4 Wheel Alignment

[Steve]

Just had 4 wheel alignment... nice piece of eqipment they used.. but the operator was some 18 year old kid.. and I always get nervous when some youngster is doing anything on my car.

now.. i recently had a lower ball joint fitted and I was advised on getting the tracking done... So i opted for no expense spared 4 wheel jobby.

Now... when cruising at 70 ish I feel the steering is alot more sensitive. Sensitive to the point that i am having to correct.

The print out report seems ok.. in fact there wasnt much of a change.

Is this ok?? should I go back and ask for them to re-check it??

[chips229]

If your unsure steve id take the car back and rechecked,you never know if somethings been overrlooked..

I had 4 wheel alignment done on my car last month,i also notice the steering was pointer and sharper,drives more like a go kart...

cheers chips.

[ColinBarber]

Can you post the printout?

[chips229]

I just pay cash in hand,dont worry about paperwork...

With all the speed bumps down my way,it will need doing again by the end of the year .....

Thats what i liked about the LS400,the wheel base was wider than the speed bumps :D

[Steve]

chips.. you knocked the nail right on the head.. it is sharper and like a go cart... was waiting for the specialist to give his opinion (sorry canot remember his name :( )

[MrADeveci]

was waiting for the specialist to give his opinion (sorry canot remember his name :( )

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Im sure Tony Barnes will be on his way shortly ...........

wheels-inmotion.co.uk .......

[Steve]

here is the scan

[Tony-Bones]

here is the scan

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Steve! you are a victim! what you had done was "not" a full geometry? if you see .... .... on any print out then those angles have not been measured. all thay did was measure the camber and toe, front and rear. That print you posted shows "real" bad figures, please dont leave things there!... lets talk

[Steve]

interesting

I need to go back with some knowledge...

can you give me some tips?

[Tony-Bones]

interesting

I need to go back with some knowledge...

can you give me some tips?

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Yes. you changed the lower ball joint, this area controls the SAI ( steering axis inclination )

Why: on the test was'nt the SAI measured?

Why: if the front camber setting should be 5' neg was it left at 42' neg

why: is the rear camber at 2deg 18' neg when it should be at 55' neg

where: are the readings for castor

where: are the readings for sai

where: are the readings for the included angle

where: are the readings for toe out on turns

where :are the readings for the lock angles

and on and on, please be wise......

[Steve]

fantastic... I shall be in there with two smoking barrels!

also the steering wheel is not stright.

[Steve]

I also paid £50 for this and i was on the ramps for 15 mins.. they are usually pretty good.. but they had this very young kid doing it and i was suprised how quick

[Tony-Bones]

fantastic... I shall be in there with two smoking barrels!

also the steering wheel is not stright.

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What did you pay for that alignment?

You displayed real concern with the age of the opperator, can you say why?

How do you feel know?

I think many would value you example.

[Steve]

Past experience of young kids from from popular tyre establishments and it is never right.. they do not treat their job with pride.

As from the report.. he just could not be bothered.

I have been there before and they took over an hour.

I think it was because it was friday and we had that cold snap.. all the rest of the staff were all warm inside and he was outside.

I shall be back there monday for either a realignment or my money back.

[NickF]

I had my Audi done a few months ago by a garage which had fitted my tyres. I didn't ask them to check it, but they did it anyway.

On the way back home, the steering wheel wasn't straight and it felt like the car was just about to throw itself into a hedge on every corner, which if you've ever driven an S3 is not a normal handling characteristic! Ended up getting Audi to sort it out.

Come to think of it, the same company did my GS when I had that, and the steering wheel wasn't straight then either.

What causes this to happen? Is it when all the adjustment is carried out on one side? Lexus fixed this in the end.

Should have learnt my lesson first time i spose...

[Tony-Bones]

Past experience of young kids from from popular tyre establishments and it is never right.. they do not treat their job with pride.

As from the report.. he just could not be bothered.

I have been there before and they took over an hour.

I think it was because it was friday and we had that cold snap.. all the rest of the staff were all warm inside and he was outside.

I shall be back there monday for either a realignment or my money back.

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Good for you, that geometry was as good as a handbrake on canoe. if you need backup get them to phone me 01923 234666 Tony Bones and i will tell them why!

