Cost of tracking

25-30 quid IME to have a proper laser alignment done on the front end at a place that knows what they are doing, not kwik-fit. My local place charges 24.99

Mike P

Avoid Kwik Fit at all cost! Completely useless when it comes to tracking. Between buying stolen goods from a heroin addict in full view of customers - my local one kept adjusting it incorrectly. I got a refund in the end and complained about the staff buying the stolen goods. It was a bag full of portable CD players in those days. I don't think the people are still working there now. Kwik Fit are sales led, so each person needs to meet a target each month. The classic was for women being lied to about faulty brakes, especially if they had a child seat. Then the offers of work not required and offers of finance. My local main dealer operates in a similar way. Service staff are forced to meet sales targets, so to keep their jobs they lie. Understandable, but it explains why so many main dealers have a bad image. Get shut of the crap management and do an honest job and retain customers!

I've just had the tracking done on my old astravan. It had new front springs for the MoT and since then the steerings been all to c*ck!! Pulling off fast or driving over a grid the steering was slip sliding all over the place & wearing the edge of the tyres rapidly. Having used places that either ended up with the steering worse than before or leaving the steering wheel not centred I did a search and came across this site:

. entered postcode in the search box there was a local garage which used this equipment and they did a damn good job. At £47 it was a bit more than others may charge but I can't fault it. Was on the ramps for over an hour & a lot of time trying to free up seized track rods.

Jesus called local vw specialist (in london) and they want £82.50 + vat

*gulp* and they need the car for 2 hours.

I think I'll call round some small garages as that sounds ridiculously high. He made the point in saying they do all four wheels on a computer alignment setup several times so it costs more.

They are talking rubbish it needs only to be done once , most tyre centres have 4 wheel tracking systems now and it takes between 15 minutes and half an hour

Peter smith gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Talk about getting friends in high places to do a job for you...

That'd be why my post says "not kwik-fit", you drooling retard.

Mike P

It cost me 100 to have a proper, four-wheel alignment done on my MX-5 last year, but *everything* is adjustable on that. It isn't on most cars. I don't know anywhere in London, but Chiltern Tyres in Marlow are very good..

Mike P

In message , Mike P writes

Laser alignment? Hmm... That's mostly just fancy Dunlop Gauges with a 'techy' name to impress you. I'd be more willing to pay £30 quid for a go on something like a John Bean or Hunter.

In message , steve robinson writes

15-30 minutes is only if you don't or can't adjust it, I'd be very suspicious of anywhere that claimed to have adjusted *properly* and checked in that time, I'd be concerned that they'd missed or bodged the runout compensation as it's the major thing that gets cocked up by idiots claiming to do 4 wheel alignment (and even with the old Dunlop Optical gauges!).

I don't know what it was called, but it was up on a lift, with things attached to the wheels, all attached to a "computer". Measures

*everything*. Took 2.5 hours to do the MX-5 properly for all 4 wheels. It was *not* the crappy thing kwik-fit use where they do it on the floor with what looks like an old fashioned tracking thing with laser pointers attached.

Mike P

It looked very similar to this, though I'm not sure if it was the same make.

Mike P

Mike P gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Pah. Last time I set tracking, I used a bit of 2"x2" wood and a biro.

It was the hunter aligner that I used and very impressed. As they do the adjusting you can see the actual measurements on screen so at least you know it's been done properly, with a printout of before & after results.

In message , Mike P writes

There's quite a few of them out there. FWIW, most of them don't use lasers and just to confuse the matter there's a brand out there called Laser that doesn't use them on all their kit either! The 'computer' is usually just that, a PC in the box running (often) DOS based software or, in the last 5 years or so, Windows based stuff.

Which is about right taking into account the amount of adjustment that could be needed and the likelihood that things will be a 'bit of a bugger' to adjust after they've been on the road a few years.

Well, my local KF has a rather spiffy and very expensive 4 wheel alignment system that I'd trust it to produce accurate results providing the fitters have been trained to use it properly so not al KF centres are equal it seems.

In message , Redwood writes

Most of the computer alignment systems are pretty impressive, there's a

*lot* of maths and technology behind that screen but the Hunter ones are one of the best.

It's very handy for a technician to be able to see live readings like that but it's always worth taking the car off the ramps, driving it for a few miles and then sticking the kit back on it because bushes compress, spring seats settle etc. when they're loaded back up so your before and after readings might not be as far apart (or as close) as you thought they were!

The printout is handy too but it's mostly BBB for the customer, most customers just look for differences and are happy if they see some.

In message , Mike P writes

There are plenty of similar looking machines out there (there's only so many ways to build them) and the measuring heads are all fairly similar too. Most of the computerised electronic alignment equipment out there work well if it's used properly.

As I (think) I said, providing the technician attaches the kit properly, does the runout (if required), compensates for the vehicle load (adding weights and inputting the fuel gauge reading as necessary) then you get good measurements.

Adjustment is just a matter of experience and patience and knowing which end of a spanner does the useful work.

I'll keep an eye on the tread wear but can really tell a difference in handling compared to before when it was well out and crabbing badly & scrubbed a lot of tread on the front inners. With the contraptions attached to all 4 wheels he rolled it back & forth a few times so the system can make adjustments for any runout in the wheel rims. First place I've had alignment done where they've bothered to place correct weights inside the motor & check / adjust all tyre pressures before starting.

In message , Redwood writes

Well worth the money then, it's probably saved the money you paid in extended tyre life.

Sounds well worth going back to if you need any further work/adjustment done though.