Steering geometry. Who knows what they are doing?

[toolsntat]

Well yes I know about Brickwerks but there must be some one more local to Hinckley who understands whats required and can do the job right first time...
Have you had yours done successfully and where?

Any help welcome thanks,
Andy

[CovKid]

Usually folk ask that if they've replaced the wishbone bushes but the simple answer there is that despite the seemingly complex figures, at rest on level ground, the front wheels should be absolutely vertical (or within a knats whisker). I have a sprit level that fits nicely across my rims if thats any good. VW Commercial still know how to do it although at what cost I don't know. Finally theres a vid on Youtube to set up general wheel alignment on a T25.

[pionte]

I took mine to a local ( but very good ) tyre garage , SE Tyres . They had a laser 4 wheel aligner , they put the vehicle details into the computer , it told them where to adjust until everything was in spec ( Toe , Camber, castor, front and back ) ... cost me £75 IIRC

[California Dreamin]

I took mine to a local ( but very good ) tyre garage , SE Tyres . They had a laser 4 wheel aligner , they put the vehicle details into the computer , it told them where to adjust until everything was in spec ( Toe , Camber, castor, front and back ) ... cost me £75 IIRC

Call me cynical but did you see them actually adjust anything other than the track rod ends? or was the tracking 'conveniently' the only setting that needed adjustment lol.

Having the ability to check is not the same as actually doing the job. I might be wrong of course...I often am.

Martin

[fairwynds]

ATS at Horsham, did everything on mine, after a full front and rear suspension refit.
Great job too.

[California Dreamin]

ATS at Horsham, did everything on mine, after a full front and rear suspension refit.
Great job too.

Exactly my point......all newly bushed with free adjusters.....no problems.

28 years worth of rust with near impossible adjustment on the caster...hmmmm.


Martin

[pionte]

I took mine to a local ( but very good ) tyre garage , SE Tyres . They had a laser 4 wheel aligner , they put the vehicle details into the computer , it told them where to adjust until everything was in spec ( Toe , Camber, castor, front and back ) ... cost me £75 IIRC

Call me cynical but did you see them actually adjust anything other than the track rod ends? or was the tracking 'conveniently' the only setting that needed adjustment lol.

Having the ability to check is not the same as actually doing the job. I might be wrong of course...I often am.

Martin

Oh yes, I was in with them the whole time ( I used to put a lot of trade work through to them , so they know me and allowed me to ' supervise ' ! ) I had just lowered the suspension - 50mm and fitted the Merc rims, so wanted it properly set up, they did have to adjust every setting ... the guy luckily was a VW fan so didnt seem to mind too much. It was done 18 months ago and the tyre wear is very even, money well spent... It does surprise me that people dont always bother to get it checked after dropping the suspension and fitting different width wheels and spacers, This can change the geometry quite a bit, and wreck tyres prematurely .

[California Dreamin]

I'm afraid I'm a bit of a 'Glass half full' kind of a person, as I've seen so many corners being cut over the years. Steering alignment does seem to be one of those areas where, due to the complex nature of the work, some garages can try to get away with the minimum in the knowledge that 'tell tail' signs of incorrect settings may only reveal themselves months down the line.
You are indeed lucky to have found someone who in conscientious in their work and values a long term relationship with their client and not just one trick pony payouts.

Martin

[pionte]

Martin , I agree with you totally.... I am let down on a daily basis by people who say that they will do something then either dont or do a bad job.

This particular Tyre/exhaust place has absolutely thrived since opening up, their attitude has always been " yes we can help " what ever the question.

They seemed to grasp the obvious (in my opinion ) concept that the customer has a choice . Before I got them to do the laser alignment I went 1 mile down the road to the local VW specialist, you know the type...lots of bays and karmann Ghia's parked on the front, and asked them if they would take a look, they where not interested, I also asked them if they would look at my Pierburg , again not interested.

So I fixed the carb myself, and made a decision never to offer them any of my money again.

[toolsntat]

So, what to do now ?
There must be some outfits that know what they are doing without traveling that far?

Andy

[pionte]

So, what to do now ?
There must be some outfits that know what they are doing without traveling that far?

Andy

Go along to any place that advertises 4 wheel laser alignment, have a chat to them, ask if you can watch. From memory the computer screen actually had pics of the part to be adjusted , so its pretty much fool proof .

[lodgey62]

30yrs ago every village had a motor engineer who carried out these jobs,day in day out.Now if it wont plug in,throw it away.
Eh when I were a lad!

[toolsntat]

So, what to do now ?
There must be some outfits that know what they are doing without traveling that far?

Andy

Go along to any place that advertises 4 wheel laser alignment, have a chat to them, ask if you can watch. From memory the computer screen actually had pics of the part to be adjusted , so its pretty much fool proof .

Would seem I have a lesser class of fool round this neck of the woods, that is how it was done last time

Andy