Wheel alignment with non adjustable track rod?

[Skywalker80]

So I took my mk2 into a garage to get my tacking sorted as it's seriously out after changing my suspension.
As soon as they got it on the ramp they called me over saying that they can't adjust the pass side as it's non adjustable. The guy doing it said he'd had a few mk2s and never had one that wasn't adjustable at both sides, and the solution was to fit another track rod that had an adjustable end.

I've heard that's how they came out of the factory with only one side adjustable, and that a lot of people change them for this reason. But there must be a way of aligning it without changing the rod? Theres nothing wrong with it, so I'm a little against replacing parts that don't need replacing just because someone doesn't know how to do it on an old car.

Does anyone know a way it can be done? Just looking for some instructions I can give the garage to get this done properly without spending any more money.

[JC]

Simple and straight forward

Go somewhere else. If they don't know who to do to then it won't be done right,

And yep single sided adjustment is the norm on some mk2s, my gl was like that,

They set the none adjustable side up on camber then set the toe to within limits then lock the steering wheel in position.

 They then do the adjustable side to within limits.

Finally moving the steering wheel to the straight ahead position.

As I said, go elsewhere - they don't sound like a garage I would give any money too !

[Skywalker80]

Cheers for that Chuff. Trouble is most garages around me are crappy franchise owned ones, so I'm likely up against the same wherever I go. I've tried googling it but not finding much out.

Did read about setting the wheels in the straight ahead position, or with a marking on the rack? Then taking the steering wheel off and then adjusting the adjustable side along with the camber?
Since changing my suspension I've got all sorts of problems such as toeing out on the pass side (non adjustable side) and I know the camber will be out too.

[JC]

Google align my car or words to that effect.  On phone so can't be doing with searches at the mo

Laser alignment and it even has an on screen noddy guide for the operators on how to do the relevant vehicle

[Skywalker80]

Cheers, found one near where I work. The one I went to yesterday was just up the road from where I live, so was kinda done out of convenience. I was jarred off as I took the Haynes book and left it on the alignment page with all the settings, the guy said they just do them to the tollerances the machine allows - so in theory its not being set up to factory spec at all.

Hopefully get it in today, and post back later how it went.

[Skywalker80]

Well got the car back and it wasn't much different from when it went in. They admitted their machine was a bit crap and only gave a small range of figures, so if they put in golf it would give them mk1-mk3, but no specific models, so would just give a range of tolerances-nothing exact to a gti. They didn't charge me in the end as they weren't happy with the job.

I work at a college and we have a motor vehichle department, I'm taking it in on Tuesday and gonna give it a go with a guy there. While its there I'm gonna get the track rods off as I think the rack needs centralising - theres a difference with lock to lock.