Wheel aligment

madmackem

We had a full set of tyres fitted by Kwik-Fit earlier this year. Just had to change the break pads on all the wheels and discovered that the wheel alignment is WAY out on the front wheels, There is an obvious camber on the inside of both front tyres almost to the point of being through to the threads.
When the tryes were fitted we were told the tracking was out and they adjusted it, advised us to take it back to get it checked again, which we did and were told it was ok. The tread on the rest of the tyre is excellent apart from the inner walls.
According to them after 30 days they will not guarantee the wheel alignment because it can be affected by road conditions and driving circumstances. Is it obvious to see any signs after only 30 days driving?
We are going down tomorrow to see the fitting centre, Any advice on my strategy for the complaint? and not losing my temper?

keith1950

According to them after 30 days they will not guarantee the wheel alignment because it can be affected by road conditions and driving circumstances. Is it obvious to see any signs after only 30 days driving?
We are going down tomorrow to see the fitting centre, Any advice on my strategy for the complaint? and not losing my temper?

No one can guarantee that the tracking will not change, one minor event such as hitting a kerb or wear in suspension bushes.

Have the car checked out elsewhere to see if there is any play in the wishbone bushes or ball joints.

Don't go in with all guns blazing and get shot down in flames !

madmackem

Thanks for the reply, I wont go in all guns blazing - Im usually level headed. The thing that is concerning me is that the wear pattern is the same on both sides, The MOT was only done two months ago with only an advisory for the rear brake pads. Nothing about any play on ball joints etc. We really don't want to drive too far on the tyres so going to another place on a Sunday and a Bank holiday weekend is going to be difficult. However I am going to make sure I am present when they inspect the tyres.

scotsbob

Tracking is just 2 wheel alignment and is really not much use.

You need a 4-wheel alignment, where it tracks the rear wheels, then centres the steering wheel, and finally adjusts the toe at the front.

Two wheel tracking rarely solves any problems.

forgotmyname

If you checked the tyres weekly you should have spotted the wear on the inner tread area and gone back to them.

They are likely to say lack or maintenance on your part. You need to check them more often.

Thenm promptly sell you some new tyres and offer to track it for free but they are overpriced anyway.

Find your local independant tyre shops. Mine beat online prices every time.

madmackem

I am a disabled owner with restricted movement, so getting on the floor to check the inner walls on a tyre is virtually impossible, The tyres fitted surprisingly were the cheapest we could get after a pricematch. The tyres that were changed had minimal tracking problems, nowhere near as much as has appeared on these tyres after 7 months, not sure on the mileage done, need to check that.

skivenov

Did they do you a printout showing before and after values?

A lot of places will track a car until it's "within tolerance" rather than taking the time to make sure it's correct. I had one place tell me my tracking was "way out 10 degrees on one wheel", then "fine now, 5 degrees on each"... so you've just done nothing that I couldn't do from the steering wheel?

madmackem

We didn't get a printout of any values, only the receipt (wrong mileage on that too)with the work carried out. To be honest it looks like its been adjusted completely the other way, Im sure the other tyres were tracking on the outside.

forgotmyname

You dont need to get on the floor though. Turn the wheel full lock and the tread is visible.

Not being able to bend down to check them isnt an excuse for having dodgy tyres.

3 points for illegal tyres if your stopped.

Westmead_Fan

it is the drivers responsibility to make sue the vehicle they drive is road worthy, maintenance is key. can you be sure you have not hit a kerb or pothole which has knocked the wheel alignment out???

can't see kwik fit doing much apart from flogging you some new tyres

facade

You need the geometry checked at the front, starting with toe-in.
If this isn't miles out, then move to camber angles. These shouldn't go out unless something is worn out, the springs break/collapse or someone alters the suspension eg lowers the car.
As both tyres are equally worn, it is unlikely to be a single balljoint, which would affect one more than the other, but could be a bent trackrod, then the steering wheel would go off centre.

Most likely the tracking was set wrong in the first place, pretty difficult to do, but possible if they used the wrong figures by mistake.