Any decent garage for subframe and geometry alignment in Laois-Kildare area?

juanchoja

Hi There,

My Ford Mondeo 2008 Diesel is turning to much to the left. it just passed the NCT, but in my opinion it's bending way to much to the left. I have done a laser alignment locally, but no improvements.

The man in the garage told me that the roads are by nature bent to the left so the car would never go straight, which is a lie. I'm 32, not 17... Plus, I made a quick test late at night in my local road going home, I actually drove to the right side for a few seconds to see if my car would bend right, as the mechanic said, the roads are bent. but my car just kept straight and even a bit slightly bending to the left...

Any help would be appreciated.

Nissan doctor

Do you have the same tyres all round or at least the same on each axle?

And did you have full front and rear wheel alignment checked/done?

Mycroft H

juanchoja wrote: »

Hi There,

My Ford Mondeo 2008 Diesel is turning to much to the left. it just passed the NCT, but in my opinion it's bending way to much to the left. I have done a laser alignment locally, but no improvements.

The man in the garage told me that the roads are by nature bent to the left so the car would never go straight, which is a lie. I'm 32, not 17... Plus, I made a quick test late at night in my local road going home, I actually drove to the right side for a few seconds to see if my car would bend right, as the mechanic said, the roads are bent. but my car just kept straight and even a bit slightly bending to the left...

Any help would be appreciated.

Good roads are designed to slope from the centre to the left so that pools of water should not gather in the centre of the road but rather run off into the verge. Well thats how its supposed to work in theory, there are plenty of roads that defy this.

After what ND said but a silly question but your tyres are not significantly deflated relative to each other? Track rod ends, steering linkages?

gyppo

I had an '05 mondeo for 5 years, and for the first 2 years I had it, this same problem drove me mad. Had the steering geometry checked and alignment done several times to no avail.

The garage I bought it off had fitted a new set of Kuhmo tyres during the sale. When they wore out, I put Continental tyres on all round. Problem vanished!!

Yawns

As others have said. Most roads should slope ever so gently. It's so that rain water can run off into the verge rather than gather in pools on the road its self. This is what your mechanic must have been talking about. Not all roads are done this way but they should be.

Again I would also think it's your tyres affecting you more than the road. Take a look at the tyres and what kind of grip is left on them. One side might be more worn than the other. I noticed by car doing it when I bought mine but when I changed the tyres I got 4 decent premium tyres on and no problems whatsoever.

juanchoja

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Do you have the same tyres all round or at least the same on each axle?

And did you have full front and rear wheel alignment checked/done?

I have all 4 tyres the same brand NANKANG. The car was fully tracked when I bought it last September and the tyres are not worn. My car just passed the NCT last Friday. This is why I don't understand.

I have driven other cars and they don't go as much to the left as my car. it happens in all roads, the M7 and around town, and also in Dublin.

Merch

juanchoja wrote: »

I have all 4 tyres the same brand NANKANG. The car was fully tracked when I bought it last September and the tyres are not worn. My car just passed the NCT last Friday. This is why I don't understand.

I have driven other cars and they don't go as much to the left as my car. it happens in all roads, the M7 and around town, and also in Dublin.

I'd say that might be a is the contributing factor :eek:

I'm not proclaiming myself to be an expert, but might be worth changing the tyres for a new set, maybe even a good set of part worn tyres? maybe you could sell those off to someone that doesn't do lots of miles?
I've had a few cheap Chinese brands and they may be ok for someone just pottering around locally but doesn't get up to any speed and needs that size tyre (I'd mention they didnt suit your car?), but at any speed/around corners/roundabouts I'd go for something else myself.

juanchoja

Merch wrote: »

I'd say that might be a is the contributing factor :eek:

I'm not proclaiming myself to be an expert, but might be worth changing the tyres for a new set, maybe even a good set of part worn tyres? maybe you could sell those off to someone that doesn't do lots of miles?
I've had a few cheap Chinese brands and they may be ok for someone just pottering around locally but doesn't get up to any speed and needs that size tyre (I'd mention they didnt suit your car?), but at any speed/around corners/roundabouts I'd go for something else myself.

I don't do much mileage. I work from home. I mostly drive in town and the occacionaly trip to Dublin. I am the guy that doesn't do lots of miles

juanchoja

Anyway, no one has recommended a garage for the sub frame alignment yet.;)

Merch

juanchoja wrote: »

Anyway, no one has recommended a garage for the sub frame alignment yet.;)

Do you suspect some damage to the sub frame? can you see damage?
I have no idea how much that would cost or where to get it but it sounds like the tyres might be a problem anyway.

juanchoja

Merch wrote: »

juanchoja wrote: »

Anyway, no one has recommended a garage for the sub frame alignment yet.;)

Do you suspect some damage to the sub frame? can you see damage?
I have no idea how much that would cost or where to get it but it sounds like the tyres might be a problem anyway.

At this point I don't know if there is any damage to the sub frame or if it just need a good tracking or track and tyres, etc, that us why I want to bring it to a recommended garage in the Kildare- Laois area but so far no one has given any names

Cessna_Pilot

Checked your tyre pressures properly lately?

juanchoja

Cessna_Pilot wrote: »

Checked your tyre pressures properly lately?

Yes, check them periodically, no issues there, any names? Garages?

kirving

You seem to be determined to have the sub-frame aligned. There's no point in doing that kind of thing if your still using Nankangs - which are rubbish.

juanchoja

Lads, please let's forget about the tyres, can someone actually answer my question? I need a name of a good garage in the Kildare- Laois area that can do a good geometry alignment.

