Wheel Alignment with EPAS

[Jamz72]

Hi guys,

A couple of months ago I had my tyres changed and wanted a full wheel alignment done at the same time.. but I was told by my local wheels & tyres garage that they couldn't do the wheel alignment because the car had electric power steering which made it too difficult.

I mentioned this to a guy at work recently and he said it was rubbish! Is there any truth in what the garage told me?

Cheers

 

[Paddy_R]

My local place can do it no problem at all and I've the same car as you! Off to somebody who knows what they are talking about I think. Also the type steering doesn't really impact on the wheel alignment. They either couldn't be bothered as it looks like a complicated suspension set up or they are incompetent. Either way I'd be off somewhere else.

P.S the cup pack is on some of those alignment systems as 'extreme' pack.

 

[Jamz72]

Cheers Paddy. I also like the idea of referring to my cup pack as an extreme pack ha!

I don't know much (anything) about wheel alignment but is there some sort of setup guide for each type of car (e.g. for toe in/toe out, camber etc) or is every car set up the same (wheels parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground)?

I feel like I should know this stuff..

 

[Ashton]

i went to 3 places to try and get my geo set up properly after i had the coilovers fitted

all of them moaned about the previous and said it was set up wrong

in the end i took it to Jade Devolpments and they set it up perfectly with just 4 axle stands, 2 long tubes of copper pipe, 2 long threads of nylon and a ruler

if the data in the lazer systems is wrong your car will be wrong

 

[Jamz72]

Jade Devolpments isn't thaaat far from me.. but too far to go just for wheel alignment I think.

Ah so there is specific data for each type of car? Don't suppose anyone knows what it is meant to be for a FF 200 + cup chassis?

 

[Ashton]

worth giving R-Sport in wimbledon a call to for the geo settings

 

[Tuck]

To be honest on the standard suspension set up there isn't a lot to adjust, just toe and caster. So anywhere can align them but if you wanted a full geo set up you'd need to invest in adjustable top mounts etc.

 

[Paddy_R]

Ah so there is specific data for each type of car? Don't suppose anyone knows what it is meant to be for a FF 200 + cup chassis?

Yes there is specific settings for each making model of car. The place I go to had options for 197s and 200s both with and without the cup (or extreme) pack.

 

[X85RSFrank]

If you give lee at FCM wheel alignment Bristol a call he's a nice enough guy and a bad businessman to recommend you a local specialist. He really knows his stuff.

 

[Jamz72]

Finally got my wheel alignment done after taking an age to get round to putting my new tyres on.

The garage said the rear axle is fixed and they therefore can't alter any of the rear geo settings, so they just did the front. I don't 100% trust them so just want to check Is this true?

 

[Gez]

Yup! That's right, as standard you can't do anything with the rear. They can give you a reading on the rear, so show if the beam was ever bent or anything. But as for adjustment, can't do anything.

Cup race cars run shims etc, so they adjust the camber through them.

So just the fronts is correct.

 

[Womble]

The rear is adjustable, as is the front cross member, it the centre line is not correct.

There are some basic rules

1. Depends on how fussy you are.

2. Depends if you can find someone who wants to do it.

3. You have the money and patience to get it done.

Most cars are within manufactures spec, but if you are spending money on fancy suspension, then there is no point in fitting it unless it is setup and aligned properly. It can take a whole day to get the car right, but for most any reputable wheel alignment company, preferably with a recommendation from someone, and you won't go far wrong.

In Cumbria I use Greta body works in Keswick, (£80) full geo.

 

[Jamz72]

Cheers guys

The rear was a bit out but nothing compared to the front! Glad it's all done now as it's taken me long enough