Wheel alignment woes

RANT WARNING.
Took the Range Rover to ****-fit to get the wheel alignment checked, the bloke say's " aye mate, it's miles oot" I asked him why he didn't check for play in the track rod ends, bushes & ball joints!!! Blank look!!! Explained why he should do this first. Asked him to adjust it...blank look again!!!

He gets his boss to have a look, he took a wee while, then told me it would have... to go to another depot, as they could not do it with their guages and that it would have to be adjusted by computer and (get this) that I could watch how they do it on a TV screen!!! They then tried to baffle me with science as to how complicated this job is and it could only be done properly at a cost of about £200.

Time for some sport I thought I went under the ramp pointed to two pinch clamps, "loosen them, then get an open ended spanner to turn that until your laser light points to that mark there. More blank looks. Get me tools and I will show you how to do this. Did I mention that I am a mechanic by trade?
Specialist computer alignment my backside, my old journeyman used to do this job successfully with string LOL

Rant over

so why take it somewhere like kwik-fit then?

:yawn:

He may not have a tracking gauge. Accurately setting the track with a piece of string is impossible.

Not got gauges anymore, so only went there to get the alignment checked. As for the string method, I would only use it as a step for a hint, as it will only set the front wheels parallel with the rear wheels. It's much the same method as using a true running metal bar or length of timber to accurately align the rear wheel of a motorcyle.

Musicmaker said:

Not got gauges anymore, so only went there to get the alignment checked. As for the string method, I would only use it as a step for a hint, as it will only set the front wheels parallel with the rear wheels. It's much the same method as using a true running metal bar or length of timber to accurately align the rear wheel of a motorcyle.

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Yes it's a near enough method until it's tracked properly.

Musicmaker said:

Not got gauges anymore, so only went there to get the alignment checked. As for the string method, I would only use it as a step for a hint, as it will only set the front wheels parallel with the rear wheels. It's much the same method as using a true running metal bar or length of timber to accurately align the rear wheel of a motorcyle.

Click to expand...

not really you need lasers, its impossible to guess, the set up is measured by clamping the lasers to wheel rims any sort of measurement from tyrewalls is impossible. if measuring front to back whos to say the rear bushes arnt worn which will throw the lot out ask sas1810.to 4 wheel alligne a p38 aint as easy as you think

When I first got my p38 I thought tracking was out took it to a tyre centre and they told me it was to complicated for them to do and to take to a dealer I took it to my local independent and they couldn't understand why tyre centre couldn't do it !

Kick fit are a bunch of tossers (sorry to anyone that works there!)
My old man years ago was told both front wheel bearings have play (think it was a tolbert solara) or some other heap he had.
Anyway after refusing to pay there price he came out and took it to his mate who used to work at kwik fit(thats a story too) and was told on this car there desinged to be loose when theres no weight on them this was confermed by the dealer!

wil2813 said:

not really you need lasers, its impossible to guess, the set up is measured by clamping the lasers to wheel rims any sort of measurement from tyrewalls is impossible. if measuring front to back whos to say the rear bushes arnt worn which will throw the lot out ask sas1810.to 4 wheel alligne a p38 aint as easy as you think

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A four wheel alignment check is not required to set the track.

Unless something is bent or the bushes worn, I don't see any possibility of rear aligment being out, there is no adjustment that I can see.

I used to use the local formula one centre for this sort of thing., but their new gauges hit the ramps when they try to track a big car like the p38!

wammers said:

A four wheel alignment check is not required to set the track.

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I know so how are you meant to set alignment without flagging rear wheels for straightness unlees your after the old mini crabbing look

Datatek said:

Unless something is bent or the bushes worn, I don't see any possibility of rear aligment being out, there is no adjustment that I can see.

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correct keith no adj on rear but some p38s have the back end all over the place ie sas1810sorry dave ps did you finish rebushing it buddy

wil2813 said:

correct keith no adj on rear but some p38s have the back end all over the place ie sas1810sorry dave ps did you finish rebushing it buddy

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They do the tracking on the MOT here, no problems on mine

4 wheel laser alignment only makes sure that the front wheels are in line with the rear wheels. Then the tracking can be adjusted to the manufacturers value of toe in / toe out by tracking guages. As far as I know, there is no way rear wheels can be adjusted for toe in or out, unless the vehicle has 4 wheel steering.

I could be wrong as I have been away from the tools for a few years. I started as an apprentice mechanic in 1971 and have seen many types of guage and gismo's to align wheels over the years, with every one being described as accurate by the manufacturer. One of the first set of 4 wheel guages we had, used lengths of elastic bands from rear wheel to front, with a reading given on a semi circle disc. Then the front wheels used elastic hooked to a semi circle disc to give toe in - out readings. (think string here to follow a true line from rear to front, then think new technology like a laser light)

Musicmaker said:

4 wheel laser alignment only makes sure that the front wheels are in line with the rear wheels. Then the tracking can be adjusted to the manufacturers value of toe in / toe out by tracking guages. As far as I know, there is no way rear wheels can be adjusted for toe in or out, unless the vehicle has 4 wheel steering.

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My 1986 MR2 has adjustable rear wheel toe in/out

Musicmaker said:

4 wheel laser alignment only makes sure that the front wheels are in line with the rear wheels. Then the tracking can be adjusted to the manufacturers value of toe in / toe out by tracking guages. As far as I know, there is no way rear wheels can be adjusted for toe in or out, unless the vehicle has 4 wheel steering.

I could be wrong as I have been away from the tools for a few years. I started as an apprentice mechanic in 1971 and have seen many types of guage and gismo's to align wheels over the years, with every one being described as accurate by the manufacturer. One of the first set of 4 wheel guages we had, used lengths of elastic bands from rear wheel to front, with a reading given on a semi circle disc. Then the front wheels used elastic hooked to a semi circle disc to give toe in - out readings. (think string here to follow a true line from rear to front, then think new technology like a laser light)

Click to expand...

everyone to there own but personally I only alligne with 4 x lasers creating a cube around the vehicle & if steering/suspension components are faulty its aborted with no charge as its impossible to alligne,but maybe I would have saved some cash if id of bought a ball of string:lalala:

9596361]I know so how are you meant to set alignment without flagging rear wheels for straightness unlees your after the old mini crabbing look[/QUOTE]

Toe in or toe out of the front wheels (tracking) has nothing at all to do with the rear wheels. On any vehicle. Using four wheel alignment setups just makes an easy job complicated. Anybody that uses that method to do tracking must have spent their wedding night stood up in a canoe.

wammers said:

9596361]I know so how are you meant to set alignment without flagging rear wheels for straightness unlees your after the old mini crabbing look

Click to expand...

Toe in or toe out of the front wheels (tracking) has nothing at all to do with the rear wheels. On any vehicle. Using four wheel alignment setups just makes an easy job complicated. Anybody that uses that method to do tracking must have spent their wedding night stood up in a canoe. [/quote]

a canoehavent drove one of them for a good 30 years actually reminds me of driving a p38 with 22" wheels

a canoehavent drove one of them for a good 30 years actually reminds me of driving a p38 with 22" wheels[/quote]