View Full Version : 4 wheel lazer alignment
Chriscooke
01-10-2008, 23:03
Can anyone recomend a good garage that does four wheel lazer alignment around somerset? I can't find anywhere that does it in taunton and think that my car is way out at present:wack:
Monkey Magic
01-10-2008, 23:58
Be careful who does it as alot of garages havn't got a clue and quite alot of places don't do your castor but that doesn't matter unless you have the adjustable arms.
I took mine to protyre in Exeter, they know what there doing...... sort of :wack:
They let me talk to the operator whilst he worked on the car which was useful as they didn't seem to understand -1.5 negative camber , apparently they used a different type of measurement which confused the hell out of me.
I've been recommended to take mine to Protyre too as they apparently have about £25k's worth of laser-alignment kit and most of the garages I asked would take the car to them anyway. According to Protyre themselves, they do alignment for most of the main dealers on Marsh Barton as well. And you can watch them do it (bonus for me as I don't trust many places with my car - esp after taking my Dimma 205 for an MoT a few years ago and seeing one of the mecanics caning it around town. Suffice to say, I did NOT pay them and got a free MoT and service. The mechanic was sacked on the spot when presented with mobile phone video evidence.)
Pro-tyre FTW!
Although i use the plymouth one... and they know they are doing... if they dont know then i get down and do it myself!
i use Pro-tyre too in Plymouth. They are very good:thumbs:
Chriscooke
02-10-2008, 22:41
Pro-tyre FTW!
Although i use the plymouth one... and they know they are doing... if they dont know then i get down and do it myself!
i use Pro-tyre too in Plymouth. They are very good:thumbs:
That could work out perfectly actually as i have to drive a mate down to plymouth for a meeting in a couple of weeks and will have three hours to kill:D Don't suppose anyone has an address/postcode for protyre plymouth? I could always google it i suppose:D
Ross S14
02-10-2008, 22:58
Chris I used Protyre for my alignment all round a few yrs back (in Plymouth) very good all round service :thumbs:
Chriscooke
02-10-2008, 23:09
Cheers mate, it definately looks like the place to go:nod: Sounds like their really is no where decent that is local:indiff:
Here yoyu go Chris
Address:
Unit 1 & 2, Clare Place, Plymouth, PL4 0JW
Chriscooke
03-10-2008, 18:49
Here yoyu go Chris
Address:
Unit 1 & 2, Clare Place, Plymouth, PL4 0JW
Nice one:thumbs: cheers mate
Had mine done on Saturday at Protyre in Exeter. Paul was great. Harvey was in for 3 hours :eek: and I wasn't charged for the rear alignment as one of the bolts was seized so they couldn't make the final adjustment. So, just paid £80 for the front and tyre fitting.
The rear wheels are ok - one is set fine and the other is only slightly out so shouldn't be an issue while I hunt around for some relatively cheap rear toe arms (Bex tells me off for spending a lot on bits...) as Protyre reckon heat is needed to loosen the seized bolt and this may well result in a melted bush.
Anyone got some adjustable ones lying around? Or would it be easier to get some standard ones from a breaker and get new bolts and bushes?
Chriscooke
06-10-2008, 19:50
Does it normally take three hours? I don't think i'll have quite that much time when i'm in plymouth.
It was supposed to be less than an hour to change 2 tyres and align the front but once they started, they found all 4 wheels were out, one of the toe arms was seized and I wanted odd (different to normal) settings.
Chriscooke
07-10-2008, 11:38
It was supposed to be less than an hour to change 2 tyres and align the front but once they started, they found all 4 wheels were out, one of the toe arms was seized and I wanted odd (different to normal) settings.
Ah! I could have the same issues as i get the feeling my alignment is all over the place. Can see this getting expensive.
I paid less than £80 for mine.
Probably because they didn't charge me for the rear as they coudn't complete it due to the seizure. Was going to be £120 but that was including fitting and balancing 2 tyres for which they charged me £26.02.
(having the rears fitted at DJP motors tonight for £6.50 each...)
Chriscooke
07-10-2008, 11:50
I pay £10 a tyre to fit around here which is ok. Still makes it about 25% cheaper than buying tyres from a local tyre place. £120 isn't to bad especially as i think it will make a drastic difference to the way my car drives. Did you go with the whiteline settings?
Yup. :nod:
Now have:
Front (both sides)
Caster 7.3
Camber -1.3
Toe 0
Rear
Camber -1 (L) -0.54 (R)
Toe 0.6 (L) -2.2 (R)
Rear toe arms seized so looking for replacements at the moment
I know this maybe a crazy suggestion, but have you tried WD40 and getting it free'd up yourself? They won't waste time with siezed bits, which is why they advise you free them up first. There is probably nothing wrong with your current arms.
Did try but don't want to snap bolts with a breaker bar on my daily drive.
Anyway, its a good excuse to get more new bits!! Could probably get away with snapping the old bolts out and replacing with new bolts and poly bushes. May do this early november as I have a week off work. Paint the various arms in hammerite too to protect them a bit more. And to look good of course!
Chriscooke
07-10-2008, 13:43
Yup. :nod:
Now have:
Front (both sides)
Caster 7.3
Camber -1.3
Toe 0
Rear
Camber -1 (L) -0.54 (R)
Toe 0.6 (L) -2.2 (R)
Rear toe arms seized so looking for replacements at the moment
Have you noticed that it drives any different since having it done? My front tyres are scrubbed to hell on the insides.
Did try but don't want to snap bolts with a breaker bar on my daily drive.
You superman or sumint??? you wouldnt break the bolt!
Soak it... heat the end with a blow torch and impact it off!
Plymouth has never taken 3 hours :eek: Longest has been 1hr 1/2... also plymouth let me come back within the week if i dont like the settings :thumbs:
Chriscooke
07-10-2008, 14:25
You superman or sumint??? you wouldnt break the bolt!
Thats what people told me about my subframe bolt:(
Have you noticed that it drives any different since having it done? My front tyres are scrubbed to hell on the insides.
Thats why I had it done in the first place. Didn't even notice the front tyres were bald inside until Jesus Ninja asked someone to measure the gap between tyre and chassis rail on full lock!
Doesn't seem to turn in as quickly now but feels smoother to drive.
You superman or sumint??? you wouldnt break the bolt!
Soak it... heat the end with a blow torch and impact it off!
Don't have a)blowtorch b)impact gun. Do have big fook-off breaker bar thats snapped wheelbolts, brake disc studs, fingers (mine) and an arm (not mine) before. New bolts (shiny...) and polybushes are the way to go I think. I'd like some shiny new toe arms but can't justify spending £80-£120 (depending on where from) on them when I don't really need them.
Chriscooke
07-10-2008, 15:09
Thats why I had it done in the first place. Didn't even notice the front tyres were bald inside until Jesus Ninja asked someone to measure the gap between tyre and chassis rail on full lock!
Doesn't seem to turn in as quickly now but feels smoother to drive.
I got told about mine at the mot, didn't notice until i was under the car fitting my fmic. My car feels like it has some toe out on the back as it's a little bit nervous at times.
Chriscooke
25-02-2009, 16:40
If anyone from up this way is interested I have found a place in taunton that does full alignments.
It's called k & R, they mainly do rally/track cars but will do a full alignment to your own settings or to standard nissan ones for £90 all in:thumbs:
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