wheel alignment, is it done right?

derryvella

So, my sisters car seems to wear out side of both front tyres, so I said I would get it tracked for her while she was home for holidays.
My self and my father took it off to tyre centre last week.
After about two hours up on the ramp with 2 techs beating vice grips and heating with gas bottle blow lamps the guys just seemed do finish up very quick and said all okay.
I then asked for the printout which seemed to take the techs breath!
I paid and left with the printout (nearly died of the cold and could not wait to get home), after getting home we saw two outstanding RED items, should we be concerned or look for manager/money back?

See printout.

jayok

It's not done right. The rear toe is still out. Not sure if the E90 has adjustable camber, but you can definately do the toe.

I wouldn't be at all happy with that - I'd go back.

derryvella

I didn't think it was right. To be honest the guys doing the work didn't inspire me with confidence. Like i said, they took nearly two hours, they had vice grips locked on to the car all over the place. They used a blow lamp for torch on felt to heat a nut under engine bay!!!!
To be honest if they did no damage to the car I'd be happy, but how do I know what they may have done?

If the car was left as is now, what would be the effect on handling/tyre wear be?

Is there some kind of higher authority to regulate these places?

mathepac

derryvella wrote: »

... Is there some kind of higher authority to regulate these places?

No. I've stopped using these places as a significant number of the guys working in them have no training.

Did a good mechanic check all the suspension and components for wear or damage? Are any rubber bushings or drop links damaged perished or worn? Are the tyres inflated to the correct pressures?

Go to a decent mechanic first and have all the stuff checked and then ask him / her to recommend a place if everything is as it should.

jayok

The use of heat was probably to break loose a seized nut on the track-rod arm or similar to allow adjustment. If you've a UK import BMW (with the use of salt) that seem to seized pretty bad. This also could have been why they struggled - no idea.

In terms of regulation, there is no real regulation of the "motor industry" par se, but you do have consumer rights. But instead of escalating this I'd go back and explain you're not happy and let them try to resolve the siutation first.

To get a good alignment is Ireland seems pretty hard and your alignment will only be as good a the technican using the equipment. You need to find someone near you. Personally I've only had success with a place in Dublin and Carlow(!).

If alignment is out, you affect the handling of the car, introduce unusual (possibly excessive) tyre wear, etc. In reality it should be within specification. The drive may see this with the steering off centre or the car pulling, or similar. As I said personally, I wouldn't be happy, with it.

derryvella

I understand why they needed to use heat to loosen a nut, but its the equipment they used seems a bit rough? A parasene lamp or oxi-cetalyne would seem more controllable?

I will defiantly hold the printout and show it to the tyre centre owner when we next meet.

Is there any online directory that gives a feedback system to show how good/bad these places are? Seems like something like this would "encourage" a higher level of care by these people? A kind of name and shame for the shoddy performers??

Paddy@CIRL

In fairness the toe is only slightly outside tolerances. By rights, when tracking an E90 you're meant to track them with a full tank of fuel and the simulated weight of a driver and three passengers. I got mine done by WKD Imports in Carlow, done a great job and was very thorough.

Syllabus.

having seen the results of monkeys heating track/tie rods to loosen bolt as part of my training on suspension and wheel alignment I would be having the car checked over by a mechanic to see whether those monkeys need to replace your rods.

the ball joint in the track rod sits and rotates on a thin piece of nylon(usually) heat travels as we all know and nylon melts....


realistically the track/tie rods needed to be replaced and the tracking done correctly

also, the rear camber adjustment on those yokes can be a nightmare!