Problem still remains, that report is very bad! where do you want to go from here!

[Tron20]

Sorry if its kind of like thread stealing, but Tony I've got a slight problem on my GS, the inside edge on the front tyres is wearing thin, I'm guessing this is geometry settings of the front suspension, the backs seem to have even wear, but not long had the car. Can you recommend anywhere in the Derby/Nottingham area that can do the full four wheel alignment, without off centring my steering, and actually getting the settings near as spot on, as i don't want to have to keep spending money as i did before.

Everywhere i've been in the past has offset my steering wheel so its not straight whilst the car is traveling straight, and it hasn't actually reduced the tyre wear, in fact most of the place i've been didn't look like they knew what they were doing.

[Tony-Bones]

I had my Audi done a few months ago by a garage which had fitted my tyres. I didn't ask them to check it, but they did it anyway.

On the way back home, the steering wheel wasn't straight and it felt like the car was just about to throw itself into a hedge on every corner, which if you've ever driven an S3 is not a normal handling characteristic! Ended up getting Audi to sort it out.

Come to think of it, the same company did my GS when I had that, and the steering wheel wasn't straight then either.

What causes this to happen? Is it when all the adjustment is carried out on one side? Lexus fixed this in the end.

Should have learnt my lesson first time i spose... 

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Steering wheel off centre after wheel alignment! explanation

Equipment: basic alignment is "linear and can only generate an overall figure, this will not tell the opperator which wheel needs the adjustment.

Design: the front wheels are linked through pivital points that allow "steering", once in motion the tyres will want to be in a position of least resistance and symmetrical, if the alignment has been adjusted on one side, or the wrong side the adjustment will be shared once the car is in motion, this will off set the steering rack and leave the steering wheel off centre

Training: Wheel alignment within fast fit is considered as "simple", and to be true the actual adjustment is, but, the method is two pages long ending with "now" set the alignment, most go straight to the "now"

Research: I have worked in the same company for 24 years so and i have seen people come and go, with some i have stayed in contact, so for my site i did some research with these people still within fast fit, my questions were...

1: How many customers asked for wheel alignment because the steering wheel is off centre:

2: How many complaints do you get after a wheel alignment has been done

3: How do you solve the complaint

Answer

1: "Very" few

2: "About" 15% !!!!

3: Use a more experienced fitter or full geometry

Be warned.......

[Tony-Bones]

Sorry if its kind of like thread stealing, but Tony I've got a slight problem on my GS, the inside edge on the front tyres is wearing thin, I'm guessing this is geometry settings of the front suspension, the backs seem to have even wear, but not long had the car. Can you recommend anywhere in the Derby/Nottingham area that can do the full four wheel alignment, without off centring my steering, and actually getting the settings near as spot on, as i don't want to have to keep spending money as i did before.

Everywhere i've been in the past has offset my steering wheel so its not straight whilst the car is traveling straight, and it hasn't actually reduced the tyre wear, in fact most of the place i've been didn't look like they knew what they were doing.

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You will need to check the "trusted" centres on my site, click the banner and go to the site map, please dont just get a wheel alignment, it must be a "full" geometry if you need any help with the settings let me know....it's all free...

[scatman1963]

I need help with my 1996 lexus gs300 sport I ve had nothing but running on inner bald tyres for 3 years this will be my 6th set is there a specific spec for the gs300 sport!

[Farqui]

Front, rear or both Nigel @scatman1963 ? 

Didn't I read that you had trouble unlocking the rear toe adjusters ? - if so, then mine were locked solid too and caused wear on the inner rears down to the canvas.  I had to chop out the offending links and source replacements (Rockauto) along with adjuster bolts.  Rear tyre wear has been fine since, touch wood.

I recall that you had a garage perform an alignment so they should be able to look up the correct settings for your vehicle.

[Baldguy]

@Scatman - I've just had my GS430 Sport alignment done at a very good garage where I live in Berkshire, it took them ages as they needed to heat parts gently to free them off. They also changed the main rear arms on the front both sides and after alignment its now perfect. One of the the previous owners put BC coilovers on it and probably run it on a hard setting as I'm now gathering a collection of all arms front and back for a full refresh. I've used Tony for 2 of my other cars and what this guy knows is amazing, its a bit of a drive for me to get to him but 1000000% worth every penny...