Wheel Alignment - Advice Please

[Kristian87]

Hey all,

Since the PS4S have gone on, I'm keen to get an alignment. I'm ashamed to say that I've never had one on the GT (yes, I know - very bad). Hoping for some words of wisdom.

I'm reluctant to head to Kwikfit/Halfords etc for obvious reasons, despite being the closest to my office. I've found a specialist - well, actually an independent German car specialist, but they do wheel alignment too & seem very friendly. Booked in with them on Thursday but at a cost of £99 (inc VAT). Seems expensive to me, but then I'm new to this!

Am I being too pedantic, and should I just swing by Kwikfit for a free alignment check and a (probably) cheaper alignment?

Keen to hear what others have done

Cheers

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[Eclipsar]

Kwikfit is your best bet as they have Hunter Hawkeye which is the best one to go for, had mine done without a problem by them

 

[Kristian87]

Kwikfit is your best bet as they have Hunter Hawkeye which is the best one to go for, had mine done without a problem by them

Yea I saw they use the Hawkeye kit. How much did they charge out of interest? No costs on the website. Assuming your black wheels survived ok?

 

[Damo66]

Had mine done last Saturday by this company who i always use for all my suspension, exhaust, brake, wheel alignments https://www.spires-st.com/

 

[Eclipsar]

Yea I saw they use the Hawkeye kit. How much did they charge out of interest? No costs on the website. Assuming your black wheels survived ok?

I can’t remember now as it was on my 1st mustang a couple of years ago, I know they had a one off price and a price for the life of the vehicle but can’t remember must be getting old

 

[SteveS]

Have mine done by an independent with Hunter kit. They check the alignment for free then charge £20 per adjustment. GT has been done three times in total now - the first time in Edinburgh but the camber was a little extreme so had it dialed back the next time. As it failed it's MOT on a suspension component it needed done again and another minor adjustment.

 

[Splash]

I use my local national tyres, never had an issue, I've used them on all my cars, and the wife's. Charged me about £79 (that included tyre rotation).

 

[hinch]

Needs to be a hunter to do it properly but remember its not just a wheel / suspension geometry alignment on these cars but they also need a subframe alignment too at the rear which is beyond the capability of most places.

 

[SteveS]

CB005 and associated Steeda subframe alignment bushes...

 

[hinch]

if you have all 4 bush center's then it should be square mostly if you're just cb005 it can still be out at the rear of the subframe as the front mounts on cb005 are mildly pivot-able.

 

[Centurion07]

Had mine done recently at Micheldever Tyres who are located in, wait for it, Micheldever.

Was around £100 for 4-wheel alignment but they were the second place I've been to and the second place that couldn't work out how to adjust the rear camber despite me providing a handy schematic.

I think the confusion arose because the guy thought that as soon as he touched the bolt the reading should change as per the fronts which have cambered bolts fitted, not realising that he physically had to lever the arm to get an adjustment. Luckily my rears were pretty much ok.

I used Gibbo's settings and gave those to the guy but be aware some places are funny about deviating from manufacturer specs. Even had one place refuse to do mine post-crash using every excuse under the sun not to put it on their Hunter machine. No naming or shaming but it was an NCR bodyshop in Basingstoke. They have branches elsewhere so I will never be darkening any of their doors with my business again. Pricks.

 

[Eclipsar]

I used Gibbo's settings and gave those to the guy but be aware some places are funny about deviating from manufacturer specs. Even had one place refuse to do mine post-crash using every excuse under the sun not to put it on their Hunter machine. No naming or shaming but it was an NCR bodyshop in Basingstoke. They have branches elsewhere so I will never be darkening any of their doors with my business again. Pricks.

I used Gibbo’s Setting as well, manager at quikfit would not allow it, said it had to be manufacturer setting, so I stayed with mechanic and gave him the settings I wanted and he just dialled them in.

 

[Centurion07]

Yeah, NCR's first excuse was their machine wouldn't allow them to deviate from Ford's specs but couldn't explain exactly why. When I gave him the excuse of the machine not reading outside of Ford's specs he agreed THAT was the issue.

Then I suggested I would accept Ford's settings and that I just needed to check the thing wasn't all bent out of shape after the crash he said he didn't think they would even be able to get to Ford's own specs despite me telling him that I didn't care if they even made any adjustments, I just wanted to check the alignment. Wasn't having any of it. So fuck NCR bodyshop in Basingstoke (and elsewhere for that matter).

 

[Kristian87]

Thanks for the replies guys, good to know I'm not being taken for a ride @ £100. Am I right in thinking the wheels will be coming off? Got some fresh wheel nuts here I was planning on putting on but may ask this place to throw them on & save me a job...

@Centurion07 - you close to announcing your comeback?

 

[hinch]

shouldn't have to take wheels off for alignment

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