Four wheel alignment recommendation

[V10Mike]

Had a fright last week when I had a puncture on the Phaeton and discovered this:



Similar but not as bad on the other front wheel. I shall be taking it up with the service manager at Vindis as to why they didn't spot this when it had a full service one hundred miles ago!

Obviously fitted new tryres, but I also need to get the alignment done.

I've used Cambridge Performance Tyres in the past, but wondered if there were any other recommendations -the Phaeton is very fussy to set up correctly.

Thanks!

[Chris Peacock]

Autotest in Norwich can carry out 4 wheel laser allignment.(Airport ind est.)

They set up my Civic type R a few years ago to my specs,

Good value also.

[byt]

sca did my stagea last year, very helpful too.

[fast eddys]

I always use Autotest

[TIGERSIX]

I use East Bilney Coach Works for my fleet they have a repair center in Norwich also .

[markCSC]

Any recommendations that aren't in Norwich? Bury/Cambridge area? The OP is in Cambridge BTW

[Carsie]

My sympathies V10Mike

I used to own quite a large Accident Repair Centre and at any one time had over a hundred vehicles in process so the topic of Four Wheel Alignment is one I know well.

From the Customer's perspective its a really bitter pill to swallow to fork out several hundred pounds for a service only to have something like this happen a few miles later especially if the alignment wasn't on the Job Card.

The rationality is that you could have had a full four wheel for which you paid £50 + 2hrs adjustment and then on the first trip into Sainsbury's you clump the wheel on the kerb - two days later and the tyres scrubbed off.

This unfortunately is the somewhat jaundiced view taken by many garages having been "had over" (as we used to say in Newcastle ) by Customers and yes Customers do try it on. The situation is made worse when the threat of letters to Head Office etc etc etc goes with it.

I think you can only treat each event on it's merit. Look at the customer, his service history, his attitude etc and make a considered view. Replacement tyres at cost plus a free FWA and CC whilst his is being done is probably the best result all round.

Looking at your own tyres I would suggest that you were coming up to replacement anyway so thank goodness it was on an older set of tyres.

In your position, I think I would be mightily p***ed off if my 140mph+ V10 was let out the workshop like that especially when being presented with a probably not insubstantial service bill I bet there was even an item for sundries and EPA oil disposal. I would not be a happy bunny at all.

So where to for FWA? Well actually the best place and the cheapest are the Insurance Approved Accident Repair Centres (Of which Vindus are one....). e.g Gladwins .

What you are looking for is a computer generated print out - machines such as Bear, Hoffman and Hunter are some of the best- at least when it leaves the workshop you know it was straight. The technicians in Accident Repair are trained in FWA as well as Chassis alignment; its a different skill Set to electronic diagnostics as any race car engineer will testify.

Finally, I've heard good reports about Cambridge Performance Tyres over the years unlike a certain A** who set toe OUT on my Jag rather than toe IN!! and scrubbed two brand new tyres off.

Was that you coming off the A14 today heading towards Moreton Hall?

Anyway, must dash SLIMBO has dinner - HTH

Edited by Carsie on Sunday 13th January 19:30

[V10Mike]

Carsie said:

My sympathies V10Mike

Lots of good stuff

Edited by Carsie on Sunday 13th January 19:30

I was pretty shocked -the tyre let go as I was maneuvering at my destination, but half an hour previously I had been driving up the M1 in dense traffic with heavy rain and spray -a blow out then doesn't bear thinking about; lives could have been lost and Vindis could have been on the sharp end of a criminal investigation.

I'm still waiting for the service manager to speak to the technician and respond, but I think I shall be asking for a complimentary alignment (Vindis have a Hunter machine) and maybe the next service thrown in as well. I've been using them for fifteen years, and they have always serviced the Phaeton with no issues up to now.

[Toffer]

Protyre?

[Quietlybonkers]

If you can venture into the wild uncharted area that is the fens, you will get a careful and accurately set up 4 wheel alignment on the latest computer equipment from Mat Smith Sports Cars in Downham Market. Easy to get to - straight up the A10. And reasonably priced too.