Does it really matter where you take car for an alignment?
Discussion
Apparently wheel alignment is easy to do so technicians should be competent and provided you have laser tracking technology all should be well. I never had problems wherever Ive got it done car always seems to drive straight afterwards.
As I've had bad experiences with a lot of garages on normal repair work I'm a bit more careful about where I take it now. However would you say it's ok to get the wheel alignment done anywhere?
As I've had bad experiences with a lot of garages on normal repair work I'm a bit more careful about where I take it now. However would you say it's ok to get the wheel alignment done anywhere?
Depends whether you mean tracking or 4-wheel alignment when you say wheel alignment.
Tracking is obviously much simpler as they are only adjusting toe in and toe out most of the time to get the car to go in a straight line when the steering wheel is straight. In my experience some places still manage to f
k this up, usually because technicians don't align the steering wheel properly straight (which is subjective) before adjusting the track rod ends or vice versa.
4-wheel alignment is a totally different kettle of fish and the cost of it should make it obvious that's the case. This time they will be adjusting toe in and toe out, camber as well as castor. This is more typically done on sport or performance cars which have been designed to allow these parameters to be adjusted from the factory. A decent 4-wheel alignment place in my opinion will ask how the car is currently driving, how do you want it to drive, do you want less oversteer etc. and then tune the values to achieve the desired handling characteristics.
In both cases I would take it to a decent place with a good reputation. For the latter, Blackboots in Chesham is one place I know of that is good.
Tracking is obviously much simpler as they are only adjusting toe in and toe out most of the time to get the car to go in a straight line when the steering wheel is straight. In my experience some places still manage to f
k this up, usually because technicians don't align the steering wheel properly straight (which is subjective) before adjusting the track rod ends or vice versa.4-wheel alignment is a totally different kettle of fish and the cost of it should make it obvious that's the case. This time they will be adjusting toe in and toe out, camber as well as castor. This is more typically done on sport or performance cars which have been designed to allow these parameters to be adjusted from the factory. A decent 4-wheel alignment place in my opinion will ask how the car is currently driving, how do you want it to drive, do you want less oversteer etc. and then tune the values to achieve the desired handling characteristics.
In both cases I would take it to a decent place with a good reputation. For the latter, Blackboots in Chesham is one place I know of that is good.
Edited by Al U on Saturday 1st December 01:46
most places just do an "alignment" so make sure the toe is set correctly as this is what wears 90% of the tyres.
This doesn't really matter where you get it done as long as the tech bothers to do it properly IE sets the wheel straight etc.
a "proper alignment" is a different kettle of fish
This doesn't really matter where you get it done as long as the tech bothers to do it properly IE sets the wheel straight etc.
a "proper alignment" is a different kettle of fish
Ive had polar opposite experiences at the same branch of a national tyre-and-exhaust chain. One bloke was brilliant and clearly knew his stuff. The other was dire not least because the steering wheel was a bit off centre when it went in and even worse when I got it back!
Took it to the main dealer who put it back on track (sorry!). Reckoned the expense was worth it.
Took it to the main dealer who put it back on track (sorry!). Reckoned the expense was worth it.
Almost paid £120 for a 4 wheel alignment which I think is quite above the going rate. I think most places including the dealer charge £70 or so.
Was trying to figure why its significantly more, it was a performance car garage and maybe its to do with their alignment technology, their site states "Our Beissbarth wheel aligner is approved by AUDI, VW and PORSCHE and offers a high degree of accuracy. We are able to identify faults in the steering geometry and identify worn suspension parts".
Anybody know about these technologies, will they identify worn suspension that a manual inspection wont uncover? Would you pay £120 for an alignment on these or is it a bit of a gimic?
Was trying to figure why its significantly more, it was a performance car garage and maybe its to do with their alignment technology, their site states "Our Beissbarth wheel aligner is approved by AUDI, VW and PORSCHE and offers a high degree of accuracy. We are able to identify faults in the steering geometry and identify worn suspension parts".
Anybody know about these technologies, will they identify worn suspension that a manual inspection wont uncover? Would you pay £120 for an alignment on these or is it a bit of a gimic?
It is quite variable in my experience.
Alignment often seems to be regarded as a simple job, which means that it can be left for new guy or the resident idiot to do, instead of an experienced tech.
For example, I've had a chain of tyre fitters completely mess up the alignment, such that the inner edges on the replacement front tyres (on an RWD car) were almost down to the cords in 4k miles, while not fixing the pulling problem despite multiple tries. I'd taken it in in the first place, because the front tyres had worn out on the inner edge, so they had only succeeded in making the problem more than twice as bad.
The 4 wheel alignment places with top end equipment tend to be better, and when I took the above car to such a place, they sorted it first time. In general, if a place is spending big bucks on a top-end machine, they're also likely to spend money on getting their staff properly trained to use it. However, even then it still depends on the quality and diligence of the staff.
There was a huge difference from going to a tyre shop which just happened to have bought a top end machine and sent the lads on the manufacturer's training course; and going to a family run steering and suspension firm, who had invented and built their own equipment for repair and refurbishment of steering components, and had bought a top-end alignment machine to do the alignment part. The former were quite happy to say "your car doesn't have camber adjustment, sir". The latter said, "we can adjust anything within reason, subject to cost of labour and of any parts/installation kits required. If you have particular handling requirements, we may be able to change the alignment to suit."
Alignment often seems to be regarded as a simple job, which means that it can be left for new guy or the resident idiot to do, instead of an experienced tech.
For example, I've had a chain of tyre fitters completely mess up the alignment, such that the inner edges on the replacement front tyres (on an RWD car) were almost down to the cords in 4k miles, while not fixing the pulling problem despite multiple tries. I'd taken it in in the first place, because the front tyres had worn out on the inner edge, so they had only succeeded in making the problem more than twice as bad.
The 4 wheel alignment places with top end equipment tend to be better, and when I took the above car to such a place, they sorted it first time. In general, if a place is spending big bucks on a top-end machine, they're also likely to spend money on getting their staff properly trained to use it. However, even then it still depends on the quality and diligence of the staff.
There was a huge difference from going to a tyre shop which just happened to have bought a top end machine and sent the lads on the manufacturer's training course; and going to a family run steering and suspension firm, who had invented and built their own equipment for repair and refurbishment of steering components, and had bought a top-end alignment machine to do the alignment part. The former were quite happy to say "your car doesn't have camber adjustment, sir". The latter said, "we can adjust anything within reason, subject to cost of labour and of any parts/installation kits required. If you have particular handling requirements, we may be able to change the alignment to suit."
Contract Killer said:
Take your car to quikfit for an alignment, then take it to Centre of Gravity in Brum, you will notice the difference.
It was one of the best £600's ive spent on my S2000.
Most techs will go thats near enough, where as pay your money and you get perfection.
£600 for an alignment did you have mug on your forehead? lolIt was one of the best £600's ive spent on my S2000.
Most techs will go thats near enough, where as pay your money and you get perfection.
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