Wheel Alignment result
Discussion
hello, looking for opinions on this wheel alignment result please.
Garage attempted to align twice but were unable to get multiple points within tolerance. They checked arms, bushes, shock absorbers and all found to be fine. I've honestly no idea about how bad is bad...any advice please? (It's a Mini Countryman). Many thanks
Garage attempted to align twice but were unable to get multiple points within tolerance. They checked arms, bushes, shock absorbers and all found to be fine. I've honestly no idea about how bad is bad...any advice please? (It's a Mini Countryman). Many thanks
Plenty of places with a Hunter, but very few techs understand the physics, they just tweak and hope for a green light.
I had a 4 wheel alignment done on my T6 in mid April, I’m about to go on a 1500 mile road trip and was overjoyed to see these tyres last week -
This was done by a local garage, not even a Kwikfit type place, you’d think a garage would know what they were doing?
So I had a new set of tyres £480! and I asked the Protyre guy to do the alignment at the same time.
When I asked him about the caster settings he didn’t know the difference between caster and camber, when I drove off my steering wheel is now at 12:50
I’m having to take it to a place that specialises in alignment that’s 120 mile round trip, for a bloody van
I had a 4 wheel alignment done on my T6 in mid April, I’m about to go on a 1500 mile road trip and was overjoyed to see these tyres last week -
This was done by a local garage, not even a Kwikfit type place, you’d think a garage would know what they were doing?
So I had a new set of tyres £480! and I asked the Protyre guy to do the alignment at the same time.
When I asked him about the caster settings he didn’t know the difference between caster and camber, when I drove off my steering wheel is now at 12:50
I’m having to take it to a place that specialises in alignment that’s 120 mile round trip, for a bloody van
I took my wife's Mini Countryman in for a 4 wheel alignment using a Hunter jig.
Similar problem the tyre place could not alter the toe settings on the rear, I stated that I would not pay if any areas were still in the red.
Manager of the centre got out of his seat put gloves on and altered the rear toe angles so all were in green, he stated it's an awkward job to do and the bolts are hard to get to but he managed to sort.
Similar problem the tyre place could not alter the toe settings on the rear, I stated that I would not pay if any areas were still in the red.
Manager of the centre got out of his seat put gloves on and altered the rear toe angles so all were in green, he stated it's an awkward job to do and the bolts are hard to get to but he managed to sort.
Take it to somewhere that knows what they are doing. These machines are only as good as their operator.
My car drove fine, went in for some tyres, was offered a free alignment check, which was obviously out. Fell for it and got my wheels aligned. Hunter print out showed everything green. Had to drive with the steering wheel at 10 o clock to drive straight. Went in 2 further times. The Hunter machine printout showed all green, the car drove weird. In the end took it to somewhere else, to people who knew what they were doing, to return it like it drove before the alignment. These wheel alignment machines aren’t infallable and idiot proof.
My car drove fine, went in for some tyres, was offered a free alignment check, which was obviously out. Fell for it and got my wheels aligned. Hunter print out showed everything green. Had to drive with the steering wheel at 10 o clock to drive straight. Went in 2 further times. The Hunter machine printout showed all green, the car drove weird. In the end took it to somewhere else, to people who knew what they were doing, to return it like it drove before the alignment. These wheel alignment machines aren’t infallable and idiot proof.
Edited by wyson on Tuesday 4th July 17:27
The only thing on the minis - although both toe and camber are adjustable is that everything can seize, if it’s only slightly out then sometimes you are best off leaving alone. You can also find sometimes that the steel bolt seizes in the aluminium arm and can snap or rip the threads out. But normally it’s 3 bolts and a bar …
As for the transporter, most standard vans are ok, it’s the ones that have 20” wheels or air suspension that chew through tyres
Another thing with the mini - if it’s on runflats that will cause skittishness
As for the transporter, most standard vans are ok, it’s the ones that have 20” wheels or air suspension that chew through tyres
Another thing with the mini - if it’s on runflats that will cause skittishness
bit of a strange one that the cant get the FL toe within tolerances..... its a track rod.
If they cant adjust it for whatever reason, just replace it
Rear toe I wouldnt worry about - wouldnt be causing car to dart around, but will make it a little more agile
rear right camber - very very small difference
If they cant adjust it for whatever reason, just replace it
Rear toe I wouldnt worry about - wouldnt be causing car to dart around, but will make it a little more agile
rear right camber - very very small difference
Many thanks to all of you for your responses, and my apologies it has taken so long to get back to you.
It's been a bit of a long story with this car and we were out of action for a while due to other circumstances.
