Wheel alignment on a new car

[Rocket36]

When I had it done, the wheel aligner said it needed a fair amount of adjustment, whatever that means.

Means the alignment at delivery was crap!

[Audemars]

I just had my wheels realigned as part of the 15k service. I don't know enough about this to be able to judge whether the wheels were way off or just a little bit and whether what I have now is suitable for the R36 wagon.

Would have thought that checking the wheel alignment was part of pre-delivery (but obviously that wasn't the case).

Anyway, I've scanned the aligment results (link below). Does the end result look kosher to you guys?

Cheers
Audemars

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=33yki89&s=6

[J-P]

Can anyone tell me if my wheel alignment for 2010 125TDI is in spec? Where do you find what that spec is?

Before:
Rear Camber left -0°36' right -1°31'
Rear Toe left +0.0mm right +0.3mm
Front Camber left -0°29' right -0°47'
Front Toe left -1.0mm right -0.9mm

After:
Rear Camber left -0°38' right -1°31'
Rear Toe left +0.8mm right +0.8mm
Front Camber left -0°40' right -0°39'
Front Toe left +0.6mm right +0.5mm

Reading about it some info suggest front wheel drives need negative toe yet this has been shifted to positive toe.

[Rob Burns]

Positive toe (or Toe in) is pretty standard for any car front and back. It makes the car a lot more stable to drive while removing a tiny amount of steering.

[Rocket36]

better and much more responsive (and more fun to drive) with very slight toe out though... that's what I have

[audineil]

Well I have to say that my first service/warranty experience iwas not a happy one.
First I turned up at the service departmet to find that the VW service department is combined with the Holdan service department. What the...
The loan car was a Holden Cruze. Hard to imagine but it is actually a worse car than a Commodore. Gutless, very coarse engine, woeful transmission, rattles vibrations. Very obviously a Daewoo Nubira, or more accurately an updated Holden Camira.
I complained about wheel alignment. The steering wheel is not straight and on right turns it initially "turns in" OK then washes out in severe understeer.
I asked if they had VW approved wheel alignment equipment and was told that the alignment would be done by the local tyre dealer. (I have never had a tyre dealer do a remotely half decent wheel alignment in 32 years of Motorsport involvement). Thae previous statement is still true. If they did any adjustments (seriously doubtful) it is now worse.
I love the car but am bitterly disappointed with my first service experience.
Neil

[J-P]

So I probably shouldn't have taken it to a tyre shop for a wheel alignment then. I'm just worried the dealer had it right and I've just paid someone to screw it up. It crossed my mind afterwards that it's in their interest to have tyres wear out more quickly. I can't seem to find what the spec range is anywhere. All I'm after is to get better tyre life.

[audineil]

J-P,
Experience tells ma that tyre places do poor wheel alignments.
I wouldn't be so cynical as to say that all of them do this to improve sales but, one thing I do know is that tyre specialists almost never employ trades people. The reason for this is that the general public, that is people who buy Fords, Holdens, Hyundais etc do not expect to pay more than $30 for a wheel alignment.
Wheel alignment, especially on a high tech car such as an R36 is not the right thing for a non trades person to be doing. It requires skill and precision.
For a dealer to take my nearly $70,000 and then send my car to an non trades person for work is unforgivable.
Don't worry guys, I may calm down in a year or 2.
Neil

[J-P]

Thanks for the advice. I think next time I'll take it to an decent workshop for a check. I had originally intended to take it to an NRMA MotorServe but they were booked out for a week.

Btw I found this http://www.advantagewheelalignment.c...t_%20Specs.pdf. It only goes to 2008 but seems to confirm positive toe is required. Not sure why this info is so hard to come by.

[Rob Burns]

Well I have to say that my first service/warranty experience iwas not a happy one.
First I turned up at the service departmet to find that the VW service department is combined with the Holdan service department. What the...
The loan car was a Holden Cruze. Hard to imagine but it is actually a worse car than a Commodore. Gutless, very coarse engine, woeful transmission, rattles vibrations. Very obviously a Daewoo Nubira, or more accurately an updated Holden Camira.
I complained about wheel alignment. The steering wheel is not straight and on right turns it initially "turns in" OK then washes out in severe understeer.
I asked if they had VW approved wheel alignment equipment and was told that the alignment would be done by the local tyre dealer. (I have never had a tyre dealer do a remotely half decent wheel alignment in 32 years of Motorsport involvement). Thae previous statement is still true. If they did any adjustments (seriously doubtful) it is now worse.
I love the car but am bitterly disappointed with my first service experience.
Neil

You have one of the best suspension guys I know of in your town. Go and see Chris at Inline steering and suspension on Yass road. You may pay a little more but I guarantee you will be happy with the alignment.