Four wheel alignment and Geo setup....advice...??!!

[Lig]

Hi all,

Had the DRC replaced and it has been back to the dealer three times since for bad handling (replaced all four shocks and both valves first time, single valve second time, single shock third time), and I still dont think it handles right?

They have advised a four wheel, Geo setup which will cost £100-£200 and my question really is could this fix the problem, or is it another excuse to bleed me more!!!

I have had this done on a couple of specialist cars (TVR and Lotus) and to be honest didnt notice any difference.

How much out can the Geo get to cause bad handling??

Thanks in advance and I am hoping that someone will say 'I had four wheel alignment done and it transformed the car'!!!!!

Cheers,
Lig.

[Marcus-RS4]

Replacement of shocks shouldnt have put the geo or alignment out if done properly!

My g/f's STI was taken in to have shocks replaced under warranty and they put the alignment out by so much the front tires lasted a few hundred miles before the fabric was showing on the inner wall!!?

Not knowing the suspension set up completely on the RS4, its hard to say, but I would put it to Audi that they should be paying because if they did their job right, you wouldn't need to do it in the first place? (IMO)

[Rupert]

"I had four wheel alignment done and it transformed the car"

... but that was in an impreza. Best mod ever.

I've had the same four wheel alignment done on the RS6, but not so noticible because it wasn't so far out to start with (only noticed because the tyres lasted 16k instead of 20k).

Can you describe the "not handling right"?
Is it generally floppy on bumpy surfaces, wobbly around corners, bouncy on motorways, understeery etc etc?
If you're as sure as you can be that it's not the DRC, then I'd bite the bullet and have the geo done, but ONLY at a reputable 4WD laser alignment garage who do this as their bread & butter, not Quickfit, not your local tyre fitter and not the dealer either.

[Lig]

Hi chaps,

thanks for your responses, as for the handling it is wobbly when it hits bumps, it feels like when I hit a bump on the front offside, I can feel the car wobble like the DRC is transmitting the bump to the rear nearside. It just doesnt feel right to me?!

All the tyres are wearing evenly (the fronts are due to be renewed very shortly so I would notice any difference in wear).

Its frustrating as its putting me off the car, like I said it has had work done on the DRC twice in the last couple of months since replacing the whole lot and the last time it was in they curbed the wheel which was very annoying!!! I really dont want to take it back to this dealer. My other option (which is looking favourite) is to just drive it for a while and when I am next near Camberley Audi, drop in and get them to drive it to check my sanity!!!

On level roads at speed it feels fine, really planted, its just over rough roads it seems to 'skit' all over the place?

Any other advice from you Rupert or anyone would be good - I am just thinking that I will be throwing away my money with the alignment??!! IF the wheel alignment was out so much are you saying I would deffo see it in tyre wear?? The front set of PZerros that need replacing have covered about 20K miles.

Cheers,
Lig.

[grizz]

Lig , Double check your tyre pressure . After that I'd sat the drc... Make sure they can pressurises the system over 12bar !!

[Lig]

Thanks Grizz,

What tyre pressure would you recommend - I have read anything from 37 - 47 psi? On the filler flap it states 40 but I noticed the centre of the tyre was wearing faster so I dropped it to 38 - I did a search on Pirelli web site and they recommended 44??

Be grateful of your advice -

Cheers,
Lig.

[graybags]

Hi Lig

I'm in exactly the same situation as you.

Mine has now had 6 DRC dampers and two valves fitted under warranty in seven months (as well as a new gearbox this month). Ever since the original front dampers were replaced the car has 'wandered' and has never felt as secure.

The most recent visit involved a re-pressurisation which did make a big improvement but has not completely eliminated the insecure feeling. The car still twitches slightly and alters line, particularly over camber changes or when braking.

I also have experimented with tyre pressures and have had two laser realignments which haven't helped.

I'm hoping it will settle down with time. It is putting me off the car as well. All pain and no fun so far.

[Lig]

Hi Graybags,

It’s kind of comforting to know that you are going through this as well and I am not the only one!! You know the car isn’t right but it’s not that horrendous, so I feel like I am being an awkward customer, but hey ho??!!

I might phone the dealer again and see what they say or I have also had a couple of conversations with Rob at Camberley Audi and I might take a trip down there to get it sorted (about 230 miles away – slight problem). The other issue is that the re-pressuring wont be covered under the warranty so if there are no faulty parts it will cost me £230 but I am kind of thinking that this may be worth it if it solves the problem. I think it feels like there is air in the system, which is causing the annoying ‘wobble’. However on level roads and at speed 100+ it feels really fine?! How about yours??

I just raised my tyre pressure from 40 to 44 and I think it did feel better (maybe psychological), but still think the DRC is to blame. I wonder if the shocks have changed as they now have that rubber boot on? Could they have changed any part of the shock as well, which is causing this, as I would be really pi$$ed if I paid the £230 and made the trip and it felt just the same?!

You really don’t want this from an Audi do you!

What’s your next plan of action?

Lig.

[ElginEdition]

i had his problem too, the car felt really skittish with drc, when the coilovers went on, it felt a lot better but still, twitchy on rough A roads. i've adjusted the toe-in on the back slightly and this seems to have cured it, but definitely get a four wheel alignment done aswell.

[graybags]

Hi Lig, PM sent.

Graham