Strange experience with wheel alignment at Kwik Fit..

[Jim 1]

After fitting my new suspension, I wanted to get a wheel alignment done. Left it too late, weekend approaching, so just zoomed into a nearby Kwik Fit.

 

They have some super modern Hunter alignment system that can do every adjustment needed - camber, caster, etc. Car was driving fine prior to the suspension swap, but I knew my camber was well off so that was what I primarily wanted sorting.

 

Car went up on the ramps, and half an hour later all done. Got the printout - all other adjustments sorted, but the camber hadn't been touched. I queried it and was told that they don't have the tools to do the camber, and they'd need to order in specific parts to do it?! As far as I know it's just a pair of spanners to undo the bolts! Is there some finer detail that I'm missing here? I assumed whilst a little fiddly, the camber was a doddle on these cars from a technical point of view. Either way looks as though I'm going to have to do this by eye myself in the garage at home now. Pretty annoying.

 

Have to say though the mechanics were very complimentary - loads of them went over to check out the car, and the guy that worked on my car said he couldn't believe what good condition the engine was in - no leaks or anything. Says he regularly sees 2 or 3 year old cars in far worse condition. That was nice :)

[Tigerfish 10]

There is an adjustable spacer type thing that pushes the suspension out to the right position before doing the two bolts back up. Nowt particularly fancy, but still needed.

[Tigerfish 10]

Something like this....

 

https://vw.snapon.com/SpecialToolsDetail.aspx?itemid=3270008

[Tempest 0]

Never had issues with getting the camber on my G60 adjusted, never saw the garage needing to use any special tools or anything, other than just the laser-alignment kit, and then 2 spanners to undo the 2 bolts/nuts at the bottom of the strut.

 

Don't think the VR's are any different to the G60 suspension set up on the fronts, at least.

 

Tempest

[captainredeye 0]

I had this with my local kwik fit and they said they couldn't do the camber, couldn't understand this so I drove to auto speed across town and they sorted it, what's strange is that auto speed are now part of kwik fit and share an inventory on tyres.

[fendervg 30]

They don't know monkeys about older cars as a general rule. The guys that knew how to do it are probably retired.

 

Just because they have a fancy laser test rig doesn't mean that they know anything about how suspension geometry works. You can do it with a piece of string and a few basic tools at home.

[dragon green 4]

I stopped using kwik Krap years ago,

I see they've not changed

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[robrado974 1]

I will ask my neighbour about this ,he works for kwikfit , has always sorted my tyre fitting alignment ect .

[Tigerfish 10]

The Bentley manual

 

[ATTACH]84303[/ATTACH]

 

kwikfit are kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place. if they don't follow the factory rules, and got it wrong, they'd get slated for that too.

Edited August 12, 2016 by Tigerfish

[Jim 1]

I guess that is there to help make things a bit easier, but not strictly necessary. Still pretty interesting to learn about though - never knew that existed.

 

I guess my best bet for getting it right at home is to just use a magnetic spirit level (such as this one - and just make sure one side looks good to the eye and then match it on the other side. Driver side camber seems OK actually, so just need to adjust the passenger side as that's got far too much negative.

[STU175 0]

it makes their life easier if you have a set of camber bolts fitted

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191027104073?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[fendervg 30]

IMHO your best bet is to find a good independent mechanic and build up some trust and a business relationship over time.

 

I'm happy to do nearly everything myself, but don't have access to a lift or ramps. Some jobs are just not worth it if you can't get the car into the air at a comfortable working height.

 

Talking in general rather than just camber adjustment.

Edited August 12, 2016 by fendervg

[Jim 1]

Well I'd normally go to Stealth for most jobs as they're not miles away but they're normally pretty busy and I didn't have the time so just went local. Oh well.

[knightrider 0]

Kwik-fit state on their website that they are installing Hunter Hawkeye Wheel Alignment equipment at their centres. I only let competant centres who have this kit near my cars. That definitely excludes Kwik-fit. Will their staff be trained to use it properly? Questionable. At one Kwik-fit near me they are complete muppets and at another they are really good, knowledgeable guys. I recently had a Volvo C30 checked and aligned at an STS Tyre Pro (who I have used for a number of years) who have a Hunter. Expensive - front and back needed sorting - front align £54.95, rear toe adjust £29.95. But good.

[Graphite 0]

The problem lies in the fact that when adjusting camber you have to have the vehicles weight on the suspension, as the camber will change dramatically loaded (with the car sat flat on the four post lift) and unloaded (suspension in full droop with the wheels hanging). Undoing the two bearing housing to strut bolts with the weight of the car on the suspension will just make the suspension shift to the maximum negative camber available. The tool shown in the link above goes between the chassis and rim of the wheel, and is then adjusted to make the spacing/camber correct, but is a complete nightmare to adjust with this tool as there is lots of pressure on the tool and is very time consuming process.

 

I used to use the tool on our Haweka four wheel laser rig at JMR, however I have developed a better technique since. It also helps that I am constantly aligning Corrados for our customers of course :)

 

I know companies such as Kwik Fit do get things wrong from time to time, but imagine the logistical problem they face to store specialist tools, given they work on all makes. Besides, 65% of cars on the road have suspension systems that do not allow any camber adjustment these days, particularly cheap front wheel drive cars.