4 Wheel Alignment Specialist

Enfield

Enfield

Enfield

Soldato
Joined
8 Nov 2003
Posts
7,409
Location
UK
Hi All,

I've just replaced the front two tyres on my vRS and have been told that the rears are out of shape.

Looking on Briskoda forums, this seems to be a common problem called sawtoothing. Basically, I need to have the rear wheels aligned properly according to Skodas revised setup.

Does anyone here know of a decent specialist for this in Hampshire/Berkshire/Surrey?
 
Contrary to popular belief having your Wheel alignment on a Hunter machine does not automatically equal win.
 
Enfield said:
I'm a little confused by Joshy's comment.

Help the aged
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Sorry :).

The Align my car website basically just lists places that have a Hunter alignment setup and not actually if the place is any good or not. Many people on the net seem to assume that just because it has been done on a Hunter machine the work is going to be top notch, which really isn't the case.

So stick to personal recommendations if you can.
 
My personal recommendation is Chris Franklin of Centre mavity, based near Nuneaton.

Top man, superb attention to detail and really puts his heart into getting your car to handle like it should.

He specialises in Porsches & S2000s but has done loads of MX5s (just check the MX5 forums) and my Golf GTI (MK5) is transformed (twice!).

EDIT - Plus what Joshy said. The Hunter machine is just a tool to aid the person setting up your car nothing more. If the person setting up your car is a muppet having the machine won't make much difference.
 
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This problem is evident on most VW's, Audi's, Seat's and Skodas - despite what some say 4 wheel alignment doesnt solve the problem, its an inherant design fault that runs through the brands, VW directly blame the tyre manufacturers and they in turn blame VW/Audi etc.
 
TRNC said:
This problem is evident on most VW's, Audi's, Seat's and Skodas - despite what some say 4 wheel alignment doesnt solve the problem, its an inherant design fault that runs through the brands, VW directly blame the tyre manufacturers and they in turn blame VW/Audi etc.
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Clearly wasn't a problem on my VW and I haven't heard of the specific issue on VW forums that I visit.

Vigoro said:
I haven't seen centre mavity mentioned at all really on mx5 forums, it seems to be Wheels in motion that get a hell of a lot of mention there
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I'll find out from a friend of mine who drives a MX5 and got his done by Centre mavity, because it was he who introduced me to Chris!
 
If you say not. It is a very well documented problem on all Passats, A4's, Exeos and many other models such as octavia, leon, A6 and others - a quick google shows up thousands and it was featured in what car a while back when they discovered a problem with their new golf.

Its proper name is Castellation, also known as saw toothing or shark toothing where the inner tread blocks wear unevenly due to the rear suspension not keeping pressure on the tyre/road contact patch and as a result it skips along.

If you dont belive me then ask VW, or ring Pirelli UK or one of the other tyre manufactures, they are all so well versed in the problem that they can gues your car make before you've even finished saying about the problem.
 
Type_R said:
EDIT - Plus what Joshy said. The Hunter machine is just a tool to aid the person setting up your car nothing more. If the person setting up your car is a muppet having the machine won't make much difference.
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I agree, although personally I don't see where the love of Hunter machines comes from.
 
TRNC said:
If you say not. It is a very well documented problem on all Passats, A4's, Exeos and many other models such as octavia, leon, A6 and others - a quick google shows up thousands and it was featured in what car a while back when they discovered a problem with their new golf.

Its proper name is Castellation, also known as saw toothing or shark toothing where the inner tread blocks wear unevenly due to the rear suspension not keeping pressure on the tyre/road contact patch and as a result it skips along.

If you dont belive me then ask VW, or ring Pirelli UK or one of the other tyre manufactures, they are all so well versed in the problem that they can gues your car make before you've even finished saying about the problem.
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I have heard a fair few theories about the cause on the VAG's, most seem to blame the decision to use overly wide low profile tyres on road going suspension. Tyre tread hates not having flexibility to adapt to the surface and a wide low profile tyre is very stiff and more likely to drag rather then deform. Not so much of a problem on sports cars that used to use similar wide, low tyres as the tyre would be softer and more pliable and the suspension firmer forcing the tyre surface down.

We have had a never ending stream of passats coming in with issues eating tyres, one customer who seems to have had some success ditched the standard alloys and got some slightly smaller aftermarkets allowing a higher profile tyre to be used with slightly lower pressures. Might just be coincidence but the tyres seem to be lasting an extra few thousand miles.

This is only one of theories I have heard discussed though and may be a red herring to a more chassis related fault.


Joshy said:
I agree, although personally I don't see where the love of Hunter machines comes from.
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You cant really go wrong with a hunter machine, it kicks up a hell of a fuss if it sees movement it doesn't like and the tolerances are very tight forcing the user to be very careful in adjustments. The big advantage is the real time adjustment read out and quick re-calibration time. It doesnt matter if the guy setting up the car is a full blown kwik-fit special, the machine will tell you accurate info and if it cant it will force you to re-calibrate, the only way around that for a green print off is too force a sensor out of line by hand which isnt incompetence its simply fraud.
 
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My personal recommendation is ME but I don't work in Hampshire, Berkshire or Surrey So you're a bit screwed. :D
 
As mentioned, loads of places have Hunter machines and simply don't know how to use them.

Recommendations -

Wheels in Motion - Chesham - Tony cannot do enough for his customers, really nice guy but charges more ~£90.

Roddersons Garage - Sheffield - no fancy machine but very good and only £50.

Monarch Automotive - Peterborough - Not as good as the other two but able to use the machine well and streets ahead of most. Only £45 as well.
 
I will give you a proper recommendation for Berkshire. Elite Wheels and Tyres in Reading. They have a Hunter laser alignment machine and they know how to use it. Its what they make their money on. £75 and you leave your car with them for an hour or two. Book in advance.
 
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