Wheel Alignment

devonutopia · 30-09-2003, 13:48

Hello

Just had a REALLY curious thing happen.

I rang a Skoda dealer (not my regular one) for a wheel alignment check, because ATS told me they couldn't do one due it being a new car, or some excuse. As soon as I mentioned I had 17" alloys fitted they told me they could not do it because they only had the gear to align up 15" wheels or smaller (as that's what their spec says)

This rather abrupt turning away has left me quite shocked, and thinking, where the hell do I go now to get my 17" alloy equipped Fabia a wheel alignment check & adjustment? Any suggestions? I could really do with getting the front wheels aligned as the car pulls slightly to the left when I let go of the steering wheel, and the l/h tyre is wearing on the inside.

Yours worriedly

redbaron · 30-09-2003, 13:51

maybe they dont like u?

do you want traking or geometry?

tracking is fixable by anyone geometry is not..?

devonutopia · 30-09-2003, 13:53

It's just tracking I believe - i.e straightening the direction of the front wheels, as they're obviously not tracking correctly. (hence the wear) This is one reason I was surprised ATS wouldn't touch it!

redbaron · 30-09-2003, 13:58

any tyre mot place should be able to track it.

devonutopia · 30-09-2003, 14:09

Right - time to get ATS back on the phone!

PS: Doesn't lessen the shock the Plymouth skoda dealer gave me by abruptly turning away a paying customer, just due to my wheel size - couldn't they use an RS aligner as they have 17" wheels...

**robmawer** · 30-09-2003, 14:20

A tracker's a tracker, I'd be very surprised if there was any device that would be limited to work only on 15" wheels!

Rob.

devonutopia · 30-09-2003, 14:24

Tell you what - Can a few people ring up their friendly dealers and ask for a wheel tracking check on a set of 17" wheels, and see what reaction they give?

(edit: on a Fabia, of course)

May bring up some subtle skoda dealer differences.

***DGW*** · 30-09-2003, 14:49

My local friendly family-run tyre dealership cannot believe that the firm you are referrring to, Jason, would retain their Skoda dealership if they weren't able to check the tracking of 17" or even 18" wheels. If their equipment can only check up to 15" wheels then it must very old indeed. Basically it sounds like they are telling porkies and, realistically, what is the likelihood of them not being able to check the 16" and 17" wheels on the Octavia and Superb? Nil? Sounds like they can't be bothered for whatever reason. ATS' excuse is also rubbish.

devonutopia · 30-09-2003, 15:12

I think it's some Devon thing - I scared them off when I mentioned the wheel size, not really on IMO - I'm going to find them in the poll of dealers and write a 5hitty message!

***DGW*** · 30-09-2003, 16:49

Jason, if I were going to get wheel alignment checked I wouldn't even bother to mention wheel size since it shouldn't be an issue. Were you by any chance wearing a baseball hat back to front when you rang up and asked? Image is everything, you know! (See below)

***ncarring*** · 30-09-2003, 17:00

Jason - I've said it before - find a good independent garage, and kick the dealer into touch !!! That excuse is just bull

JayTee · 30-09-2003, 17:16

Hi Jason,
I can only assume that they got scared off by you having non-std wheels.
It a shame you're not near Hampshire as Micheldever
Tyres have a very nice dedicated laser alignment workshop bay.

As Nick said, find a decent tyre supplier and they should have no problem doing this for you.
John.

big k · 30-09-2003, 20:12

Any suggestions? I could really do with getting the front wheels aligned as the car pulls slightly to the left when I let go of the steering wheel, and the l/h tyre is wearing on the inside.

yeh come and see me jason i can track upto 19" wheels

devonutopia · 01-10-2003, 09:18

Big_k - If I still lived in Leicestershire, I may very well have took you up on that. However, Okehampton has a laser tracking garage. All I need to do is ensure he can also do Skoda tracking. There's nothing unique about how you adjust the tracking on a fabia compared to any other car is there?

BTW - This company is called "tyred & exhausted" - Guess what they specialise in?

***DGW*** · 01-10-2003, 10:19

Quote:

Originally posted by devonutopia in this post
BTW - This company is called "tyred & exhausted" - Guess what they specialise in?

Bangers and MOT failures?