Front tyres - New non-run flats - newly fitted by dealer
Rear tyres - Azenis run flats
I'm well aware that you should not mix run flats with non-run flats - this is something that the dealer did recently (switch the front tyres to non-run flats but leaving the rear tyres as-is) after I complained about erratic steering shortly after purchasing the vehicle. I've been caught up in a vehicle quality complaint with them since purchasing the vehicle, and this was their "repair" after they took the car back in for diagnostics. Prior to this, an independent inspection was performed, which stated that the car pulled severely to the left, and there was a heavy knocking type sound coming from the suspension.
Today my husband looked at the car from outside and thought that the rear was "hanging too low", as though is was very heavily loaded (stationary and no load) - I will take a pic in daylight and attach.
The opinion of the garage that I took it to previously to perform the wheel alignment was that the car has probably been involved in some form of accident/severe curb hitting prior to me purchasing, hence why the wheels can't be aligned properly.
It's gone to the Ombudsman for resolution, but really just after any opinions or advice. TIA
It's been a bit of a long story with this car and we were out of action for a while due to other circumstances.
Front tyres - New non-run flats - newly fitted by dealer
Rear tyres - Azenis run flats
I'm well aware that you should not mix run flats with non-run flats - this is something that the dealer did recently (switch the front tyres to non-run flats but leaving the rear tyres as-is) after I complained about erratic steering shortly after purchasing the vehicle. I've been caught up in a vehicle quality complaint with them since purchasing the vehicle, and this was their "repair" after they took the car back in for diagnostics. Prior to this, an independent inspection was performed, which stated that the car pulled severely to the left, and there was a heavy knocking type sound coming from the suspension.
Today my husband looked at the car from outside and thought that the rear was "hanging too low", as though is was very heavily loaded (stationary and no load) - I will take a pic in daylight and attach.
The opinion of the garage that I took it to previously to perform the wheel alignment was that the car has probably been involved in some form of accident/severe curb hitting prior to me purchasing, hence why the wheels can't be aligned properly.
It's gone to the Ombudsman for resolution, but really just after any opinions or advice. TIA
Based on the original wheel geo that isn't that far out, the rear toe is out, 3 bolts and a bar will adjust that. The camber, the problem on the Mini is the bolts seize and either break or strip the thread in the hub.
So based on the top picture, I wouldn't say thats been in an accident its just poorly aligned. The biggest issue you have is the mixture of runflat and standard tyres, get 4 decent tyres on it and it will make a world of difference
So based on the top picture, I wouldn't say thats been in an accident its just poorly aligned. The biggest issue you have is the mixture of runflat and standard tyres, get 4 decent tyres on it and it will make a world of difference
thanks for comments. I will get the tyre pressures checked.
Uploading a couple of pictures of the wheels - rear left in particular is really low, not much clearance between the tyre and wheel arch at all. Rear right also appears to be lower than the front. Run flat indicator light has also come on. We've barely driven the car since it was returned to us from the dealer after they changed the tyres. Any thoughts?
Uploading a couple of pictures of the wheels - rear left in particular is really low, not much clearance between the tyre and wheel arch at all. Rear right also appears to be lower than the front. Run flat indicator light has also come on. We've barely driven the car since it was returned to us from the dealer after they changed the tyres. Any thoughts?
GT4P said:
If you look at the rear near side the body is out of line! Plastic trim round rear arch between rear wing and rear door! Is the chassis twisted?
. This is exactly what I've been trying to prove to the dealer/finance company. That the wheels can't be brought within tolerance because there is some other damage/reason for chassis being out of line, and that this was the cause of the "severe pulling to the left" steering fault and "heavy knocking sound from suspension" that was highlighted in the independent inspection report. However the dealer/finance keep arguing that the garage that tried the wheel alignment are incompetent, and that the alignment just needs to be redone by another garage. And that the steering is now "fixed" because they changed the front tyres to non-run flats.
I've looked under the vehicle and the rear left suspension coil has come down. Also looked again at the photos from the ad when I purchased the vehicle, the plastic trim is not aligned there either. Obviously hugely regret buying the car and have since been trying to reject it - was in a difficult situation at the time and my own inexperience with cars hasn't helped.
I’d be advising them that my far more comprehensive engineering report will also be chargeable as well as the replacement hire car and that they now have a final opportunity for a complete refund before they incur more significant costs and a trip to court
Aka a fair and final warning …
Aka a fair and final warning …
stevemcs said:
Thats got a broken spring
Indeed. Do springs break suddenly or can they corrode gradually? We've barely driven the car - literally 10 miles since the failed wheel alignment attempt to bring the car back home and leave it idly parked. I'd be surprised if the garage didn't notice it when they tried to align the wheels, so presumably it has failed since then, despite it only being driven home. Gassing Station | New MINIs | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff