Do You Trust Your Wheel Alignment?

Z

Zeld4

Senior member
 Oxford
I had some new boots put on last week and they tried to do a wheel alignment too. Basically they said everything was way out of alignment and they couldn't do the back left wheel as it had a 4 degrees toe in, and there wasn't enough movement. They also said both fronts were pointing to the left. This is their measurement print out.

As you can see the rear left is miles out. I didn't trust their read out as it wasn't driving too bad and tyre wear was fine so I took it somewhere else and this was their print out.


Totally different but still out. Fortunately these people weighted the car down properly and locked the steering. And the corrected printout looks like this.

It's all sorted now and my car is driving great, it has made a massive improvement to the steering feel and handling.

It's pretty scary that people who don't know what they are doing are messing about with a car's handling and potentially making it dangerous to drive.

The guys who put my car right are Adams and Page in High Wycombe. They were very knowledgable and gave lots a helpful information and I would highly recommend them for a wheel alignment.

But don't go to Carterton Tyres, they've got all the gear but no idea.

Makes you wonder how many other tyre centres know what they are doing.
 
Only ever use a place that uses a proper hunter alignment machine or equivalent, and they will weigh the car correctly. That first attempt is shocking...
 
I trust mines as I take it to a local and well respected bloke and all decent garages like local lotus, Aston and Bentley garages use. He uses the latest Hunter set up and charges me a decent £40 whilst I stand and chat and watch everything he's doing.

Finding a decent alignment place is key for me. I sent my Dad to the guy and he knew exactly who I was..........he really liked the Z4.

Might take the L322 to him in the next couple of weeks after I've picked it up.
 
zagamuffin said:
How do they weigh car and why
Click to expand...
They don't weigh the the car, they put weights in the boot and I think I'm the seats to mimic what it would be like with passengers. If they don't do that you can't get the right measurements.
 
Zeld4 said:
zagamuffin said:
How do they weigh car and why
Click to expand...
They don't weigh the the car, they put weights in the boot and I think I'm the seats to mimic what it would be like with passengers. If they don't do that you can't get the right measurements.
Click to expand...

This - my post had a typo, should have said 'weight'. Passengers are assumed to possibly have luggage... They also put weights in the boot to mimic fuel in the car if you've not got whatever amount it is they require in the tank, I forget what that amount is though. Could be half a tank.

All that said, the place that did mine had it on ramps that had scales - pressure pads - under the wheels to ensure it was evenly loaded. I guess there is probably a manufacturer recommended weight for doing these things too, which matches the corresponding geo set-up.
 
I had a new track rod end fitted to the Disco - They did a full 4 wheel alignment but it pulled left ever so slightly.
The care went back in and they put it back on the system - It steered straight but it just didn't feel right- I had the before and after print out and all was within spec. after 1000 miles it had started to wear the outside of nearside front tyre.
The car has got back in and they've sorted it now - It feels right this time, no pulling left or right and no plucking the tyres.
 
ronk said:
I had a new track rod end fitted to the Disco - They did a full 4 wheel alignment but it pulled left ever so slightly.
The care went back in and they put it back on the system - It steered straight but it just didn't feel right- I had the before and after print out and all was within spec. after 1000 miles it had started to wear the outside of nearside front tyre.
The car has got back in and they've sorted it now - It feels right this time, no pulling left or right and no plucking the tyres.
Click to expand...

So... you're saying they got it wrong the first time (sounds like it)?
Scary stuff here if you don't know what to look for and have to rely on the shop to do it correctly - how would you know, other than for example ronk's experiencing the steering pulling left after the alignment?
 
when I took the car back they put it back on the jig, I got a before and after printout - it had been in tolerance first time . They tweaked it at that time but as I said it just wasn't right - there's no slack and it's only done 44k

I don't know what they've done this time but it's like new again. What does concern me is if it has to have another track rod end etc at a later date!

I would suggest that after any work on steering, that no matter how the car feels, it's always worth keeping an eye on the tyres and feeling for that feathering edge.
 
Ive been told clear view garage in Dorking are good for tyre alignment - have all the Hunter gear and weight up the car properly and know their stuff.
I haven't been to them myself but planning to once I've got a couple of bits done next month.
Was recommended by someone on here a while back.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom