Where do you get your wheel alignment done?

tsobo

tsobo

tsobo

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Just been into kwik fit for free wheel alignment check and low and behold, they said it needs doing. Where would you recommend please, I'm in the East anglia area.
 
Anywhere with a Hunter laser alignment machine and will give you before and after print outs would be my choice. The local place I use charges £22 per adjustment.
 
panthro said:
Anywhere with a Hunter laser alignment machine and will give you before and after print outs would be my choice. The local place I use charges £22 per adjustment.
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That sounds very cheap, is it for all fours, as kwik fit are charging £69!
 
I just realised I made an error, it's £33 per adjustment and it's for all 4 wheels. Fine for most cars but my X5 has flipping loads of adjustments and it's at least £66 every time I go there.
 
I find what matters more are the people doing it rather than the machine. Try to find some local recommendations.
 
That sounds way to cheap. Most full alignments are like £70+ to do it properly.

You need a place which will get it bang on, not just "within spec".
 
Nasher said:
That sounds way to cheap. Most full alignments are like £70+ to do it properly.

You need a place which will get it bang on, not just "within spec".
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Thanks, that's the challenge to find a place to get it bang on. Will check as advised for a garage with hunter alignment. Main dealer like Glyn Hopkin do they do wheel alignment?
 
I find it difficult to find someone who will actually do a proper investigation/diagnostic on stuff like this - the local main dealers for the brands I use are actually reasonably priced and do a good job on balance and alignment itself but trying to actually get down to the actual cause and remedy it if it isn't a simple balance issue, etc. is another matter - one I'm having issues with at the moment I've spent a lot of time/money going back and forth between garages and having to narrow it down myself :( I think the problem is the two front tyres despite being the same model are around a year different age and possibly there is enough differences it is causing a pull to one side.
 
Rroff said:
I find it difficult to find someone who will actually do a proper investigation/diagnostic on stuff like this - the local main dealers for the brands I use are actually reasonably priced and do a good job on balance and alignment itself but trying to actually get down to the actual cause and remedy it if it isn't a simple balance issue, etc. is another matter - one I'm having issues with at the moment I've spent a lot of time/money going back and forth between garages and having to narrow it down myself :( I think the problem is the two front tyres despite being the same model are around a year different age and possibly there is enough differences it is causing a pull to one side.
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Hmm it is a nightmare. I called my local nissan Glyn Hopkin and explained to then the care was in service just last week, but it appears there is an issue with the wheel alignment and probably camber. The manager has just gone with me on a test drive and he reckons all is fine. He told me that places like kwik fit, will charge you for all this stuff, and as soon as you drive out of there, the tracking goes again. He told me as long as there is no uneven tyre wear, you are good to go!
 
Rroff said:
I find it difficult to find someone who will actually do a proper investigation/diagnostic on stuff like this - the local main dealers for the brands I use are actually reasonably priced and do a good job on balance and alignment itself but trying to actually get down to the actual cause and remedy it if it isn't a simple balance issue, etc. is another matter - one I'm having issues with at the moment I've spent a lot of time/money going back and forth between garages and having to narrow it down myself :( I think the problem is the two front tyres despite being the same model are around a year different age and possibly there is enough differences it is causing a pull to one side.
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The alignment being done whilst the steering wheel is not perfectly straight is a common one. Whilst driving there will also be a slight pull to the left on many roads due to camber of the road surface for drainage, this is inevitable.
 
Scythe said:
The alignment being done whilst the steering wheel is not perfectly straight is a common one. Whilst driving there will also be a slight pull to the left on many roads due to camber of the road surface for drainage, this is inevitable.
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The pull on this one isn't normal - constant drag to the left, tendency to bite left just after the apex on left hand bends and vague/understeer on right bends. I've driven it when it was acting normal and contrast is huge driving other vehicles that behave correctly - but a lot of garages try to dismiss it as normal slight pull due to camber.
 
Ask if they do weighted alignment. If they look at you like you're stupid, go somewhere else until they say 'Of course we do'.
 
tsobo said:
Just been into kwik fit for free wheel alignment check and low and behold, they said it needs doing. Where would you recommend please, I'm in the East anglia area.
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I go to my local Wilco MotorSave. Full 4 wheel laser alignment, £62 inc VAT. The guy that does it is really finicky with it, if it's even very slightly out after he's adjusted it, he goes back and gets it perfect.

Although last time I was a bit worried when the acetylene torch came out for a stuck bolt :eek:
 
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