping, or unevenness in tread indicates worn shocks or struts.

It is important to identify these issues before they become a problem with your tire wear. By the time you notice the tire wear issues, there is a good chance you may have bent or worn equipment, have to replace a tire or two and could have smaller components vibrating loose. By utilizing a classic or pro QuickTrick™ Alignment Product with a 4-6 week maintenance plan, you can make sure your measurements are consistent and know immediately when they are off.. BEFORE you have tire wear issues.

 Have a great week!!

Mr QuickTrick!

Is it TIME for an Alignment?..that is the question! Pt 2

The easiest, most cost effective means of answering this question is with a QuickTrick™ Alignment System.. With the digital features and recalc/zero button, it's is truly a 2 minute check that can be performed and recorded every few weeks. With the holiday season upon us, consider our tools a great gift..


Now.. that being said... If you are a reserved driver, (standard speed limits, conservative speeds for curves, never on the autobahn.. heh!) than aligning your vehicle to the vehicle manufacturer's preferred settings is appropriate.

If you are an assertive driver who enjoys driving hard through the corners and expressway ramps, (pretending you are on the autobahn or at the Daytona 500 headed for first place,,,weaving, duck and run, sliding, you get the drift) a performance alignment is appropriate for your car.

A performance alignment is when you use the vehicle manufacturer's range of alignment specifications to maximize the performance. A performance alignment calls for the manufacturer's maximum negative camber, maximum positive caster, and preferred toe settings. While remaining within the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations, these alignment settings will maximize tire performance. AND can be done with your If you are a competition driver who frequently runs autocross, track or road race events, you'll typically want the maximum negative camber, maximum positive caster and most aggressive toe settings available from the car and permitted by the competition rules.

If the rules permit, QuickTrick™ Alignment Systems are good investments. Check out our Holiday specials on the website!!!                                                www.quicktrickalignment.com                    

TO align or NOT to align..that is the question! A new Series

1st – 4-Wheel Alignment Myth/Fact: These days you usually would not need your rear wheels aligned because you cannot adjust the rear of a solid axle car. HOWEVER, many shops say they will do a 4-wheel alignment because it is best to check for damaged or bent components. Using the term 4 wheel alignment can be confusing and in some cases deceptive. If you have an independent rear suspension, then four wheel alignment makes sense for your vehicle. The best step to take to protecting your pocket book and your vehicle is to know your Manufacturers alignment specs. You can use a QuickTrick™ Alignment Products to check your measurements in comparison and use the QT tool to adjust or go to a shop with the measurements and let them know you know what you are talking about and want your alignment within the specs (NOT THE RANGE), the exact specs. Many shops today will align your vehicle to fall within the specs range. I know if I were paying for an alignment, I would want the job done completely. I am sure they are not offering me a price range from just ok to perfect, so I require the job be done right and it always feels good to let a tech know you have the means and the knowledge to verify the alignment. When it comes to routine maintenance and repair, many people have been taken advantage of and harbor a deep mistrust for the industry. Treat your mechanic like you would you babysitter… shop around and find one of the great ones..There are more good than bad! Check us out at www.quicktrickalignment.com Have a great week! Mr QuickTrick™

Common Misconceptions on Wheel Alignment

A common misconception about poor alignment is that it causes shaking while you drive. Shaking or vibration, while driving, is often caused by a worn-out tire that is out of round, or unbalanced tires. Worn tires may initially be a result of an alignment problem, but the shaking itself is because of the condition of the tires, not the alignment itself. You can avoid this problem by a routine 6 week maintenance plan with your QuickTrick™ Alignment Product. Simply mark your calendar to do a quick measurement on each side of the front end every 30 days to 6 weeks. As a result, you will identify the issue before it becomes a a costly problem. Knowledge is not only power, it is also penny-wise. Visit our Ebay Store or Website at Alignment Simple Solutions. Next week we will go deeper into the terms and definitions surrounding Wheel Alignment! Have a great week! Mr QuickTrick

Series - Symptoms of Alignment Problems (cont)

Tire Wear • One of the most obvious symptoms of an incorrect alignment is tire wear. The camber as well as toe can affect your tire wear. • Toe-in is the distance between the front edge of the two front tires and the back end of the two front tires. When the tires are misaligned, with regard to toe-in or camber, then it causes areas of the tire to be overused and results in a shorter tire life. Excessively worn out treads on the outside of a tire can mean the camber is too positive, or there is too much toe-in. Inside wear indicates the opposite alignment problem with possible negative camber and/or misaligned toe out. • All of these symptoms can be measured with the QuickTrick™ Toe Alignment Products. More FAQ’s and the QuickTrickaPedia can be found on our website. Next week we will review common misconceptions

Weekly Installment on Symptoms of alignment issues - Wandering

• An inadequately aligned car may pull to one side because of camber, it can also have other steering problems because of caster. • Caster is the angle of the steering pivot. When viewed from the side, the caster may cause the steering pivot to lean back or forward. • If the steering pivot is too negative the car may wander on the road while you drive. This makes steering in a straight line a constant battle. If it is positioned too far forward, or positive, it could make the steering jerky and too stiff. • Caster, Camber & Toe can be measured with QuickTrick™ Alignment Products that include the caster/camber gauge and setup. You can visit the website for more tips and how to’s in Alignment 101 & QuickTrickapedia at www.quicktrickalignment.com.

Signs that you need an Alignment! Back to Basics

A car's alignment refers to how the angles of the wheels are adjusted. When a mechanic performs an alignment, he adjusts the angle of the wheels to the proper angle to the ground and to one another. Knowing when you need an alignment may not be obvious, but it is an important part of vehicle maintenance. Bad alignment can result in premature tire wear and steering problems. Over the next few weeks, we will explore different symptoms & signs that reflect a poor alignment. The most obvious sign is listed below: Pulling To One Side If your car is drifting to the center of the road or towards the shoulder, then you could have an alignment problem. You may find yourself continually applying pressure to the wheel to keep the car moving straight. The reason a car pulls to one side is usually due to the camber of the wheels. Camber refers to the angle at which the wheels are lined up with the road. If you are looking at the wheels from the front of the car, the tops of the tires may be pointing inward or outward. If they are closer at the top than at the bottom, then you have negative camber. If the top of the tire is leaning outward, this is positive camber. The slightest wrong adjustment in camber will cause the car to veer to one side or the other. Correcting this alignment issue should keep your car rolling straight ahead. As usual, this measurement can be easily calculated in minutes with the QuickTrick™ Alignment Products. Look for us next week when we review “Wandering”. Have a great week! Mr QuickTrick™ www.quicktrickalignment.com