Wheel alignment

[Guest]

Hey Peeps,

So where does one go in Auckland for the best wheel alignment???

I went to my local Frank Allen Tyres in Pakuranga and they are now charging like $90 for just a wheel alignment!!

Whats the latest technolgy with regards to alignment?? 3-D?

Cheers,

WIlliam.

[Guest]

Just found out Beaurepaires now charge about the same too $89 buckeroos!

[Guest keltik]

I think wheel alignments are severely overrated in this country. If your steering is centered and theres no unusual wear on your tires...whats the point in getting one done?

Personally i just go to Firestone. They're cheap. Was about $75 last time i went. Wherever i go i make sure my steering wheel is straight afterwards and if its not - i get the alignment tech to re-do it until it is.

[Guest]

I find even small differences between wheel alignments to be quite noticeable.

I took mine to Rowes Tyre service on Rosebank Rd (AKL) a couple of weeks ago telling them it was pulling to the left.

They took it for a drive, did an alignment (reset the toe on the rear from memory) and inspected and rotated the tyres.

When I spoke to the guy afterwards he said he didn't think it was pulling abnormally and the changes he made were pretty small and I probably wouldn't even notice. The difference was immediate though! It doesn't pull off to the left on the motorway anymore etc which I'm finding greatly reduces my fatigue when driving long distances (like this weekend past).

So yeah, full points to Rowes on Rosebank Road for being thorough and honest and delivering the goods

[newsuba]

 keltik said:

I think wheel alignments are severely overrated in this country. If your steering is centered and theres no unusual wear on your tires...whats the point in getting one done?

Wash your mouth out !

A good wheel alignment is one of the most cost effective ways to fine tune a car's handling.

[BC5RA]

^^ +1

I would be asking this question too shortly, but as i have camber adjustable tops and my own settings (that I've chosen from many alignments) I'll need to go to somebody who won't scratch there head or tell me to bugger off.

[Guest]

Yeah well these are 18inch tyres and I wanna keep them in top nick as theyre bloody expensive to replace in this size! 215/45/18

I think you cant go wrong with a place that specialises in suspension/alignment like The Shock Shop??

[Guest]

 BC5RA said:

^^ +1

I would be asking this question too shortly, but as i have camber adjustable tops and my own settings (that I've chosen from many alignments) I'll need to go to somebody who won't scratch there head or tell me to bugger off.

Go and see Rowes, I've been going to them on and off for years. They recently bought into the Firestone franchise mostly for marketing reasons I suspect but it is the same guy that runs the place and he seems to have a good crew.

[Guest boostin]

We use Hyper in Penrose for all our tyres and alignments now.

[Swindog]

Just make sure your paying for a full 4 wheel wheel alignment too.

[Guest]

 keltik said:

I think wheel alignments are severely overrated in this country. If your steering is centered and theres no unusual wear on your tires...whats the point in getting one done?

:

Just went to Beaurepaires this week, they are OK to use if you just want a 'green alignment' and don't have any numbers in mind but if so don't use them.

The boss looked at me sideways when I asked for 0 toe and -2.4 F and -1.6 R camber, then let out a big sigh after finally agreeing. They still didn't give me the figures I wanted though :-\

[Munkvy]

 keltik said:

I think wheel alignments are severely overrated in this country. If your steering is centered and theres no unusual wear on your tires...whats the point in getting one done?

Personally i just go to Firestone. They're cheap. Was about $75 last time i went. Wherever i go i make sure my steering wheel is straight afterwards and if its not - i get the alignment tech to re-do it until it is.

I have to agree. I know technically a wheel alignment does help, but if you havent done anything silly to your car, like hit things or swapping struts etc - it shouldnt wander out majorly.

Both my Legacys see gravel and/or grass in competition on a regular basis and yet the alignment is still not majorly out. And I regularly travel somewhat long journeys in them, yet tire wear is still even.

Of course if you plan on taking the car to the track - a wheel alignment is much more relevant then. However for an average daily driver, with our sh*te roads - I dont think there is a massive advantage unless the car was in trouble suspensionwise before the alignment.

*This is all purely based on personal opinion/experience. I have no technical proof of course!*

[driftrex]

 SpotMe said:

I find even small differences between wheel alignments to be quite noticeable.

i have to agree there.

alignments can make a huge difference, ive seen some shockers in my time, problem is and i see this alot at work is most people dont check their tyre wear so by the time i tell them they need to go get an alignment their tyres are already stuffed, once they wear uneven then thats that til the next set.

i am a ex alignment tech for beaurepaires btw.

[Guest loren]

hey, we all drive subarus and are therefore screwed with uneven tyre wear anyway right?

personally I don't bother with getting alignments on my road car unless there is a problem.

tyre wear is always going to be a problem with the way I take corners, so I just buy cheap

tyres.

[Guest boostin]

Are you saying Subaru's can't be aligned properly? Or that they're extra hard on tyres?

[Jammasta]

 boostin said:

We use Hyper in Penrose for all our tyres and alignments now.

Do you get a free monsta tach when you biggie size your alignment.

I found my car was a lot better after a decent alignment, there was no uneven tyre wear before hand though. Bridgestone performance center did 2 average alignments on my car, felt much better after going to total performance here in wellingotn.

[Guest loren]

 boostin said:

Are you saying Subaru's can't be aligned properly? Or that they're extra hard on tyres?

They're know for wearing the outside of tyres out due to having positive camber in corners.

[Guest boostin]

Hyper do a much better job than both Firestone and Frank Allans in Greenlane. Better customer service too.

Wouldn't outside shoulder wear be the trade-off for high levels of grip and therefore higher cornering speeds? I doubt you'll find any 4wd car that won't wear the outside shoulder when being pushed hard.

[Guest]

I just do my own.... in the garage at home!

[Guest]

My last alignment wasn't for tire wear, it was because it was tiring countering it's desire to drift slowly left all the time.

That and it was f'ing annoying lol!

[Guest dcornie]

i see aaron at jp tyres in sunnybrae and he is $55 been seeing him for years

[Swindog]

 dcornie said:

i see aaron at jp tyres in sunnybrae and he is $55 been seeing him for years

Ew, yuck...must be close to getting engaged then aye !? ;D