Tracking/wheel alignment

[steve184]

I've been told i need to get the geometry checked on my A3 as my front tyres are apparentyl 'feathering' on the outer edges + my steering wheel is slightly off centre (but im sure it was in the centre when new so reckon the tracking is definately out. They reckon this takes 2 hours! - Anyone know what on earth they can possibly do that will take 2 hours?? What do other people do? Would the likes of kwik fit be able to do just as good a job for less dosh? The dealer i am going to is going charge £170 for a 'full geometry check + adjust'. Perhaps i should try other dealers such as volkswagon, seat etc as they should be able to do the same work with them sharing chassis, parts etc

Awful lot of money for something that you cant even be sure has been done! I mean how am i to know they haven't just left the car in the car park and then charged me to check it???? Sorry but i have become very untrustworthy of garages over the last few years.

cheers

steve

 

[marriedblonde]

Take it to your local tyre depot that is a specialist, not kwik fit, and make sure they have a modern laser alignment setup. They will be able to sort it for you and only charge you around £20 plus Vat.

But feathering on the tyre edges could just be your driving...

J.

 

[steeve]

Make sure you take it to some where that has full 4 wheel alignment, not just tracking. There may be another problem, but the cist will be around 70 pounds plus but worth it. Also most place will just adjust one track rod and not set the steering in the centre. Beware!
Perhaps you can trust Audi to do it right, but it seems expensive

 

[marriedblonde]

My local specialist has a 4 wheel laser alignment setup, to just do the front end tracking is £20 plus the dreaded and then if you have adjustment at the back it works out as double that.

Yes they centre the sterring wheel and adjust both sides so that the wheel remains central, they then either test drive it or let you run it round the block and check it again.

At the end of it they give you a print out with all the values before and after.

J.