geometry check
Discussion
hi guys i have just enquired about a geo check at a good local tuners (power station) as will b needing new tires v soon but was a bit shocked at the price £70 plus VAT per hour and will take 2-3 hours is this about right???? P.S any ideas why the plus sign dosent show up in the preview.
yep - its usually about £70 for the geo check and then hourly rate for any adjustments...its quite time consuming. I did mine myself last time (free use of geo rig at local place) and it took me 4 hours mucking around...that did include corner weighting though
Make sure they give you a print out before and after so you can see what they have done
Make sure they give you a print out before and after so you can see what they have done
cheers mate is it worth doing, i am getting a bit of steering wheel wobble when over 70 ish so got the fronts balanced but the guy doing it said will help but new tyres is the only real cure. The fronts have worn in the inside edge and the rears in the middle he seems to think this is normal wear pattern for the elise???? also what tyre pressures should i be running got advans 195/225
75pounds? thats almost 104euro's and I thought Holland is going nuts
its cheaper at most garage's I think...
The BMW dealer around here asks almost 100,-euro per hour(to expensive I think)
So mostly I go to other garage's and ask what it cost, a nomal garage ask around 50,-euro per hour and thats where I can live with
I did a quik search and a geometry check and workout cost by most tirecenters around 50,-euro(34,-gbp) all in!...so ask around for a good worksman and low cost
GTRene
>> Edited by GTRene on Monday 6th March 12:31
thats almost 104euro's and I thought Holland is going nuts its cheaper at most garage's I think... The BMW dealer around here asks almost 100,-euro per hour(to expensive I think)
So mostly I go to other garage's and ask what it cost, a nomal garage ask around 50,-euro per hour and thats where I can live with
I did a quik search and a geometry check and workout cost by most tirecenters around 50,-euro(34,-gbp) all in!...so ask around for a good worksman and low cost
GTRene
>> Edited by GTRene on Monday 6th March 12:31
hi guys just a quick update, local tyre place can do it (4 wheel alighnment) check is free than goeas up to £50 ish depending on what needs adjustment. on that note has any one got the figures for a standerd s1 just in case (the garage said might help IF not all figures on machine. They seemed to know a bike about the elise as told me about tyre size upgrade and where the locking wheel nut thing was 
Is a full geo check different to above as seems ALOT cheeper. I just don't want to ruin £450 worth of new tyres
Is a full geo check different to above as seems ALOT cheeper. I just don't want to ruin £450 worth of new tyres
yes its worth doing - I have my car done every 6 months...why drive an Elise thats not set-up properly?...at best it will be sub-standard at worst it could be dangerous.
Having a full geometry check is not the same as 'getting the tracking done' at Kwik-Fit ....everything is adjustable on an Elise and needs to be set-up differently depending on what tyres/suspension/model you have and how you use it.
Goto somewhere that are experienced with Elises and tell them how you use it and they will recommend a geo set-up....most Elise specialists will be able to tell you the toe/camber settings for all standard models from memory and recommend alternatives
Most places will give you a print out of the current settings, then recommend the adjustments...you may be lucky...if its not far out then another hours labour should cover it - if its way out then another 2 hours...if you need ride height also then longer etc...for a full geo, ride height and corner weight you are looking at 4 hours at least.
Ive done it myself on my own car using a laser alignment rig etc and its very time consuming to get it right.....
and you are right - if your tyres are wearing strange then you dont want to be carrying on as you are - its false economy.
Having a full geometry check is not the same as 'getting the tracking done' at Kwik-Fit ....everything is adjustable on an Elise and needs to be set-up differently depending on what tyres/suspension/model you have and how you use it.
Goto somewhere that are experienced with Elises and tell them how you use it and they will recommend a geo set-up....most Elise specialists will be able to tell you the toe/camber settings for all standard models from memory and recommend alternatives
Most places will give you a print out of the current settings, then recommend the adjustments...you may be lucky...if its not far out then another hours labour should cover it - if its way out then another 2 hours...if you need ride height also then longer etc...for a full geo, ride height and corner weight you are looking at 4 hours at least.