***ncarring*** · 01-10-2003, 10:21

Tracking adjustment is the same on virtually every car made in the last 50 years. It's adjusted by screwing the trackrod ends up and down the trackrods. They are then secured in place with a locknut.

Caster and camber angles tend to have different methods of adjustment, and some are not adjustable.

Edit: that should really read "screwing the trackrods in and out of the trackrod ends". The ends can't turn, for obvious reasons.

devonutopia · 01-10-2003, 10:21

As they're in Oke - quite likely. You have to know the "town" to know what I mean.

However, seriously, they always did a good job of keeping the tracking straight on my old ZX, so I have no probs with them at all.

Flanno · 20-10-2003, 09:47

I had my RS exactly one day before I noticed it drifted to the left. (Which turned out to be ok as alot of VAG cars do that. I saw the Skoda tech. doc from my dealer on this). Anyway, as the dealer was closed the next day (Sat.) I brought the car to Advance Tyres, the most well know wheel expert in the area. They said my tracking was out. But I noticed on the printout, that they were using a Skoda Octavia 1.6 as a comparison. I then went to another tyre 'specialist', who claimed my tracking was fine but my camber was out. They were using a Skoda Octavia 1.6 as a comparison. Turns out they were both wrong, and the dealer said camber was non adjustable anyway. I am very very uninspired by these 2 tyre specialists. Now if I ever want my tracking done, I will have to travel the 30 miles to my dealer.

So if I understand correctly to do the tracking you need to have the particular setting for your car in their tracking computer ??

**TaviaRS** · 20-10-2003, 11:12

Jason, if its still not sorted, talk to Protyre in Plymouth. Highly recommended! Des has used them (for some nice cheap tyres) and I've used their Bristol branch.

Top blokes!

Edit Jason, they have a place just down the road from where you work; Protyre Exeter, 5 Trusham Road, Marsh Barton Ind Estate. 01392-412610. They do good prices on tyres and their alignment kit is excellent (OK, I'm only going by the Gloucester, Bristol and Plymouth places) http://www.protyre.co.uk/exeter.html

Jon

***ncarring*** · 20-10-2003, 12:33

Lots of people seem to like Protyre. They can supposedly even align 928s without f*cking it up which is very rare :p

30-09-2003, 13:48	#1
devonutopia Mongreller Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Ooo-ar, Oi be from Devonshire Posts: 29,194 Thanks: 58 Thanked 288 Times in 234 Posts	Wheel Alignment Hello Just had a REALLY curious thing happen. I rang a Skoda dealer (not my regular one) for a wheel alignment check, because ATS told me they couldn't do one due it being a new car, or some excuse. As soon as I mentioned I had 17" alloys fitted they told me they could not do it because they only had the gear to align up 15" wheels or smaller (as that's what their spec says) This rather abrupt turning away has left me quite shocked, and thinking, where the hell do I go now to get my 17" alloy equipped Fabia a wheel alignment check & adjustment? Any suggestions? I could really do with getting the front wheels aligned as the car pulls slightly to the left when I let go of the steering wheel, and the l/h tyre is wearing on the inside. Yours worriedly __________________ Jason - Mongrel owner! WOOOOF! Grrrrr Custom Fabia Bonnet Lifter Kits - £45! Click Me. See the mongrel's 260bhp Dyno Video!

30-09-2003, 13:51	#2
redbaron Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 9,276 Thanks: 9 Thanked 52 Times in 47 Posts	maybe they dont like u? do you want traking or geometry? tracking is fixable by anyone geometry is not..? __________________ ________________________________________ Some times I just feel like smiling.

30-09-2003, 13:53	#3
devonutopia Mongreller Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Ooo-ar, Oi be from Devonshire Posts: 29,194 Thanks: 58 Thanked 288 Times in 234 Posts	It's just tracking I believe - i.e straightening the direction of the front wheels, as they're obviously not tracking correctly. (hence the wear) This is one reason I was surprised ATS wouldn't touch it! __________________ Jason - Mongrel owner! WOOOOF! Grrrrr Custom Fabia Bonnet Lifter Kits - £45! Click Me. See the mongrel's 260bhp Dyno Video!

30-09-2003, 13:58	#4
redbaron Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 9,276 Thanks: 9 Thanked 52 Times in 47 Posts	any tyre mot place should be able to track it. __________________ ________________________________________ Some times I just feel like smiling.

