Wheel Alignment & Balancing

[KkVaidya]

I got alignment done on my Mahindra Thar yesterday. I know that guy did not set the camber but i am not able to decipher the report on screen. He was trying to explain all nonsense that it is not adjustable and blah blah to which i quietly left the place with just the Toe-set. I do not face any problems in drive ability as such but just want to know the report.

The tyres are 235/70 R16 Yokohama Geolander AT/S @ 34psi

[AviG]

Originally Posted by Nikhilb2008

There is a lot of good talk about Ashoka Wheels. They even have a dedicated thread in the TBHP directory. Have a look there.

Thanks for your recommendation. I got my tires changed, balanced and aligned today at Ashoka wheels and I must say the alignment done by the guy was just perfect

P.S: They have the hunter software and both front and rear alignment was adjusted which were way out of range!

[bharatbits]

I am looking for good WB/ WA centres in Mumbai around Sion. Approximate charges would be great.

Moved here recently so looking for recommendations.

[FarPatel]

Originally Posted by bharatbits

I am looking for good WB/ WA centres in Mumbai around Sion. Approximate charges would be great.

Moved here recently so looking for recommendations.

I've been using 'Sign Tyres', just off the main road, at the side of Sion Hospital, for years, for both, buying new tyres, as well as WB/WA. Can't remember the charges but they should be reasonable. It's run by a well educated Sikh gentleman.

[Thilak29]

Originally Posted by Nikhilb2008

Have a look there.

I am sorry if my question sounds naive, but please help me understand how getting alignment and balancing done at authorized service center is any different from independent tyre shops? Do these service center have access to any standard values which probably independent shops don't or is it equipments?

[Nikhilb2008]

Originally Posted by Thilak29

I am sorry if my question sounds naive, but please help me understand how getting alignment and balancing done at authorized service center is any different from independent tyre shops? Do these service center have access to any standard values which probably independent shops don't or is it equipments?

Disclaimer: I might be biased since I run an alignment centre.

Data is easily available if the alignment centre/independent tyre shop owner wants to have the specs for the latest cars. That isnt an issue. We update it in our shops.

The OE dealership may or may not get it a few days earlier. Typically, it is upto Alignment Equipment providers to further circulate the latest wheel alignment data. Honda, Hyundai for example send the data to the Equipment dealer and ask them to update all the Dealerships.

This way the data reaches the dealerships and the tyre shops (if they ask) around the same time.

My observation is that in many dealerships, alignment isnt done well as it's just one of many services performed on the car.

In a tyre shop, very few services are offered: Alignment and Balancing typically are the only two services offered by a normal tyre shop. I personally feel this helps tyre shops perform a better service.

Also, a tyre shop's alignment is much more transparent. 99% of car owners wait at the store, get the alignment, balancing done pretty much in front of their own eyes and then take the car back.

In a dealership, you just leave the car and you arent allowed inside the workshop. You just have to trust that the job has been done and done well at that.

When you factor in equipment, independent tyre shops usually have far better technology. Just go and look at a Maruti or Hyundai workshop. Most of them have old sensor type wheel alignment systems which are 20-30 year old technologies. Most tyre shops have at least moved on to 3D or Camera based wheel alignment.

Even within Camera based wheel alignment technology, there are multiple generations. Some use very old technology, some use newer equipment.

At the end of the day, equipment helps the technician. But it is up to the technician to do a proper job of adjusting the alignment angles.

[commonman]

Originally Posted by Nikhilb2008

Disclaimer: I might be biased since I run an alignment centre.

My observation is that in many dealerships, alignment isnt done well as it's just one of many services performed on the car.

In a tyre shop, very few services are offered: Alignment and Balancing typically are the only two services offered by a normal tyre shop. I personally feel this helps tyre shops perform a better service.

Also, a tyre shop's alignment is much more transparent. 99% of car owners wait at the store, get the alignment, balancing done pretty much in front of their own eyes and then take the car back.

In a dealership, you just leave the car and you arent allowed inside the workshop. You just have to trust that the job has been done and done well at that.

When you factor in equipment, independent tyre shops usually have far better technology. Just go and look at a Maruti or Hyundai workshop. Most of them have old sensor type wheel alignment systems which are 20-30 year old technologies. Most tyre shops have at least moved on to 3D or Camera based wheel alignment.

Even within Camera based wheel alignment technology, there are multiple generations. Some use very old technology, some use newer equipment.

At the end of the day, equipment helps the technician. But it is up to the technician to do a proper job of adjusting the alignment angles.

