Wheel alignment

Recently had uneven tyre wear on front wheels (TD4 Auto) - have replaced all four wheels and tyres with 16" down from 18" (was much cheaper*) and now want to check wheel alignment.
LR Dealer says all four wheels must be aligned and wants £150+VAT They did however rule out bush and track rod end wear for free

ATS suggest just front axle can be aligned and is much cheaper (although I have reservations about the quality of advice from such outfits).

So what's the score then? Do both axles need doing (bearing in mind no uneven wear at the rear)? Are there any special requirements for a 4x4 or for a FL specifically?
Is this something I should not leave to chance and just go with the LR advice (despite the cost) or is it likely that I'll get the same results at a tyre shop?

Incidentally the new wheels seem fine - no wobbles/vibration at speed (as was getting with the ones I replaced) although the steering wheel does seem a tiny bit misaligned - hence why I want to check things.

* I will re-rubber the 18's when the recession in my pocket shows signs of slowing)
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Unfortunately, with places like ATS it's just your luck as to whether the guy on that day is competent or not. Best to start a thread asking about a good independent around your area & see what comes back. Good Luck.

There's nothing unusual about the front wheel alignment on a freelander and i don't see any reason given the symptoms why it can't be treated in isolation even though all four corners are adjustable.
The steering wheel misalignment probably means the fronts taken a bit of a knock at some time or previous maladjustment.
Nearly all cars these days apart from those with solid rear axles have adjustment on the rear but don't have a full alignment check every time.

freelanders are adjustable front and back you need a four wheel alignment places like ats kwik fit say they can do it but i suspect it wont be right . google 4 wheel alignment there are loads of specialist about, i used to charge 40 quid for a check and ten per adjustment

but front toe in/out is adjustable separately and will almost certainly be responsible for your front tyre wear...

Chaser said:

but front toe in/out is adjustable separately and will almost certainly be responsible for your front tyre wear...

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if the wear is on out side edge then its the toe thats out had same problem just had front wheels alinement done cure it .if its in side its a anty roll bushes gone .hope it helps

Whatever happened to a bit of string and basic maths???

Mine needed a 4 wheel alignment. Main dealer did it in the end. Steering and 4 wheel alignment I think they called it. The Freelander is slightly different to a normal 4x4. Something to do with the rear thrust angle if memory is correct.

I too went round several ats type places. Several could only do part of the job. Some said they would drive it prior to doing the work, fix it, and then drive it afterwards. If they said there was an improvement, then I had to pay.

There’s also a cock up with the machines that do the set-up. A main dealer will have kit to do it. They will lock your steering wheel from underneath the car and work off that. They use a laser linked to a pc and take 3 equally spaced measurements off the wheels on the inner rim. The cock up with non dealers is the machine manufacturers originally said they could do Freelanders. A press bulletin then said they couldn’t. It depends if they have a macine which can do the Freelander set-up for real. I have a copy somewhere I’ll have a look for it. It doesn’t effect all macines. I also have a print off from when my hippo was done, including the measurement before and after. Both front wheels were pointing towards each other. Also both offset to the left a bit. Rear was no good either.

What ever you do, don’t trust the garages that offer to do the front, then spin the car and do the rear, then spin the car and do the front again. If they can’t put all 4 wheels on a machine at the same time, then something is not quite right.

The £150 at a main dealer is cheaper than if they cock up 4 wheels and you have to replace the tyres. Just a thought. I paid £100+vat when mine was done. Didn’t take as long as they first thought.

Hippo said:

Mine needed a 4 wheel alignment. Main dealer did it in the end. Steering and 4 wheel alignment I think they called it. The Freelander is slightly different to a normal 4x4. Something to do with the rear thrust angle if memory is correct.

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With reference to the original post, this is exactly my point, the steering alignment can be adjusted separately.
No need to have a full 4 wheel alignment check done for a simple steering/tracking fault.
The full alignment would be deemed necessary if there were signs of other uncommon tyre wear or unusual driving characteristics perhaps where there is reason to believe the vehicle had been damaged off road or in an accident.

Chaser said:

With reference to the original post, this is exactly my point, the steering alignment can be adjusted separately.
No need to have a full 4 wheel alignment check done for a simple steering/tracking fault.
The full alignment would be deemed necessary if there were signs of other uncommon tyre wear or unusual driving characteristics perhaps where there is reason to believe the vehicle had been damaged off road or in an accident.

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My steering alignment was only adjustable by removeing the steering wheel and rotating it a notch. It was still out as I tried this. I don't know of another way of doing it.

When I said steering wheel AND alignment test above, they're done together. It's the same thing done as a set-up. I should have made this clearer. They align the steering wheel first, then set the wheels off this. Only if the vehicles not bent due to accidents. If you drive on a no camber road, with your steering wheel horizontal and the wheels turn to one side, your steering is out. If you drive on a no camber road and turn the steering so your going straight ahead and there's a pull to one side, your wheels are out. the wheels are set with respect to the steering wheel. So if that gets moved, your wheels need set-up too.

Well I was really trying to make the point to the original poster that the steering gear, as in the steering rack and it's tie rods are adjusted to correct toe in/toe out which is what in 99% of cases causes the front tyres to wear more on the inside or outside edges. There's no need to interfere with rear wheel alignment.

As for your description of how someone has adjusted yours well they're telling you porkies. The steering rack should be centralised first by ensuring that the tie rods on each end of the rack are of equal length when the correct toe setting is achieved and then and only then should the steering wheel be moved if it is still misaligned. The steering wheel position on the column isn't a reference point to align the steering to, it's the other way around, the steering wheel position can be corrected once the steering gear under the car is correctly set.

Chaser said:

Well I was really trying to make the point to the original poster that the steering gear, as in the steering rack and it's tie rods are adjusted to correct toe in/toe out which is what in 99% of cases causes the front tyres to wear more on the inside or outside edges. There's no need to interfere with rear wheel alignment.

As for your description of how someone has adjusted yours well they're telling you porkies. The steering rack should be centralised first by ensuring that the tie rods on each end of the rack are of equal length when the correct toe setting is achieved and then and only then should the steering wheel be moved if it is still misaligned. The steering wheel position on the column isn't a reference point to align the steering to, it's the other way around, the steering wheel position can be corrected once the steering gear under the car is correctly set.

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I have to admit that it was a main dealer that told me this. I think they call it "up selling"

I was so fed up of if's and but's I just had it done. We live and learn. :doh:

Right so if I read this correctly my front wheels can be aligned independently of the rears?
The car's not been involved in an accident or anything, the rear tyres wear evenly. I suspect it's a kerb job, and that might have thrown it out slightly.
I'll probably go with one of the kwik fit type places and take my chances - if it's not right I'm good at complaining!

Norbet said:

Right so if I read this correctly my front wheels can be aligned independently of the rears?
The car's not been involved in an accident or anything, the rear tyres wear evenly. I suspect it's a kerb job, and that might have thrown it out slightly.
I'll probably go with one of the kwik fit type places and take my chances - if it's not right I'm good at complaining!

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Exactly.......they'll know the instant they take a reading if it's out.