30-09-2003, 14:09	#5
devonutopia Mongreller Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Ooo-ar, Oi be from Devonshire Posts: 29,194 Thanks: 58 Thanked 288 Times in 234 Posts	Right - time to get ATS back on the phone! PS: Doesn't lessen the shock the Plymouth skoda dealer gave me by abruptly turning away a paying customer, just due to my wheel size - couldn't they use an RS aligner as they have 17" wheels... __________________ Jason - Mongrel owner! WOOOOF! Grrrrr Custom Fabia Bonnet Lifter Kits - £45! Click Me. See the mongrel's 260bhp Dyno Video! Last edited by devonutopia; 30-09-2003 at 14:11.

30-09-2003, 14:20	#6
robmawer Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Rochdale Posts: 12,390 Thanks: 2 Thanked 65 Times in 58 Posts	A tracker's a tracker, I'd be very surprised if there was any device that would be limited to work only on 15" wheels! Rob. __________________

30-09-2003, 14:24	#7
devonutopia Mongreller Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Ooo-ar, Oi be from Devonshire Posts: 29,194 Thanks: 58 Thanked 288 Times in 234 Posts	Tell you what - Can a few people ring up their friendly dealers and ask for a wheel tracking check on a set of 17" wheels, and see what reaction they give? (edit: on a Fabia, of course) May bring up some subtle skoda dealer differences. __________________ Jason - Mongrel owner! WOOOOF! Grrrrr Custom Fabia Bonnet Lifter Kits - £45! Click Me. See the mongrel's 260bhp Dyno Video!

30-09-2003, 14:49	#8
*DGW* BRISKODA Staff Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Cambridgeshire Posts: 17,042 Thanks: 46 Thanked 154 Times in 115 Posts	My local friendly family-run tyre dealership cannot believe that the firm you are referrring to, Jason, would retain their Skoda dealership if they weren't able to check the tracking of 17" or even 18" wheels. If their equipment can only check up to 15" wheels then it must very old indeed. Basically it sounds like they are telling porkies and, realistically, what is the likelihood of them not being able to check the 16" and 17" wheels on the Octavia and Superb? Nil? Sounds like they can't be bothered for whatever reason. ATS' excuse is also rubbish. __________________ Denis 2002 Octavia 1.8T 4X4 turbo Estate - rebreathed on by Jabba ... 31.93mpg 2007 Fabia vRS - CC, ESP, Jabba rear ARB, and full leather trim by Seat Surgeons ...48.01 mpg...

30-09-2003, 15:12	#9
devonutopia Mongreller Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Ooo-ar, Oi be from Devonshire Posts: 29,194 Thanks: 58 Thanked 288 Times in 234 Posts	I think it's some Devon thing - I scared them off when I mentioned the wheel size, not really on IMO - I'm going to find them in the poll of dealers and write a 5hitty message! __________________ Jason - Mongrel owner! WOOOOF! Grrrrr Custom Fabia Bonnet Lifter Kits - £45! Click Me. See the mongrel's 260bhp Dyno Video!

30-09-2003, 16:49	#10
*DGW* BRISKODA Staff Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Cambridgeshire Posts: 17,042 Thanks: 46 Thanked 154 Times in 115 Posts	Jason, if I were going to get wheel alignment checked I wouldn't even bother to mention wheel size since it shouldn't be an issue. Were you by any chance wearing a baseball hat back to front when you rang up and asked? Image is everything, you know! (See below) __________________ Denis 2002 Octavia 1.8T 4X4 turbo Estate - rebreathed on by Jabba ... 31.93mpg 2007 Fabia vRS - CC, ESP, Jabba rear ARB, and full leather trim by Seat Surgeons ...48.01 mpg...

30-09-2003, 17:00	#11
*ncarring* Don't talk, drive! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The B roads of Britain Posts: 12,867 Thanks: 15 Thanked 86 Times in 74 Posts	Jason - I've said it before - find a good independent garage, and kick the dealer into touch !!! That excuse is just bull __________________ Nick

30-09-2003, 17:16	#12
JayTee Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hemel Hempstead Posts: 343 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Hi Jason, I can only assume that they got scared off by you having non-std wheels. It a shame you're not near Hampshire as Micheldever Tyres have a very nice dedicated laser alignment workshop bay. As Nick said, find a decent tyre supplier and they should have no problem doing this for you. John. __________________ John Thomson Seat Toledo Sport DSG TDi - Platinum Grey Sunroof, Bi-Xenons, 17" Alloys, Park Sensors, Bluetooth, Heated Seats, Rear Sliding Seats, Spare Wheel! (yes, it is optional )

30-09-2003, 20:12	#13
big k Briskodian Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: u.k Posts: 1,215 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Wheel Alignment Any suggestions? I could really do with getting the front wheels aligned as the car pulls slightly to the left when I let go of the steering wheel, and the l/h tyre is wearing on the inside. yeh come and see me jason i can track upto 19" wheels __________________ how can me find a jet engine for me rapid ?

01-10-2003, 09:18	#14
devonutopia Mongreller Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Ooo-ar, Oi be from Devonshire Posts: 29,194 Thanks: 58 Thanked 288 Times in 234 Posts	Big_k - If I still lived in Leicestershire, I may very well have took you up on that. However, Okehampton has a laser tracking garage. All I need to do is ensure he can also do Skoda tracking. There's nothing unique about how you adjust the tracking on a fabia compared to any other car is there? BTW - This company is called "tyred & exhausted" - Guess what they specialise in? __________________ Jason - Mongrel owner! WOOOOF! Grrrrr Custom Fabia Bonnet Lifter Kits - £45! Click Me. See the mongrel's 260bhp Dyno Video!

01-10-2003, 10:21	#16
*ncarring* Don't talk, drive! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The B roads of Britain Posts: 12,867 Thanks: 15 Thanked 86 Times in 74 Posts	Tracking adjustment is the same on virtually every car made in the last 50 years. It's adjusted by screwing the trackrod ends up and down the trackrods. They are then secured in place with a locknut. Caster and camber angles tend to have different methods of adjustment, and some are not adjustable. Edit: that should really read "screwing the trackrods in and out of the trackrod ends". The ends can't turn, for obvious reasons. __________________ Nick Last edited by ncarring; 01-10-2003 at 10:23.

20-10-2003, 09:47	#18
Flanno Briskodian Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 251 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I had my RS exactly one day before I noticed it drifted to the left. (Which turned out to be ok as alot of VAG cars do that. I saw the Skoda tech. doc from my dealer on this). Anyway, as the dealer was closed the next day (Sat.) I brought the car to Advance Tyres, the most well know wheel expert in the area. They said my tracking was out. But I noticed on the printout, that they were using a Skoda Octavia 1.6 as a comparison. I then went to another tyre 'specialist', who claimed my tracking was fine but my camber was out. They were using a Skoda Octavia 1.6 as a comparison. Turns out they were both wrong, and the dealer said camber was non adjustable anyway. I am very very uninspired by these 2 tyre specialists. Now if I ever want my tracking done, I will have to travel the 30 miles to my dealer. So if I understand correctly to do the tracking you need to have the particular setting for your car in their tracking computer ??

20-10-2003, 11:12	#19
TaviaRS Dinosaur Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North of the Watford Gap Posts: 14,918 Thanks: 19 Thanked 42 Times in 38 Posts	Jason, if its still not sorted, talk to Protyre in Plymouth. Highly recommended! Des has used them (for some nice cheap tyres) and I've used their Bristol branch. Top blokes! Edit Jason, they have a place just down the road from where you work; Protyre Exeter, 5 Trusham Road, Marsh Barton Ind Estate. 01392-412610. They do good prices on tyres and their alignment kit is excellent (OK, I'm only going by the Gloucester, Bristol and Plymouth places) http://www.protyre.co.uk/exeter.html Jon __________________ A jolly sensible Mercedes E class saloon in a rather fetching bluey grey colour. No it isn't fast, no it isn't modded, and yes, it will still eat your Fabia for breakfast. Official mobile chicane for Briskoda trackdays Last edited by TaviaRS; 20-10-2003 at 11:16.

20-10-2003, 12:33	#20
*ncarring* Don't talk, drive! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The B roads of Britain Posts: 12,867 Thanks: 15 Thanked 86 Times in 74 Posts	Lots of people seem to like Protyre. They can supposedly even align 928s without f*cking it up which is very rare :p __________________ Nick

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