Please, do not reply to this thread unless you are going to give me a name.

245

I find Heffernan's in Kildare town very helpful and efficient. They bring in a guy to do the alignment (at least they used to) so you need to make an appointment for that kind of work.

B.I.O.Y.H.

I have used Westside Autocare in Kilcock. Found them very good to deal with and very resonable too!

Divorce Referendum

If it isnt to far to drive for you I have seen these guys form Mullingar recommended alot on other forums. http://www.mcnameetyres.ie/tyresandalloys

carbon nanotube

why are you determined on fixing a sub frame when the consensus is the tyres are rubbish.

also why are you driving a diesel if you don't do much millage?!

sorry, just cough me out.

juanchoja

carbon nanotube wrote: »

why are you determined on fixing a sub frame when the consensus is the tyres are rubbish.

also why are you driving a diesel if you don't do much millage?!

sorry, just cough me out.

I drive a Diesel because:
1. I found a very good deal ag a Ford dealership for almost the same price as Petrol.
2. Diesel fuel is cheaper than petrol.
3. I bough it for my company, you must have a diesel car to put it on the company's name. It can't be Petrol.

Last, I am not consensus of fixing the sub frame, I am consensus of getting a good referral to CHECK the sub frame. Since you haven't answered my actual question. I take that you don't know anyone or don't want to tell, in this case, then this is not the thread for you. I'm not looking for a mechanic. I'm looking for a referral.

Nissan doctor

juanchoja wrote: »

I drive a Diesel because:
1. I found a very good deal ag a Ford dealership for almost the same price as Petrol.
2. Diesel fuel is cheaper than petrol.
3. I bough it for my company, you must have a diesel car to put it on the company's name. It can't be Petrol.

Last, I am not consensus of fixing the sub frame, I am consensus of getting a good referral to CHECK the sub frame. Since you haven't answered my actual question. I take that you don't know anyone or don't want to tell, in this case, then this is not the thread for you. I'm not looking for a mechanic. I'm looking for a referral.

We are trying to advise you on what might be the problem without you having to pay to have the subframe alignment checked. If the proper 4 wheel computer alignment was done then any subframe issues would have showed up if the people doing it knew what they were doing.

Start simple, just because you have newish tyres, doesn't mean they aren't the problem, just because you had the wheel alignment done doesn't mean it isn't the problem.

2 things:
What where the NCT side slip readings?
And have you tried swopping the front tyres from right to left(if they are the old directional Nangkangs then swop them front to back) and see if you feel any difference.

Stealthirl

Just a thought but you'r stering wheel could be off
You hold the stering wheel strate but the wheels are pointing slightly left.
Iv seen it plenty times before

Nissan doctor

Stealthirl wrote: »

Just a thought but you'r stering wheel could be off
You hold the stering wheel strate but the wheels are pointing slightly left.
Iv seen it plenty times before

Its the wheels that would be off, not the steering wheel;)

In the days before Airbags, you could match the alignment of the two wheels, then remove and refit the steering wheel in the straight ahead position.

Now, you set the steering wheel in the straight position and align the wheels to match. The alignment of the rear wheels also effects the alignment of the fronts.

Stealthirl

None of my cars have had airbags untill the most recent one

Just thought the analogy of the stering wheel being off was easyer to explain then the otherway round

Merch

The idea of getting a sub frame alignment seems to more expensive than checking the tyres/rotating them? maybe you've done all that?
I'm not sure why you would put nankangs on a company car? or any car, I did and i learned (thankfully not the hard way )
I see some posters have supplied a few names in there to call for the sub frame thing/to see if they do it and how much.

Yawns

As above, the main reason people are not mentioning garages are because the tyres you have are ****. They may be new or nearly new, they will pass the NCT but they are a pile of rubbish. New better tyres would be the order of the day tomorrow.

Even if it turns out that that wasn't the cause of the problem, you'd still be better off without them.

Also even tho the diesel was a same pricer, cheaper fuel car at the time, the extra maintenance it will require would fairly quickly kill any potential savings if you only do small runs in it. Diesels need longer to heat up to optimal temps when driving, too many short journeys will mess it up. I know you said it's a company car and you couldn't get a petrol, but I would like to think you are aware of it.

I would opt for newer tyres before a sub frame alignment. Even part worn premium tyres if you don't want to shell out too much. They're a lot safer than cheaply made rubbish.

Syllabus

Merch wrote: »

The idea of getting a sub frame alignment seems to more expensive than checking the tyres/rotating them? maybe you've done all that?
I'm not sure why you would put nankangs on a company car? or any car, I did and i learned (thankfully not the hard way )
I see some posters have supplied a few names in there to call for the sub frame thing/to see if they do it and how much.

judging by the poor grasp of english the OP appears to have i would imagine they are not irish

a lot of tyres we would consider rubbish are well liked in eastern europe


i had nankangs on a car about 10 yr ago at a time when i went everywhere as fast as possible and found them decent



imo

Merch

? While not grammatically perfect, the OPs grasp of English seems ok to me?
I've certainly seen worse from Irish people, which made reading a post indecipherable.

I am sure there are good model tyres of certain brands commonly thought to be poor, whether they are available here or not I am unaware.

In fairness, if I was aware of any places to get the work done, I'd have offered. If they wish to eliminate the possibility and it ease their mind to get it done and are prepared to pay, maybe it will show them it is or is not the fault.