Nikhil, I think you are the right person to answer my queries as I agree to whatever you had updated here.

My Celerio tires needed to be changed at 25000 Kilometers on Odo , due to bad alignment by dealership ASS. Now, the front right tire is again showing uneven thread even after periodic alignments. The alignment center guy is saying the camber needs to be adjusted by some specialists. Somebody in JC road is an expert and I have to send the vehicle there.
What is the camber repair these people are talking about?
Is it a permanent solution?
Kindly help.

[humyum]

Originally Posted by commonman

Nikhil, I think you are the right person to answer my queries as I agree to whatever you had updated here.

My Celerio tires needed to be changed at 25000 Kilometers on Odo , due to bad alignment by dealership ASS. Now, the front right tire is again showing uneven thread even after periodic alignments. The alignment center guy is saying the camber needs to be adjusted by some specialists. Somebody in JC road is an expert and I have to send the vehicle there.
What is the camber repair these people are talking about?
Is it a permanent solution?
Kindly help.

Hey, Camber in a Celerio is not adjustable and usually camber means a bent strut, people who claim to adjust camber in a celerio will usually do it by force fitting an objects in the strut joint like a balancing weight and making it come out a little, that object will come out when you hit a speedbreaker or a pothole hard.

The right way is to replace the strut, go to a MASS, let him check the readings and he will change the strut if its out of spec and you are set!

Originally Posted by FarPatel

I've been using 'Sign Tyres', just off the main road, at the side of Sion Hospital, for years, for both, buying new tyres, as well as WB/WA. Can't remember the charges but they should be reasonable. It's run by a well educated Sikh gentleman.

I know this guy but sorry to say I felt he was a total thug, charged me 1800 bucks for chrome nuts and wheel nuts 8 years back, his balancing machine kepts showing different readings everytime he rotated the tyre, was super rude when I questioned this.

Just my opinon, if things have changed in all these years then I don't know

Mods: Damn, I am sorry again, this has happened to me twice in 2 days, I created another post, can you please merge them please?

[RahulC]

Hi Guys,

I have a very naive question - How do you know if the alignment is done properly?
I got balancing and wheel alignment done recently on my Maruti Swift Vxi after changing all 4 tires. I have driven it for ~200kms now and even when the steering is at the center position, I feel a slight pull towards the side (it's not unidirectional). Not sure if the steering response has changed or if there's some alignment issue. Would appreciate any guidance on how to resolve this.

[KkVaidya]

Originally Posted by RahulC

Hi Guys,

I feel a slight pull towards the side (it's not unidirectional). Not sure if the steering response has changed or if there's some alignment issue. Would appreciate any guidance on how to resolve this.

Please check the Tyre pressure first (when tires are dead cold). If OK, then you need to re-visit the alignment shop.

[Flyer]

Did Wheel Alignment and Balancing on my car recently. How do I check the numbers are looking good? Attaching the data sheet below. Can anybody here with the knowledge help?

[sukiwa]

Originally Posted by Flyer

How do I check the numbers are looking good?

Toe out has been corrected on front wheels.
Surprised to see handwritten report in this age of computerized machines, wireless sensors, cameras et al. Please find better wheel alignment center next time.

[KkVaidya]

Originally Posted by Flyer

Did Wheel Alignment and Balancing on my car recently. How do I check the numbers are looking good? Attaching the data sheet below. Can anybody here with the knowledge help?

For which vehicle is the report referring to? Difficult to know what is the standard Caster/Camber/Toe as it is not reflecting anywhere. From the readings, Caster seems to be on higher side (6+) which should make the steering stiff.

[dailydriver]

One of the famous alignment centres in my town is known for its hit or miss service. Countless cars have lost their lug nuts, bolts and even tyres because of their carelessness. Whenever experienced folks handle the cars, the alignment is spot on. But more often than not, skilled human resources are in scarce supply and customers are forced to go back repeatedly until one day we get fed up and end up searching for some other place.

The lone MRF T&S centre is also short staffed and hence its always a Hobson's choice.

Today, I saw my own car being reversed from the alignment bay with the sensor plate still attached to the rear LHS wheel . As soon as I realised this, I shouted and the car was stopped; a preliminary inspection revealed no visible damage to the tyre or the sensor.

Cursing him, I turned around to witness this:

Nothing wrong, right?

Wrong!

.

The tyre is being removed with a small rock acting as a stopper.

Wonder when/whether things will change .