Seabee Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Hey guys i'm sorry to start a new Topic I just really need some help with this wheel allignment on my Z. viewtopic.php?f=10&t=63056 After having problems with 2 garages trying to track my car it came to the conclusion that the toe on the o/s rear just didn't have enough adjustment to get it within alignment parameters. so after spending ££££ on a D2 Racing Toe/Camber adjustment kit, I took it to the garage today and they still couldn't do it! they only slightly improved my toe with the heaps of extra adjustment these d2 arms where giving. In the end they said they got it to as best as they could so reluctantly I paid £60 for a job that wasnt quite right . Now sorry to go on but to add to the story I noticed my steering wheel was not straight so I took the car back, they then put it back on the ramp and the readings where totally different again on both the front and rear! As confused and as pi**ed off as I was the garage said it is definitely your car and not our tools. It would be GREATLY appreciated if someone could have a look at the print outs they gave me listed below this alignment problem as cost me so far £350! and it still isn't corrected. To say I feel sick about it is an understatment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neilp Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 I don't think the d2 arms are of very good quality. I have spc arms and toe bolts and they have mega amounts of adjustment on them. Who fitted the arms and toe bolts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seabee Posted July 3, 2012 Author Share Posted July 3, 2012 Heya mate me and my dad fitted them on his pit (he's a mechanic) and they went on very easily, they have about 2" of adjustment each way compared to OE spec in my opinion I was quite suprised how adjustable they where considering the car is not lowerd shorley that's enough? Also they are toe arms not toe bolts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neilp Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Hmm sounds as though they have similar amount of movement as the spc. Did they come with extra toe bolts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renegade Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Have you had the car on a jig to see if it's straight. Your other post showed it had a fair amount of damage. Maybe the chassis is out or an arm bent somewhere. Wheel alignment out is pointing that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seabee Posted July 3, 2012 Author Share Posted July 3, 2012 Nope, is it comman mind for my car to get checked twice within an hour with very different readings on the allignment, something just doesn't seem Right. I'm tempted to take it to a 3rd place but its Costing me a bomb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docwra Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Firstly ........ you cant align a car properly without locking the steering wheel straight ahead. If these fools are claiming that they can then it is their tools, specifically the ones in overalls walking round the workshop EDIT: On the second chack, your rear toe hasnt been changed at all ....... unless you have a very bent chassis and have put the arms on at a maximum or minimum that doesnt make any sense Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 If you set up the geometry and drive the car round the block and stick it back on the ramp and recheck the numbers there will be a fair chance that the numbers will be different. Think about it Also if a garage does not know to clamp the steering wheel in the straight ahead position, then I would not trust them with my alignment. Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seabee Posted July 3, 2012 Author Share Posted July 3, 2012 Also I havnt checked it on a jig however where it has had the repair, that side is not causing the problem the other side is 2 garages including my dad have spent a good while trying to find something bent with no luck, the chassie has no signs of damage it seems very straight it's unnoticeable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seabee Posted July 3, 2012 Author Share Posted July 3, 2012 Firstly ........ you cant align a car properly without locking the steering wheel straight ahead. If these fools are claiming that they can then it is their tools, specifically the ones in overalls walking round the workshop EDIT: On the second chack, your rear toe hasnt been changed at all ....... unless you have a very bent chassis and have put the arms on at a maximum or minimum that doesnt make any sense Yea on the second check they didn't bother to adjust the rear again that's why it's the same. All they alterd was the front to make the steering wheel straight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docwra Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 If you set up the geometry and drive the car round the block and stick it back on the ramp and recheck the numbers there will be a fair chance that the numbers will be different. Then why does anyone bother getting it set if its only going to change again? The idea is to slacken the adjustment bolts off, adjust it to what you want, then tighten them back up again, the only way the numbers will change is if the toe/camber/caster adjustment hasnt been tightened back up. Laser alignment is done with the car and wheels on the floor so the figures are what are going to see once you drive off, isnt it? I definitely agree with the second part though, thats like a Kebab house not using pitta bread or elephant leg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 If you set up the geometry and drive the car round the block and stick it back on the ramp and recheck the numbers there will be a fair chance that the numbers will be different. Then why does anyone bother getting it set if its only going to change again? The idea is to slacken the adjustment bolts off, adjust it to what you want, then tighten them back up again, the only way the numbers will change is if the toe/camber/caster adjustment hasnt been tightened back up. Laser alignment is done with the car and wheels on the floor so the figures are what are going to see once you drive off, isnt it? I definitely agree with the second part though, thats like a Kebab house not using pitta bread or elephant leg. Of course you will get slightly different readings as there is so much flex in the suspension mountings that you will never get the same readings twice. The differences will be minimum however a difference none the less. Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Just to add that it's a good idea to keep all your posts in one thread, makes life much easier for people to help you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seabee Posted July 3, 2012 Author Share Posted July 3, 2012 thanks so far guys, and again im sorry Ekona for not putting it on the same thread I just wanted to attract some more attention, lesson learnt though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seabee Posted July 3, 2012 Author Share Posted July 3, 2012 so third garage or take action with something else guys? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jez @ H-Dev Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 The difference between the 1st and 2nd readings are pretty large - we usually see a max of +/- 5' (1' = 1/60th of a degree) Depending on how they use the machine its really easy to get incorrect and non-repeatable results - we've been doing alignment for a while now and usually get it right first time. The only problem is when you have ball joints etc that are worn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seabee Posted July 3, 2012 Author Share Posted July 3, 2012 Hey Jez thanks for the info, yea I agree even the guy said it was pretty bad, I can confirm that i've checked the bushes and ball joints and everything is nice and tight as it should be I can almost definitely out rule that problem, plus the car has only done 11,000 miles :-\ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roscopervis Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 Take it to Avia Auto's Bridgend. Best aligners in south Wales! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ds2000 Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 Or, bite the bullet and drive down the M4 to see the Horsham guys and get it done right, once my cars finished with all its bushing, adjustable arms and coilovers I'll be straight there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gball1973 Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 Why not get it on a jig before spending any more on parts/labour? Yes it does mean more money, but at least you'll have the peace of mind. The pre-repair pictures on the link from your other thread showed a fair bit of damage. I know that the alignment problem your having isn't where the dents were, but, it could be possible that such a bad bump has resulted in a small (barely noticable) bend in the chassis that may have been missed during the write-off inspection Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seabee Posted July 4, 2012 Author Share Posted July 4, 2012 Ok guys ive just been down my at my dads works and my o my didn't that garage **** up my allignment! My car was twitching and just didn't feel stable on the back, when I took it to my dads workshop the lads ther pi**ed themselves laughing at how bad my allignment was, the n/s rear was toeing outwards like a bitch and the o/s had a massive positive camber it was really really bad lol its a shame he can't do it! I hate it when I have to rely on garages!, Also I've been avia auto's in Bridgend last week and Andy the guy who attempted the job last time without the adjustable arms (who I must say was excellent) wasn't in, I've now left the problem With my dad now who has a mate that's just had a four wheel allignment system installed, (wish i knew this!!) fingers crossed he can do it, at least he's not going to charge Me more money! also if that fails my old man will arrange to have it put on a jig. Will update asap, btw place it's going to now is Barry tyre center Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docwra Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 Nice one, sounds like they bodged the front to look straight (rather than be straight relative to the car) and then adjusted the rear from that. Tools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 Take the new readings and findings at your Dad's works back to the garage who cocked up and demand your money back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seabee Posted July 5, 2012 Author Share Posted July 5, 2012 Ai don't worry I will be, my dads works specialise in hg commercial vehicles so they had nothing that could give me readings, you could just tell by visually looking at the back by how ****ed it was, we ended up setting the arms to oe length and guessed the rest... It won't be going in till Monday now but I'm not driving it until then, will let you guys know how it goes then! Fingers crossed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seabee Posted July 9, 2012 Author Share Posted July 9, 2012 Ok I went to Barry tyre center and all I can say is I feel like Hitting my head against a wall, they managed to get the o/s rear to spec (no one else did this) and now my n/s rear is out slightly on the camber, tbh the guy knew what he was doing aswell, they said to ride around in it for a day or so and then bring it back, I'm off next week sO I guess I'll go back then..... Pffft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.