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Do NOT use these cowboys!

Some time ago they completely screwed my tracking, damaged my steering wheel and wheel whilst trying to do a fairly basic laser alignment...oh, and they charged me for the privilege!

I should have posted this months ago, but forgot, hope no one has been done since

Dave

I think a post like this requires a bit more explanation.

Would you care to give some more details.

SimonS4MTM wrote:I think a post like this requires a bit more explanation.

Would you care to give some more details.

Of course, but i'm only trying to stop others getting ripped off!

Anyway ...

I had two new front tyres on my car and they had worn on the inside edge excessively, so the tyre shop recommended 4 wheel laser alignment. I took the car to STS Wheel Alignment in Bedford. Paid them £40, and as soon as I drove down the street, the car pulled to the left. So I took it back.

They fobbed me off saying it was the tyres and the machine said it was right. They said they would move the tyres around and sort out if I left the car...yeah right! Went back again, the manager drove it and said it was the road, and even drove on the wrong side of the road to say it was the camber. Bear in mind, the car was fine pre STS. Lesson 1 - do not use STS!

I posted on here for a recommendation of who to use, someone recommended Racing Developements, so I booked in with them. They spent about 4 hours on the car, and couldn't even get the car to go in a straight line, let alone have the wheel level when driving! Also, they said you can't adjust the rear, and you have to adjust the front inline with the rear. They also marked the steering wheel, cowl and front drivers wheel in the process.

When I collected and test drove, I said it wasn't good enough, and he said they couldn't do anymore and admitted it wasn't right. They wanted £140 for this! I gave them £70 in the end, which was £70 too much for the damage they caused!!! Lesson 2 - do not use these either.

In the end , I took to Bedford Audi, cost a further £130 (I think). They sorted it. Lesson 3 - go to the dealer for jobs like this....its cheaper!

Dave

Thanks for the detailed info, I will bear that in mind if I require 4 wheel alignment in MK.

Any reason why you did not use the main dealer in MK?

Clived used VW in MK, Audi don't have machine, and he paid over £250. I thought that was too much. I checked with Bedford, they were £90 for a check and £130 if adjustment needed. Also, I work in Bedford and they dropped me into work.

Dave

David,
i have 4 wheel alignment at my friends garage, me car pulls to the left also, we put it on the lasers and it said everything was spot on , with a slight toe in but the wheels were balding on the front inside passenger side!
nothing i could dod really, what did audi do/change to get yours in a straight line? i imagine somethings a bit bent maybe from a kerb hit? sorry if this is a post jack, can continue this elsewhere if so

Oliew, just because the machine says ok, how it drives on the road can be different. They may have to do some adjustments to make it incorrect, if that makes sense.

Audi adjusted my rear settings too and put the rear wheels on the front. Maybe you could try this first....

Dave

thats exactly how i thought of it, machine was spot on, car pulls to left, but if machine is true that means the front are inline with the rears.. i put my standard s4 wheels back on yesterday and it pulls to the left a bit still but not as much as the 19's! so maybe the wheel is at fault aswell as the geometry
ta
Ol

Didn't realise you weren't running standard wheels and tyres. In that case, surely the standard Audi settings are a waste of time because the larger wheels will throw out all the geometry....

Dave

Not good eh!

I have used STS a couple of times. They were ok with my BMW the first time but chewed it the 2nd time.

Apparently you need the experts to align Audi's as they are quite tricky. The place that did my S3 after I bought it were quite good, I will see if I can find the receipt

In STS defence, I have also used them before for a couple of my previous cars and they have always done good work. Been very happy with them. They also did my dads Mondeo after three Ford dealers declared it good but was chewing tyres every 4-6k miles.

Not let them loose on the S4 as so far it tracks true so have left it well alone.....

david7m wrote:Clived used VW in MK, Audi don't have machine, and he paid over £250. I thought that was too much. I checked with Bedford, they were £90 for a check and £130 if adjustment needed. Also, I work in Bedford and they dropped me into work.

Dave

It was only so expensive because the bolts had siezed...

However, I've since used APS in Brackley - ED, Nathan and Andy ex of AMD. http://www.autops.co.uk/ They've done mine and it was spot on - they have a Beissbarth / VAG 1813F wheel alignment rig and actually care about getting the result right!

Had mine done also at APS in Brackley at the same time as having all my H&R kit installed.

Car runs true and very consistent on track.

Clived is correct, Ed and the boys at APS certainly get the job done, regardless of the time it takes.

rsdreamer