Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[wheels-inmotion]

Various methods are described to encourage you to resolve tyre wear or handling issues, additionally members in forums are keen to advise but often fall victim to the same miss-information, read carefully and stay ahead of 'alignment the big con'

Tracking/Alignment
Is linear, this measurement shows no concern for any other angle. This form of measurement is the most common in the World and the most damaging.
Angles measured 1

Four wheel Alignment
Uses the rear wheels as a scale to centre the steering rack.... then the front toe..... this is better but is assuming the rear is centred.
Angles measured 2

Four wheel Laser Alignment
Same as above.... be wise!

Geometry/Primary
Will image the exact rear centre line to permit a centred steering wheel.. additionally the front and rear camber positions will be measured. This is the most common form of Geometry and i consider this as 'basic'
Angles measured 8

Full Geometry/primary and Secondary
Is absolute but harder to understand. Few places even with the equipment measure the Secondary angles, these include...
Castor
KPI/SJI/SAI
Scrub radius
included angle
TOOT/Ackerman
Delta curve
and so on

Most areas that involve rapid tyre wear or handling issues need to be read from the 'Secondary' data, even more important if the car has been modified or for diagnostics after an accident.
Angles measured 15+

Not easy reading indeed, millions of pounds change hands every day for 'Alignment', a need to be wise could save you £ssss

One more thing to make the 'blood boil'.. The Primary and secondary Geometry has a customer destination?

1: Primary is the 'dumb' customer version
2: Secondary is with held unless requested and named the 'Technicians version.

[TheBoy]

Welcome Wheels-InMotion - we're really please to have you here

For those that don't know, wheels-inmotion (http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk) is a free information site on alignment, and well worth a read.

The guy behind it is who I personally use to align my car, and is based in Watford, North London.  I can thoroughly recommend him - my car is now a different car, handling is much 'sharper' and tyre wear is dramatically reduced.

If you are not too far from Watford, I would thoroughly recommend then to do your alignment.  And don't forget to mention Omega Owners for a discount

[Markjay]

Good to see you here, Wheels-InMotion! Which reminds me I need to give you a call to arrange the 2,000 mile check.

And for any newbies out there - STS Watford is the place to go and Tony is the man to see!

[Markie]

a right good read that  

bit fa for me to go though  

welcome wheels-inmotion

[Craig_R]

Yep Popped into see Toni yesterday to get my alignment done lucky for me I just moved to watford and STS Watford is one Road away.

Told Toni about this Forum Yesterday.

Oooo Do you get a Free 2000 Mile Check on wheel Alignment or is that just the full works you get a free check.

Craig

[MadOnVaux]

TOOT/Ackerman

 There is deffinately a female porn star with that name...must be.  

 Informative thread mate

[itisme]

A very interesting read.  
My car before last, a Senator, was very heavy on tyres. When my local tyre centre installed “4 wheel tracking” they found that both rear wheels were steering to the left.
Tyre wear was much better after this was sorted. How much better could it have been with a proper geometry set-up?
Now, all I need is a trusted centre in or near Northampton.
Can anybody recommend somewhere?

[philayl]

Hi Wheels-In-Motion, very informative read. Does anyone know of someone on the Wirral who can provide the same service, Watford is a bit too far to go. I know the Vauxhall agent can do this, but I have no confidence in their muppets.

[TheBoy]

Now, all I need is a trusted centre in or near Northampton.
Can anybody recommend somewhere?

Watford isn't that far

[TheBoy]

Hi Wheels-In-Motion, very informative read. Does anyone know of someone on the Wirral who can provide the same service, Watford is a bit too far to go. I know the Vauxhall agent can do this, but I have no confidence in their muppets.

The Wheels-InMotion website (http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk) has a few trusted centres, have a gander at the site...

[itisme]

Now, all I need is a trusted centre in or near Northampton.
Can anybody recommend somewhere?

Watford isn't that far

54 miles from where I live. Not the other side of the moon, but a long to go to get your tracking done.
And it's inside the M25, Scary!!! [smiley=undecided.gif]

[TheBoy]

I'm in Brackley, so about 70m from me, but worth it for me...

[Taxi_Driver]

It seems gone are the days where an 'old pro'....just used to give the steering a tweak.

I use a tyre place that the boss, didnt change the tyres himself....he'd been doing it for donkey years and think it was getting a bit too much for him.

However when i took a car in there once for new fronts as one had been scuffing (nearside and outside edge).....most tyre places especially in Swindon, blame the amount of roundabouts for it.
But when i showed him the tyre.....he got one of crew to take the wheel off....and out came some spanners....dunno what he adjusted....but when the new fronts were fitted....no more scuffing  

I guess years of knowing what to adjust and by how much......did the trick.

Unfortunately he retired about six months ago and the guys that took over even tho they were the same that worked with him......dont do this anymore!  

They now suggest a wheel alignment centre in Swindon....which i think costs £70 for a 4 wheel laser alignment.

Not that im knocking laser/computer alignment etc as im sure its far more accurate.......but i reckon....that was customer service....and a lot cheaper  

And if Tony was in Swindon! I would take mine there to have them checked, going by the great references he gets.....well i would my Omega coz i drive it with care.....wouldnt bother with the others....they're rented out....need i say more!!

Cheers

[wheels-inmotion]

It seems gone are the days where an 'old pro'....just used to give the steering a tweak.

I use a tyre place that the boss, didnt change the tyres himself....he'd been doing it for donkey years and think it was getting a bit too much for him.

However when i took a car in there once for new fronts as one had been scuffing (nearside and outside edge).....most tyre places especially in Swindon, blame the amount of roundabouts for it.
But when i showed him the tyre.....he got one of crew to take the wheel off....and out came some spanners....dunno what he adjusted....but when the new fronts were fitted....no more scuffing  

I guess years of knowing what to adjust and by how much......did the trick.

Unfortunately he retired about six months ago and the guys that took over even tho they were the same that worked with him......dont do this anymore!  

They now suggest a wheel alignment centre in Swindon....which i think costs £70 for a 4 wheel laser alignment.

Not that im knocking laser/computer alignment etc as im sure its far more accurate.......but i reckon....that was customer service....and a lot cheaper  

And if Tony was in Swindon! I would take mine there to have them checked, going by the great references he gets.....well i would my Omega coz i drive it with care.....wouldnt bother with the others....they're rented out....need i say more!!

Cheers

First i must say Thank You team for the warm welcome, Second i warn you this field is complicated but vital to the Omega Geometrically so if you want to pursue this area i am more than willing to accommodate

The reason for this post within a quote is 'Laser Alignment' is not what it says on the box?... laser only measures straight lines this will not allow for the camber positions.... in truth the camber curve on the Omega is an issue, we can explore this later if you like?..... anyhoo thank's team for the warm welcome.

[mar892ree]

Tony, i have sent you a PM mate

Mark