Four wheel alignment (Hunter system) - anyone had it done?

rev_henry

My dad had this done on an MX5 a while ago and said it felt like a new car. Don't know how much he paid but it was a good local indie so I imagine it was reasonable...

Inactive

SAS0 wrote: »

I have a basic small Ibiza.

I've paid £40 to do 4 wheels laser tracking at Kwik Fit in Newcastle ... was that too much ?

Not if it was done properly, highly unlikely at Kwik Fit.:(

Crabman

SAS0 wrote: »

I have a basic small Ibiza.

I've paid £40 to do 4 wheels laser tracking at Kwik Fit in Newcastle ... was that too much ?

I suspect it was not done to anywhere near the Hunter standard.

Kwik Fit use simple lasers whilst the Hunter system uses a computer which analyses more than simply the position of the laser dot on a horizontal gauge chart.

I dropped into a local garage with the Hunter system a few months ago - they did a check for free and advised no work was needed - it's obvious from the equipment that it's a superior service to that at Kwik Fit.

Welshy_Pete

Hunter alignment are ideal if you have ajustable back lower arms. If you change any bushes on the back arms you need this system to ajust cambre on the back wheels to match the front. Otherwise you get tyre wear on the back. I can get this done for £43 cheapest anywere. Most places charge £55 to £60 now.

4 wheel laser alignment are fine for cars with a rear axle with no ajustments can be done. This now costs around £40 now in most places.

chris7676

1) For proper 4 wheel alignment /geo (tracking/toe + camber + caster if possible) you are likely to pay around £100, possibly less if the rear is not adjustable. I know it's a money saving forum, but save yourself some believing you can pay £30 to get it done.
2) DO avoid anything like KFit / National, especially for pretending to be able align the wheels, regardless of the price.
3) For your problem it looks like tracking itself won't solve it and perhaps you may have worn suspension elements or tyres may be at fault.

s_b

chris7676 wrote: »

1) For proper 4 wheel alignment /geo (tracking/toe + camber + caster if possible) you are likely to pay around £100, possibly less if the rear is not adjustable. I know it's a money saving forum, but save yourself some believing you can pay £30 to get it done.
2) DO avoid anything like KFit / National, especially for pretending to be able align the wheels, regardless of the price.
3) For your problem it looks like tracking itself won't solve it and perhaps you may have worn suspension elements or tyres may be at fault.

i know this is a resurrected thread by the way but here goes

---

on a c2 there is no way you can adjust the back axle so unless its been in an accident its part and parcel of the monocoque settings made at the factory
with regards pulling to the left and steering at an angle this does indeed suggest car has had a tup but anyone who knows anything about tracking would pick this up even if they were using my tried and tested Wilkinson's adjustable clothes prop method to find parallel
nice first post though thanks

Stephen_Leak

I will not now let anyone like KwikFit or National anywhere near my car. The baboons at Longleat Safari Park could probably do a better job. I also have my doubts about the calibration of their equipment. Every time I've been to National, including to get things put right, there have been other people complaining. And they were also turning customers away because they were so busy. They seem unable to see that, if they did the job right first time, they'd only have to do it once. Then, as they wouldn't be running around trying to fit "rework" in between new victims (sorry, customers), they'd make the time to do a proper job.

I've learned my lesson. You get what you pay for. When I fit new tyres, I will shop around my local "Hunter" places, and get everything set up properly. I'm lucky to have three to choose from. OK, so I might have to live out of the freezer for a while to pay for the difference. The long-term aim is to also get some of the cost back in increased fuel efficiency and tyre life.

An off-centre steering wheel is simply because the mechanic hasn't shared out the adjustment between both ends of the track rod equally. This is probably because his employer doesn't allow him enough time to do a proper job, so eventually he just can't be @rsed.

daca

I had our Seat Altea done at Drury Lane too. Too about an hour, had a chat with Andy the owner and the car handles much better and sips less diesel. I am very pleased with Andy and his tech Craig but very dissapointed with the attitude of Seat. All cars need to have proper wheel alignments done and if you think that its expensive price up two tyres. The sooner the steering geometry is set correctly the more benefits you get in return i.e. better mpg and longer lasting tyres etc.

I fully recommend the 4 wheel alignment and Drury Lane Diagnostics and Geometry Centre just off juction 22 M60 at Chadderton. He also has the kit to diagnose your engine management faults

phrixus

Hi -I am a former MG Rover Design engineer, with no connection to Kwikfit or any of its subsidiaries etc. I had a set of Goodrich winter tyres fitted to my wife's Rover 75, on a spare set of alloys, at the City Walls Road branch of Kwikfit in Worcester.
After fitting, they checked the alignment and found the back end was pretty far out, mainly on toe in angle. They systematically adjusted the front and rear, on their new rig, taking over an hour to complete the job, as we watched everything taking place on the monitor in the waiting room, as everything slowly came back to mid tolerance
The car now drives straight and true, sweeps through bends effortlessly, no longer pulls slightly, drives straight with the steering wheel properly aligned, and no sign of the tyre edge wear on the new tyres that was noticeable on the summer wheels.
The total cost was £403, and the car drives like new. The winter tyres are fantastic on the snow we had recently. I will definitely be using them again.

forgotmyname

Why didnt you tell them this nearly 5 YEARS AGO???

The last post was nearly 18 months ago...