Work Carried Out By Alignment Specialist - Not Good!

[cb123]

I took my car to a specialist alignment service, I have a printout that I've attached, I don't know much about these things but even I can see things are not right, and the car still doesn't feel right.

Can someone explain to me what the different settings on the printout mean, and what they should be set to, and any opinions on what the garage have done (or not done) would be appreciated.

Settings were originally messed up after I changed a number of front suspension and steering components, and just wanted everything set up properly.

I asked them to set everything that needed doing and paid £75! thought it best to get the facts before I confront them.

Any help appreciated...

 

[leegsi]

Is your car lowered?

 

[ChrisH370]

Is it an A4, I dont know anything about them and this is the S3 section, but they have adjusted the Toe that so now in the green.
Your rear camber is in the green anyway. Rear toe is good enough - only a few mins out.
This is typical as on mine they couldn't or wouldn't adjust camber without moving the subframe and same on rear they did nothing to toe as too much time and trouble.

 

[ChrisH370]

Sorry cb123 I see this is A4 section.

 

[Bradderz_1988]

Your n/s/r toe is miles out should be around 0.06 and not 0.22.

This will ruin your tyres in no time take it back asap

Does it feel really quick turning in like the rear is on ski's ???

Is fwd or quattro ?? not to sure if you can adjust toe in/out on FWD though

 

[ChrisH370]

Is the rear toe adjustable on the A4 (its 15 mins out) as on the S3 you have to unbolt the trailing arm and most tyre shops cannot be bothered?

 

[cb123]

Thanks to you all for the replies.

Leegsi - No, the car is not lowered as far as I know, I replaced shocks and springs at front based on original suspension code 1BA, the rear shocks are badly worn so guess original setup.

ChrisH370 - Yes, he did mention moving the subframe, and like you say wasn't keen. He made out nothing else could be adjusted and yet they seem to have made the two settings bottom left on the chart worse!

Bradderz_1988 - It's FWD V6, I've not noticed the rear sliding about, but the steering doesn't feel right at all, I suppose it does feel like it's turning in quickly, and steering feels quite resistant half way through a turn. Could worn rear shocks be causing an issue? BTW I'm not driving it at the moment as worried about ruining my new tyres...

So is the overall impression that there is not much that can be done? and am I right in thinking he's charged me £75 for just adjusting the tracking? and is 0-12' correct?

 

[ChrisH370]

No he's only done the front Toe, it's is even and in the green so they did that. My point is that the front and rear camber and rear toe is too much bother for the average the shop with alignment gear, your only other option is take it to a specialist. I know one in Birmingham area, he charges 300 +VAT, but he will get it all perfect.

 

[cb123]

Thanks Chris, point taken!

I'd just expected better of them - based on this:
http://www.msautos.co.uk/Home/Tracking/
http://www.msautos.co.uk/Home/Tracking/

Sadly, Birmingham's a bit of a trek, and want to keep driving to a minimum with the car like it is...

 

[desertstorm]

Front camber is not adjustable anyway without fitting adjustable length top arms which is very expensive.If it is excessive on one side you can balance the readings by moving the front subframe. But yours looks reasonable.
The rear toe being off on the one side by that much may be as a result of the rear hitting the kerb at some point and bending something or wear in the suspension bushes.
Fairly expensive for just a front toe adjust.

Karl.

 

[ChrisH370]

Conclusion is (if its anything like my S3) it's about as good as it gets for a used car without spending a lot more money.

 

[aragorn]

You've been ripped off if you paid £75 for that.

Kwikfit did front toe, rear toe and rear camber on my A4 Quattro for £90.

If your car is not a quattro, then nothing on the rear can be adjusted, and the alignment should have been a lot less than 75quid.

 

[cb123]

Thanks to all who have replied. I guess I'll have to put it down to experience as far as price is concerned, I was in a hurry to get out of there and didn't realise at the time that he'd only done the toe adjustment.