Laser wheel alignment why can't they get it right?

Moanin

I have had my car tracked twice so far in the last week and both places failed to do it correctly.They are both using the computer wheel alignment machine.Both of these places are reputable tyre shops.The first place, when complete (after about 10 mins) I drove away and my steering wheel was not aligned.I went straight back and they put it on the computer again and I drove off and same story.They then gave me my money back and said the Audi A4s are a terrible car to track and that they could be all day doing it and they didn't have the time!So I booked it into another place yesterday and drove it this morning.It is now strill pulling to the left which was the original problem I had as the outter part of the driver side tyre was wearing faster than the rest of the tyre.I think I will be going back to theses guys again so that they correct it.It's very hard to get somebody to do this correctly.Is it such a difficult job?I have checked the pressure in all tyres and it's fine.Are these places suppossed to give you a printout after the tracking is complete because I didnt receive any?

Lex Luthor

Name & Shame them Moanin....who are they?

Have you ever been to Dave McCann in Blanchardstown? Now there's a place you wont be moanin when you leave after getting your tracking done.

The best in the business

BostonB

A lot of places don't seem to be able to do it properly. I think if they don't do it right you should get a refund, and go elsewhere.

VeVeX

Steering position sensor problem maybe. Make sure the ignition is on or engine started whilst doing steering angles or geometry on a modern A4.

Discount Tyres Blanchardstown Id recommend.

unkel

Lex Luthor wrote:

Have you ever been to Dave McCann in Blanchardstown? Now there's a place you wont be moanin when you leave after getting your tracking done.

The best in the business

Last time I had to get two expensive tyres for my car, I went to Dave. Good job, sound advice and a good price too. I'll be the second to recommend him

Cucullan

Wheel alignment doesn't stop a car pulling to the left/right. A car can perfectly straight and tracked correctly and it'll still pull. It could be down to your unevenly worn tyres, worn bushings or maybe your springs/shocks are weaker than they were when the car was new. All these things can make a car pull to one side and you can track it all day and it won't take it out of it. Try switching the two front tyres across sometimes that works otherwise keep your hands on the steering wheel, i'm guessing it only pulls to the left when your hands are off it? Yes?
Have a read of this it explains wheel alignment http://www.anewtoronto.com/wheel%20alignment.html

crosstownk

Quite a lot of tyre fitters that do alignment are quite unaware that most cars in the VW/Audi/Skoda/Seat range need to have a pin inserted in the steering rack before any adjustments to the steering geometery are carried out. This pin ensures that the steering wheel remains 'centered'.

If only one tyre is wearing then it's most likely the camber angle that is out of alignment - tracking usually wears both tyres on the same axle. And, yes, they should be able to give you a print out of the before and after readings.

Guy:Incognito

Where is dave mccann locate in Blanch?

unkel

Stekelly wrote:

Where is dave mccann locate in
Blanch?

He's in Coolmine:

Dave McCann Tyres
Unit 12 Coolmine Ind Est Blanchardstown 15 Dublin
(01)8202221

Lex Luthor

At McCanns, they lock the correct position of the steering wheel to the clutch pedal before the alignment.

They even weigh out all the correct positions of the BMW. Nobody else does this

Moanin

Lex Luthor wrote:

Name & Shame them Moanin....who are they?

Have you ever been to Dave McCann in Blanchardstown? Now there's a place you wont be moanin when you leave after getting your tracking done.

The best in the business

They are a chain called First Stop I think owned by bridgestone

Gerry

Dave McCann are reasonably good, but this is going to their heads. I got basic tracking set up on a car a while ago, and they do know what they are about.
But, they are not willing to do a full alignment ( caster,camber,toe ) on my car, because its a little different, it uses double wishbones instead of mcpherson struts.
I rang up discount tyres there, and they are only too happy to help me out. I'll report back afterwards.

Moanin

Cucullan wrote:

Wheel alignment doesn't stop a car pulling to the left/right. A car can perfectly straight and tracked correctly and it'll still pull. It could be down to your unevenly worn tyres, worn bushings or maybe your springs/shocks are weaker than they were when the car was new. All these things can make a car pull to one side and you can track it all day and it won't take it out of it. Try switching the two front tyres across sometimes that works otherwise keep your hands on the steering wheel, i'm guessing it only pulls to the left when your hands are off it? Yes?
Have a read of this it explains wheel alignment http://www.anewtoronto.com/wheel%20alignment.html

Yes it only pulls when I take my hands off.The tyres are relativley new Michelins with about 15k miles on them.Should I bring it back to where I got it done and get them to re-do it?

Lex Luthor

Gerry wrote:

Dave McCann are reasonably good, but this is going to their heads. I got basic tracking set up on a car a while ago, and they do know what they are about.
But, they are not willing to do a full alignment ( caster,camber,toe ) on my car, because its a little different, it uses double wishbones instead of mcpherson struts.
I rang up discount tyres there, and they are only too happy to help me out. I'll report back afterwards.

they did the full job on mine. It takes them about 10mins to put weights in strategic positions first and they did all the different adjustments. Mine has double wishbones also

shane55

I have a renault megane and I read in the haynes manual that the only thing that can be adjusted is toe in and toe out.

I had laser wheel alignment done thinking it might stop the outside of my front tyres wearing quicker than the inside but as this is caused by positive camber which cannot be adjusted by turning nuts like toe in and toe out can, looks like laser wheel alignment to correct this is a waste of time.

The rear wheel alignment on the megane cannot be adjusted at all.

I would imagine that this is the same on alot of cars ie rear wheel alignment is fixed. and the front wheels cannot be corrected for camber without major surgery

Lex Luthor

shane55 wrote:

I would imagine that this is the same on alot of cars ie rear wheel alignment is fixed. and the front wheels cannot be corrected for camber without major surgery

correct

VeVeX

Gerry wrote:

Dave McCann are reasonably good, but this is going to their heads. I got basic tracking set up on a car a while ago, and they do know what they are about.
But, they are not willing to do a full alignment ( caster,camber,toe ) on my car, because its a little different, it uses double wishbones instead of mcpherson struts.
I rang up discount tyres there, and they are only too happy to help me out. I'll report back afterwards.

What sort of car do you drive?

iwanpa

Hi all,

I truly recommend Dave McCanns as the best in the business I've met since this time. Professional equipment and service, they really know what they do...

wet-paint

An account set up specifically to pimp a website and/or business? This has indeed gone to their heads.

ongarite

I swear I don't work for them but they're a good crowd. He has a set of Polish guys working for him now. You guve them your car and 4 of them descend on the car and have you all finished in 10 minutes and his prices on tyres are good also.
My dad brought my sisters car in last week for tyres and it was covered in mud also from being pulled out of muddy field by a tractor at some music festival in Leitrim. After laughing and pointing at all the mud all over the underneath of the car, they cleaned it all of at no charge.

bazz26

Good God, another zombie thread!