Wheel alignment

SaBBz

SaBBz

SaBBz

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
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My wife took her Audi S1 in for a 4 wheel alignment today, after both front tyres were significantly worn on the inner shoulders. I’ve shown the results below, which I’m a little confused about.



Firstly, they got the model wrong - her car is an S1 hatchback rather than a sportback, though I’m not sure if it makes a difference with alignment.

Am I right in thinking that they should have changed more than just the first row? Whilst there my wife was told that the rear suspension on her car is not adjustable - is that correct on an S1? FWIW they had a ‘deal’ on whereby a 4 wheel alignment was the same price as a 2 wheel one.

Thanks.
 
You cannot change camber or caster on the front of most cookie cutter cars. The only thing you can change is the toe with tie rods on the end of the steering rack. That is mainly for sports cars and more exotic stuff. Rear end stuff is mostly fixed from factory for cheapness. A google seems to show the A1 uses a beam at the rear. You should be able to adjust camber with shims if available although an alignment place would not stock these. You would have to order them in.

It never used to be like this a lot of older cars had a wide range of adjustability. Cheap old MX5's for example you can do camber, toe and caster on both the front and rear. You can thank lean manufacturing for that. 50 pence save on some adjustable bolts over 30,000 cars soon ads up.
 
Yea it's a bit crappy. Once the alignment is off on a lot of modern cars you'll have to start replacing parts to get it straight again. Especially the rear.

I'd expect an S1 to be more adjustable, being a higher spec car. A bit lame if it isn't. Also it is likely going to be a different alignment for an S1 vs the regular spec.
 
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Thanks both. Looks like we’ll have to look at a bit of a suspension refresh to sort the other issues then!
 
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