Wheel Geometry Re-alignment

Willem-de-Blois

After hearing a droning noise coming from the rear wheels, I checked the tyres and found uneven wearing.

What is a typical price for wheel re-alignment? I've just been quotes £209+VAT which seems a total rip off!

OddballJamie

BMW with run flats?

Willem-de-Blois

A Skoda Octavia!

OddballJamie

Blimey didn't see that coming. Checked the bearings?

Willem-de-Blois

No, I had the problem "confirmed" in a Skoda garage which then referred me to an Audi one which gave me this quote.

I am sure somewhere like KwikFit would be cheaper!

OddballJamie

Willem-de-Blois wrote: »

No, I had the problem "confirmed" in a Skoda garage which then referred me to an Audi one which gave me this quote.

I am sure somewhere like KwikFit would be cheaper!

Hmm... Try the Skoda forums and see if anyone local recommends a specialist.

bigjl

You need to find a specialist with a machine that actually can do proper geometry.

If you are wearing your tyres funny you are likely to have worn bushes if which there are plenty on your vehicle.


Elite in Rainham are top notch.

I wouldn't trust Kwik Fit to do it if i am being honest.

I think the machine needed is made by Hunter though can't confirm that.

scheming_gypsy

Willem-de-Blois wrote: »

I am sure somewhere like KwikFit would be cheaper!

I think KwikFit is £40 for the diagnostics and £20 for each change they have to make (mates uncle is a KwikFit manager, and I'm trying to remember what the rrp costs were when he had it done)

oscarward

Just had my Jag done by Kingswinford tyres. Free to check and £25 to correct if anything out of alignment.

You get a print out at the end showing the finished alignment.

bigjl

From memory the Octavia, Passat etc have a higher cost due to the complexity of the suspension.

Lots of bushes etc.

If you are keeping the vehicle a good option is to have the suspension fully polybushed as they will last the life time of the car in most cases, they also tighten up the handling nicely.

I had a Seat Toledo back in '99, the saloon version that morphed into the Leon and that wore the rears on the outside edge, unfortunately there wasn't the same availability of polybush kits and decent geometry specialists that there are nowadays. A geometry check on the car at Elite showed it to spot on indicating the uneven wear was down to the bushes.

arcon5

The droning noise and alignment could be unrelated. The droning noise possibly wheel bearing.

I paid £30+vat per axle last time I had an alignment.