I tried negotiating a tight turn in a car park the other day and I seem to have knocked the wheel rim on a tall kerb rather than just scuffing the tyre. The steering is very vague and pointing all over the place. I'm surprised by the extent, considering it was just a tap, it feels more like I wrapped it around a pole at speed. I'd like not to spend too much on it, as the car is a P.O.S. '81 XD Falcon only worth a couple of hundred, so I'd prefer not to exceed that on repairs :) I'd like to keep the car, it's generally reliable, and I've had it since new, so there is a sentimental attachment too. Thanks.
Wanted: cheap front end alignment, Melbourne inner/northern suburbs
endotherm on 09/12/2012 - 16:37
Comments
The wheel should be good, it's actually a Globe cast alloy rim, it's just got a slight scrape mark on part of the circumference. The tyres have probably only got 5000 km on them and they were all balanced and ran pretty true beforehand.
I was considering Pedders, I used to use them many years ago when I actually gave a damn about cars. But I was wondering if there was anyone more economical around.
I'm beginning to think I might have damaged a ball joint or similar, I'm starting to hear a few clunks and groans that weren't there last week :\ .
I would recommend not going to Pedders unless it is strictly just for a front end alignment. They always come up with some story about how you need to spend thousands on your car. The only reason i have ever used pedders it because i had a low car and they were the only ones that could do it. I would try and avoid them because they are always more expensive.
Go to Moonee Ponds Tyres on Mt Alexender Road, Moonee Ponds. They do a top job and actually care about the job they do. They are priced well. Before I went to them about five years ago I'd just take my car anywhere, but I'll stick with them now. They have redone my alignment when when I've thought it was out after hitting something soon after new tyres and alignment. I went there after a chick backed into my wheel and broke te bead. I thought the tyre was stuffed and they reset it for free. They called me up to come back for a free rotate and check the balance six weeks after a new set of tyres had settled in.
I had a brand new Saab and the peanuts at Saab did an alignment and the car came back with the steering wheel 45 degrees from where it should be and told me that was normal. These guys fixed it and made the car handle better than it had the first three years I'd had it. Was pissed off I hadn't been to them sooner.
When I was a young bloke, Pedders charged me for some work in the way only a big chain can and made me think anyone that touched my car was going to rob me blind. I can't say enough good things about these guys.
And they were the cheapest I could find for new Pirellis too.
When someone does a great job like this I really felt the need to let you know. Hope this helps.
BTW. If your ball joint is stuffed, GSD automotive around the corner from the tyre place is an honest mechanic too.
Thanks, this sounds good. Nice to know there are still places like this that care, like I remember from my youth.
I've also had the same lame excuse for the steering wheel pointing somewhere it shouldn't. With power steering I think my wheel turns 2.5 - 3 turns lock to lock. After one adjustment I had half a turn remaining to one side to get to lock! Then they try to "correct it" so the steering wheel looks level by removing and reseating the wheel inside the car. They stuff it up because they only adjust one tie rod and pull one wheel in to adjust the angle with respect to the other wheel, rather than adjust both wheels to the geometry of the car itself. In the end I'd insist on sitting in the drivers seat and ensuring the wheel remained steady while they adjusted the alignment. That way the car is loaded up to the normal driving weight and they have to adjust both wheels to suit.
good stuff, might have to check these guys out, i need an allignment and its really hard these days to find someone that actually does a good job.
The only place thats on my blacklist is Tyre factory ive gone to one in sunshine and chelthnam, their both crap. chelthnams closed now (not suprised) wondering when sunshine will since there's been so many stories for that particular one from speed fines from workers taking cars to crap service.
cheapest is the string method.
Not that hard to do, you should be able to google it. Your toe will be out and string can easily do that
Yep, it feels like severe toe-out, but that could easily be the camber knocked out on one side or a broken component as well. I'll get down and dirty and check it out and hopefully I can get away with this.
I do recommend putting your spare on and seeing if it makes a difference. Something similar happened to me and the main problem was the wheel itself.
if i were you mate id proberly go to pedders suspension, finding someone to do a good wheel alignment is very hard these days. You also have to consider that fact if your rim is buckled it will pull and vibrate, also depending on how your tires have worn on the front even with a wheel alignment it could still pull to one side.
Best thing to do if you want to save money.
move tires from rear to front.
drive car see how it goes.
if it drives good, thats well done if the car vibrates a little at certain speed like 80kms etc.
get wheeels balanced as most places dont balance tires at the back of vehicles
good luck