Ive done it myself on my own car using a laser alignment rig etc and its very time consuming to get it right.....
and you are right - if your tyres are wearing strange then you dont want to be carrying on as you are - its false economy.
of - by the way - the Elise wont even fit on the ramps in most tyre places like Kwik fit etc.........
goto
www.plansmotorsport.co.uk
www.sinclairebodyshop.co.uk
www.maidstonesportscars.co.uk
or other good Lotus specialist
goto
www.plansmotorsport.co.uk
www.sinclairebodyshop.co.uk
www.maidstonesportscars.co.uk
or other good Lotus specialist
there seem to be a lot of happy customers who get the full geo done by horizon motorsport who are a lotus specialist. price seems to be 70-90 quid from what i recall.
www.horizonmotorsport.co.uk/
down south 150 is what i paid last time
i agree that the tyre place probably isnt the full works
www.horizonmotorsport.co.uk/
down south 150 is what i paid last time
i agree that the tyre place probably isnt the full works
Yes it probably got knocked out by the first pot hole Definetly get it done.
When properley set up it makes amassive difference to the handling of the car. Out of the factory my Exige was just not "together" in the twisty stuff and a trip trip to Sinclaires for Geo transformed it. i asked them to dial out the understeer and make the turn in very sharp as I like it that way - et voila!
When properley set up it makes amassive difference to the handling of the car. Out of the factory my Exige was just not "together" in the twisty stuff and a trip trip to Sinclaires for Geo transformed it. i asked them to dial out the understeer and make the turn in very sharp as I like it that way - et voila!
There are very few people who can do this job properly. Dont waste your time (and hard earned)on anyone who is not experienced with the car. Mine has just been set up by Andy at Westovers. He used to set up Le Mans cars and he is a bit of a genius!. He believs that most cars leave Lotus with incorect geo. What he has done to my car has utterly transformed the car. It didnt feel this good when new.
"He believs that most cars leave Lotus with incorect geo"
yep - completely agree...heard that from numerous sources...apparently they only have 30 mins at the end of production to set them up...so they just end up 'near enough' ...and the factory setting is quite conservative i.e. set up to understeer on the S2.
A number of places have developed their own geo settings to help eliminate understeer.
Your only option is (as above) to go to a Lotus specialist with the right kit/knowledge/experience of the Elise - no normal tyre place will have the rig or the settings...its not like a 'normal' car where you can have a £40 tracking check !
yep - completely agree...heard that from numerous sources...apparently they only have 30 mins at the end of production to set them up...so they just end up 'near enough' ...and the factory setting is quite conservative i.e. set up to understeer on the S2.
A number of places have developed their own geo settings to help eliminate understeer.
Your only option is (as above) to go to a Lotus specialist with the right kit/knowledge/experience of the Elise - no normal tyre place will have the rig or the settings...its not like a 'normal' car where you can have a £40 tracking check !
bogie said:
A number of places have developed their own geo settings to help eliminate understeer.
Your only option is (as above) to go to a Lotus specialist with the right kit/knowledge/experience of the Elise - no normal tyre place will have the rig or the settings...its not like a 'normal' car where you can have a £40 tracking check !
Understeer? - Nope, not on my car!
The geo set up will completly set the car up for your style of driving. It is more benificial than a shed load of mods. Get it right and have the right tyres the realise just how good the 'liz is.
If you want my advice, get some of the new "LTS" tyres the get the geo set up properly. You wont believe it is the same car!.
I will recomend the guy that I know can do the job, and do it very well and that is Andy at Westovers. I have no experience of Sinclaires of Plans but I have only heard good things about them.
gooby said:
A number of places have developed their own geo settings to help eliminate understeer.
Your only option is (as above) to go to a Lotus specialist with the right kit/knowledge/experience of the Elise - no normal tyre place will have the rig or the settings...its not like a 'normal' car where you can have a £40 tracking check !
Understeer? - Nope, not on my car!
The geo set up will completly set the car up for your style of driving. It is more benificial than a shed load of mods. Get it right and have the right tyres the realise just how good the 'liz is.
If you want my advice, get some of the new "LTS" tyres the get the geo set up properly. You wont believe it is the same car!.
I will recomend the guy that I know can do the job, and do it very well and that is Andy at Westovers. I have no experience of Sinclaires of Plans but I have only heard good things about them.
Hi gooby
Thinking about getting my geo checked, i am happy with the way it handles but would like to know that it is right & Westovers are closest. Question is did you go for the standard geo settings or something else? oh & was it any more expensive than what has been mentioned already?
cheers
ps - Shouldn't a geo check be part of a yearly service or is that just wishful thinking?
jake_d said:
Hi gooby
Thinking about getting my geo checked, i am happy with the way it handles but would like to know that it is right & Westovers are closest. Question is did you go for the standard geo settings or something else? oh & was it any more expensive than what has been mentioned already?
cheers
ps - Shouldn't a geo check be part of a yearly service or is that just wishful thinking?
