Wheel alignment - lasers

[richy]

Remember a couple of weeks ago I posted about Tracking and Camber?  If not- I'll fill you in...

...Got my car lowered, asked em to check camber/tracking, they said it was OK (within tolerances but didn't have figures for lowered cars) but didn't charge me cos no was adjustment required...

...anyway, I reckon something's a bit dodgy cos the car pulls slightly to one side and feels a bit light at high speed.  This has got progressively worse since I had the work done (but not by very much).  Got some new tyres at the same time, and I've noticed that the little bobbles you get on new tyres are slightly more worn on the inside edge of my front tyres.

So, I wanna get all 4 wheels' alignment checked out properly (with the computerised laser jobby).  Does anyone know of a good place in the south east?? I know AMD do it but I reckon they'll be expensive.

Is this the right thing to do?  

Cheers,
Rich

[golfvr6]

Told you it would cost you a lot more in the long run  

[richy]

ha ha. You quoted me ?170 to lower my car (?200 at first!).

I got it done for ?150 locally at a VAG specialist, which means that even after the 40 odd quid it'll probably cost me to get the wheels aligned its still only 20 quid more than you'd have charged (which would cover the petrol to Woking!).  

Even if you'd done it (and I'm sure you'd have done it well) I would have needed to get the wheels aligned as you said you couldn't do it.  However, I appreciate the advice you've given me.  

Rich.

[golfvr6]

I doubt i would have actually charged you more than 100 bar  
Just covering my arse incase any bolts wouldn't come out.
If a garage had any problems, they would have phoned you and asked for more money. Now at least i was honest from the start  

[richy]

I know mate.  I'm not trying to start an argument, but I couldn't just let this lie!   :

Told you it would cost you a lot more in the long run  

I was only asking for a bit of advice.  

[golfvr6]

It probably will cost you more in the long run!
Find a fairly flat road, if the car pulls either way then the tracking is out, a little bit of pull to the left is normal, as thats what the camber of most roads are like (sloped so water runs to the drains).
Buy a spirit level, find some level ground, put it on ya wheels, should get a fairly level reading, otherwise the camber is out.

[richy]

Find a fairly flat road, if the car pulls either way then the tracking is out, a little bit of pull to the left is normal, as thats what the camber of most roads are like (sloped so water runs to the drains).

I realise that - I expect a bit of leftward-pull.  

Anyway, I've found a place near me that have an offer of a 4-wheel laser alignment check for free at the mo.  They only charge if any adjustment is needed.  Might give 'em a go.  Think Rich (of richandhazel fame) has used em before.

[tallchap]

Don't know where you are based, but i've used a place in Slough called Protyre in Ipswich Road (or Avenue).

Have used them loads of times for the race cars I run and they are very good. Give you all the data - caster, camber, kpi, tracking - for the front and rear.

Years ago I had a similar problem to you on a Mk1 cabrio that I lowered. It didn't wear the tyres before, but it sure did afterwards...  They diagnosed that it had a bent front wishbone on the off-side and a bent rear stub axle on the nearside (neither of which were 'visible' problems) but they were spot on so I changed the parts for new 'uns and the car lined up perfectly afterwards! Problem solved.

Think they charge ?35 or ?40 plus VAT. It takes about an hour and they give you a cool 'before & after' print of all the data.

All the local bodyshops use them.

Good luck,

Martin.

P.S. You cannot measure camber accurately (not accurately enough anyway) with a spirit level and a flat road... you need a Camber Gauge which will allow you to measure degrees of + or - camber. I have one if you want me to measure yours, but I would suggest a full laser job is best as it measures everything in relation to everything else. Cool.

[richy]

Cheers, Tallchap.
Even with my novice level of knowledge, I agree that you can't measure camber accurately with a spirit level.    

I want a laser thingy test - sounds cool!

[golfvr6]

You can measure camber accurately enough with a spirit level, look at my post on mk3 section.
You need to use the spirit level on the front panel first...
Set it to close to 0 degrees.
The adjustment for most golfs is approx 0 to -1 degrees.
Alot of people say it can't be done, but it can , and quite easily as well.