The suspension of your vehicle does more than assist with supporting the weight of your vehicle on its frame. Your shock absorbers, struts and strut assemblies, springs and other suspension parts are an integral part of your vehicle’s overall safety design.
Suspension Services
Wheel Alignment
We specialize in wheel alignment. We are recognized as West Alabama’s top alignment repair facility and stock the often needed parts to restore a vehicle’s alignment back to its original specifications. Our investment in the Hofman Geoliner 790 Alignment system allows us state of the art precision in aligning your vehicle. The Geoliner offers secure clamping to your vehicle’s wheels without touching them. What does that mean to you? It means your wheels will not get scratched!
We offer wheel alignments for cars, SUV’s, trucks up to one ton, limos, and dual wheel vehicles. Our alignment technicians can also align your lifted truck, low rider, or even your vintage classic muscle car. Our alignment machine can handle vehicles with wheels up to 32 inches and tires as large as 39 inches tall. We have the experience and the equipment needed to repair your vehicle to get you on the road safely!
Front End Diagnostics & Repair
Your front end’s mechanical system includes your system of steering and is an integral system to the safe pereformance of your car. The supporting cast of your vehicle’s front end, from control arms, to idler arms, to tie rods and tie rod ends, plus about a hundred more parts depending on your vehicle, all work in harmony to make it possible for you to keep control of your vehicle.
If one or more of these parts becomes worn, you may feel your vehicle not responding as it should when you attempt to steer. You might even hear an occasional popping noise from time to time.
We are front end specialists, and your safety is our number one priority. If you have any concerns about the health of your vehicle’s front end or steering capabilities, please come see us. We will inspect your vehicle’s front end and steering for no charge. If we find problems, we’ll offer a solution with no obligation.
Shocks, Struts & Strut Assemblies
Many things affect how vehicles ride: weight distribution, speed, road conditions and even wind. It is important that your vehicle’s suspension system, including the shocks, struts and strut assemblies, are in good condition.
Replacing your shocks and struts can prevent premature tire wear, provide consistent handling and braking, and reduce wear on other vital components of your vehicle.
Inspecting your shocks and struts is something you can do yourself. If your shocks and/ or struts show any sign of leakage, it’s time to replace them. If you push down on one corner of your vehicle a few times causing the vehicle to bounce, and after releasing your pressure, your vehicle bounces more than once, it’s probably time for a shock or strut replacement. Not sure? Then bring your vehicle into J. Postle Tire Barn for a professional inspection. It’s free.
Constant Velocity (CV) Joint/ Drive Axle Diagnostics & Repair
Constant Velocity joints allow a drive shaft to transmit power through a variable angle, at constant rotational speed, without an appreciable increase in friction or play. They are mainly used in front wheel drive vehicles. Many modern rear wheel drive cars with independent rear suspension typically use CV joints at the ends of the rear axle half shafts.
Constant-velocity joints are sealed in and protected by a grease-filled rubber boot called a CV gaiter or CV Boot. Cracks and splits in the boot will allow contaminants in, which will cause the joint to wear quickly. If you hear a popping noise when you turn your steering wheel, the boot has most likely been split or has come off all together causing the CV joint to operate without the grease-filled encasing it needs. It also means the your CV Joint or other drive-train parts need to be replaced immediately.
Since these CV Boots are made of rubber, it is very easy for them to become torn by routine driving. We recommend having your CV Boots inspected each time you change your oil or each time you have your tires rotated in order to avoid the cost of replacing a CV Joint later.
There are both inner and outer CV Joints on most front wheel drive cars and some rear wheel drive vehicles with independent rear suspensions. Inner CV joints connect the drive shafts to the transmission, while the outer CV joints connect the drive shafts to the wheels.
Drive axles or drive shafts sometimes become bent due to collision. When this happens they almost always need to be replaced. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so feel free to bring your vehicle in and we will check your CV Boots for leakage for no charge. If you are already hearing a popping noise when you turn your steering wheel, we can diagnose your problem and provide you a solution.
We also service conventional vehicles with standard drive shafts and U-joints.