4-wheel alignment / steering off-centre

[brackett]

Wonder if I could pick the brains of you knowledgeable folk? Quick summary: bought 2010 S4 as Approved Used recently, love it overall but the steering wheel is (annoyingly) slightly off centre (but doesn't pull or anything). So the supplying dealer (at my request) did a 4-wheel alignment, said everything was within the correct tolerances/settings and no adjustments were needed. And that as the steering wheel sits on splines, they would have to take it off, turn, refit, and that would mean that it would send the off-centre the other way. ie. a long-winded way of saying there's nothing that can be done to correct it to sit perfectly level.

So, my 2 questions are:

1. Is this correct? Can it really not to be made to be level? I am completely non-technical, but I assumed you would clamp the wheel dead-straight, and then adjust "underneath" so that the wheels also pointed straight as well etc. Job done. Or am I over-simplifiyng? And;

2. If it can be done properly, I've lost the will to live with going back to the dealer (and they are >100 miles away anyway). Life is too short, so I will take it to someone else and pay myself. If so, is there any better/worse place to go to get it done (eg. someone with a certain machine), or is it more about getting a decent operator? Or both? I'm guessing an Audi specialist with the appropriate equipment would be ideal – do the likes of MRC or APS do this sort of thing? (I'm South Midlands).

Thanks 

[R1NGA]

You are correct - clamp the wheel straight and then knock a part-turn or so out of both track rod ends until the geometry is back pointing as it should. Simple job. Removing wheel and changing splines position is a ridiculous idea. Any decent alignment place will do that for you.

[MikeFish]

I used a place in Leicester if that's any use to you. There was an RS6 in there at the same time too. The guys seemed to know what they were ranking about too. I don't think MRC have the right equipment to do it. The guys on here keep recommending using places that have the Hunter alignment equipment but not sure why, I assume it is better than other makes / methods. This place I went to had 2 Hunter rigs. I think they were called tyres galore.

[brackett]

You are correct - clamp the wheel straight and then knock a part-turn or so out of both track rod ends until the geometry is back pointing as it should. Simple job. Removing wheel and changing splines pition is a ridiculous idea. Any decent alignment place will do that for you.

Thanks. Thought so! Taking the wheel off did seem daft, but when the main dealer senior technician recommends it then I was hoping they would know what was best/required.

I used a place in Leicester if that's any use to you. There was an RS6 in there at the same time too. The guys seemed to know what they were ranking about too. I don't think MRC have the right equipment to do it. The guys on here keep recommending using places that have the Hunter alignment equipment but not sure why, I assume it is better than other makes / methods. This place I went to had 2 Hunter rigs. I think they were called tyres galore.

Thanks Mike. Leicester not too far at all really, especially if someone knows what they are doing! I assume it's this place http://www.tyresgalore.co.uk/wheel-alignment/

APS and MRC both seem to have Beissbarth kit:
http://www.autops.co.uk/alignment.asp
http://www.mrctuning.com/index.php/beis ... alignment/

[brackett]

Been trawling some car forums and these guys in Dudley getting consistent good reviews http://www.alineyourcar.co.uk/ as do these in Tipton http://www.discounttyresuk.co.uk/four-w ... gnment.php . Spoilt for choice if you're in NE Bham!

[brackett]

Went to alineyourcar in Dudley, as was (loosely) passing that sort of way today. They did a great job, didn't take long, and now all spot on. Recommended. (and I enjoyed reading some of their 2006 copies of Evo!)

So why does a small Shop in Dudley manage to do it perfectly well, but a main dealer spectacularly fail and try to blag reasons why it just can't be done as I want it? I dread to think what I would have paid the main dealer for it at their inflated prices. There were plenty of adjustments needed, so I now question whether the dealer either didn't do the alignment at all, or if they did how could they have done it so badly?

I was fully intending to either phone or email my dealer contact tomorrow, but to be perfectly honest I now just can't be arsed. What's the point really? (apart from venting my frustration, which will just further wind me up...).

And... breathe... all sorted now, so I should be happy!

[Ian_C]

Glad its sorted! Now find a new dealer for servicing....