Andy simply made sure that the proper setting were applied properly to the car. I had it done while the car was serviced. I have no idea on cost etc.
What is important is the way it is set. Andy has asked me not to disclose any details but it is very fundamental the way he sets up a geo and I am over the moon with the handling of my car. Before it was a great Elise, now it is incredible.
>> Edited by gooby on Wednesday 8th March 14:37
"Andy has asked me not to disclose any details "
LOL ...so hes got some 'secret' settings that make Elises handle better that no-one else can do?
...sorry...I just find it amusing when people claim to be able/know stuff thats 'special' when in reality its pretty fundamental stuff to someone who knows what they are doing(like Westovers of course ) ...theres no need to mystify it at all.
Did he not give you the settings that you have on your car now so you can replicate it in future? what toe/camber/castor/ride height are you running? is it set up for 2 people or just driver? what were your cornerweight readings (were they optimised) etc?
Do they use a Hunter laser rig (maybe not as you would have before and after computer printouts showing what they have adjusted?) or manual method with string and poles?
there are no settings that are right for everyone and every car....theres so many factors....Plans or MSC will look at what wheels/tyres/suspension/ride height you are running and ask where you drive and how and then give you something that suits.....Sinclaires have a 'menu' of over a dozen set-ups that have been found to work best with particular combinations etc and Im sure theres lots of other specialists who can do it just as well too.
Dealers will generally just check the geo if you ask and put it back to factory settings as thats what they have in the book.
LOL ...so hes got some 'secret' settings that make Elises handle better that no-one else can do?
...sorry...I just find it amusing when people claim to be able/know stuff thats 'special' when in reality its pretty fundamental stuff to someone who knows what they are doing(like Westovers of course ) ...theres no need to mystify it at all.
Did he not give you the settings that you have on your car now so you can replicate it in future? what toe/camber/castor/ride height are you running? is it set up for 2 people or just driver? what were your cornerweight readings (were they optimised) etc?
Do they use a Hunter laser rig (maybe not as you would have before and after computer printouts showing what they have adjusted?) or manual method with string and poles?
there are no settings that are right for everyone and every car....theres so many factors....Plans or MSC will look at what wheels/tyres/suspension/ride height you are running and ask where you drive and how and then give you something that suits.....Sinclaires have a 'menu' of over a dozen set-ups that have been found to work best with particular combinations etc and Im sure theres lots of other specialists who can do it just as well too.
Dealers will generally just check the geo if you ask and put it back to factory settings as thats what they have in the book.
RobC said:
For setups in Cheltenham I'd recommend Mech Repairs, get a price first but probably cheaper than Powerstation and better skilled imho
Robc do mech repairs have much experiance with elises as has been said before they are not your average mundane'o. have contacted www.horizonmotorsport.co.uk who have quoted £94 inc vat which seems very reasonable and looking at their web site they seem to have been working with elises for a while. that said cheltenham is half as far to go so well worth a look, do they have a web site if not do you have any directions/fone number
Any one had experiances of either of these places????
>> Edited by timoth on Thursday 9th March 09:05
bogie said:
LOL ...so hes got some 'secret' settings that make Elises handle better that no-one else can do?
...sorry...I just find it amusing when people claim to be able/know stuff thats 'special' when in reality its pretty fundamental stuff to someone who knows what they are doing(like Westovers of course ) ...theres no need to mystify it at all.
He wasnt trying to mystify it but they are running a commercial business, they really want to be the best and letting some ingreat oik broadcast the methods that have taken many years of experience to develop ruins thier "advantage".
All I can say is the car handles incredibly well and I had to get out, look around the car and check they had given me the right car.
timoth said:
For setups in Cheltenham I'd recommend Mech Repairs, get a price first but probably cheaper than Powerstation and better skilled imho
Robc do mech repairs have much experiance with elises as has been said before they are not your average mundane'o. have contacted www.horizonmotorsport.co.uk who have quoted £94 inc vat which seems very reasonable and looking at their web site they seem to have been working with elises for a while. that said cheltenham is half as far to go so well worth a look, do they have a web site if not do you have any directions/fone number
Any one had experiances of either of these places????
Yeah they know the Elise pretty well, I've had my car done there and so have a lot of my mates. They have been doing race car prep for longer than Brain the owner cares to remember. Good bunch of blokes, they will do any setup you want. They do use mine on quite a few cars as its tried and tested.
Heard nothing but good things about Horizon and thats a good price.
Give Brian a call at Mech Repairs and make a decission, I am sure you'll be happy with either garages
>> Edited by RobC on Thursday 9th March 11:31
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