4 wheel alignment

[Heathwood]

Hi all, I wonder if someone more technical can advise.

My Yeti’s in for its 3 year service and MOT with the dealers today. Just received a call to say the rear is slightly out of alignment (1.5 degrees) which they can do as a courtesy but in doing so this will push the front out of alignment, which isn’t a courtesy. Therefore, wanted my permission to do a 4 wheel alignment at a cost of £96. I asked them to leave it.

Did I do the right thing? Is 1.5 degrees significant and will sorting one axle mess up the other? If so, surely a complimentary 2 wheel alignment doesn’t really exist!

[Olas]

the back wheels are not connected to the front wheels - so adjusting the back will not cause any change at the front.

look at your tyres to see if the geo is out, if so buy dunlop gauges off ebay for less than the price the dealer wants to charge you for 1.5degrees.

stop hitting kerbs and potholes and your geo will stay where it is! (assuming you are proactive enough to keep on top of chassis bushes?)

[Heathwood]

Olas said:

the back wheels are not connected to the front wheels - so adjusting the back will not cause any change at the front.

look at your tyres to see if the geo is out, if so buy dunlop gauges off ebay for less than the price the dealer wants to charge you for 1.5degrees.

stop hitting kerbs and potholes and your geo will stay where it is! (assuming you are proactive enough to keep on top of chassis bushes?)

Thanks for the response. I’ve not hit any kerbs or potholes, tyres are wearing completely evenly and nothing untoward whilst driving.

I do wonder whether there’s any issue at all with the rear geo given that, from what you’ve said, adjusting it won’t throw the front out. Dealer scam maybe?!

[james_gt3rs]

1.5 degrees is way out! You'd feel that, and your tyre would be noticeably worn?

[Dave Hedgehog]

i normally get a hunter alignment when i change tyres (every 18 months)

costs around £60

[Sheepshanks]

Heathwood said:

Dealer scam maybe?!

That was my thought. How would they know, without setting it up and checking - and I can't for the life of me imagine they do that. Although I suppose 1.5 degrees is a lot. Perhaps it's obvious - maybe the tyre wear is odd?

It's a fit 'effin cheeky though to do one thing "as a courtesy" that messes something else up, and expect you to pay to sort it out. If it was realy wrong, you'd think they'd just want you to pay anyway.

[Heathwood]

Sheepshanks said:

That was my thought. How would they know, without setting it up and checking - and I can't for the life of me imagine they do that. Although I suppose 1.5 degrees is a lot. Perhaps it's obvious - maybe the tyre wear is odd?

It's a fit 'effin cheeky though to do one thing "as a courtesy" that messes something else up, and expect you to pay to sort it out. If it was realy wrong, you'd think they'd just want you to pay anyway.

Well, yes. Interestingly, a bit earlier I’d received one of those pointless videos of the tech waving a camera phone underneath the car showing the tread on each tyre, brake pad life remaining etc. Rear tyres were evenly worn across the width of the tread (7mm) and across the axle. So to then suggest a pretty significant geo issue is odd. I smell a rat. Unless the wife hit a massive pothole on the way to the dealers that is.

[Sheepshanks]

I might be minded to ask the Service Manager for an explanation. It's a pity if it is a scam - Skoda are regarded as the good guys in the cess-pit of VAG marques.

[ShoooRn]

Whats interesting is why did they notice it was 1.5 degrees out on the rear axle? If it's in for an MOT they wouldn't have been doing an alignment checking unless they noticed potential failing suspension components and/or uneven tyre wear.

I would leave it. Get someone with a hunter system to check it for you if it's troubling you:

https://www.alignmycar.co.uk/

[Poshbury]

The average motorist doesn't have a clue about cars, so, the rip off merchants can have a field day unfortunately.

[Heathwood]

Ok, so now the wife’s returned home with the car, I’ve got a bit more info, as per the attached. Looks to be approx 0.5 out on camber rear left if I’m reading it right.

[thebraketester]

Had that read -0*49” then it would passed..... if you look at it from that point of view.

[Heathwood]

thebraketester said:

Had that read -0*49” then it would passed..... if you look at it from that point of view.

Haha, convenient no? Call me cynical.

[Evoluzione]

I would love to see how they checked it.

[Sheepshanks]

First hit of Yeti and alignment would indicate other Skoda dealers also do an alignment check as routine: https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/453459-wheel...

Certainly never heard of this on VW or SEAT.

[Heathwood]

Sheepshanks said:

First hit of Yeti and alignment would indicate other Skoda dealers also do an alignment check as routine: https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/453459-wheel...

Certainly never heard of this on VW or SEAT.

Yes, I did see that. Naughty if this is habitual.

[stevieturbo]

Drive on, never worry about it.

And it's as much a scam as basic incompetence.

[monkfish1]

Should have put this in the "what dont you like about main dealer" thread.

Nothing to worry about there.

Anyway, how were they going to adjust it? Its not adjustable on those is it?

[xjay1337]

£96?!

I get a FULL geometery done for that.
That's camber front & rear, caster , toe front and fear , tyre pressures ...

My local independant tyre shop does a 4 wheel toe alignment for £30 to general public (I paid £18 trade).

I have used them maybe 15 times as I thump curbs on track quite hard and also do a lot of miles , and never had a problem. tyres always wore evenly.

[E-bmw]

Heathwood said:

Ok, so now the wife’s returned home with the car, I’ve got a bit more info, as per the attached. Looks to be approx 0.5 out on camber rear left if I’m reading it right.

But it isn't actually 0.5 out is it?

It is at 0.5 which is at the end of the tolerance, so it is actually 0.01 out.

That could easily be in tolerance if they resettled the car's suspension.

Nothing at all to worry about.