[John320d]

My granddaughter has just visited me after getting a new tyre fitted at a local garage. They advised her to have her wheels re-aligned which she agreed to.
When she arrived at my house, I had a walk around her car and noticed that her wheeltrims were quite dirty but had no handmarks on them.
Question, is it possible to do an alignment without removing the trims?

[P14kle]

Yes. Its the steering arms that are adjusted underneath the car.

[John320d]

Originally Posted by P14kle

Yes. Its the steering arms that are adjusted underneath the car.

How can they scan the wheels for alignment with the trims on?

[therealdb1]

It depends on the equipment used. A lot of garages have a spider-like device that clamps on to the edge of the wheel rim where the tyre touches the wheel and that clamp holds the optics for the alignment. I would not expect anyone to "scan" the wheel itself as that would be a lot more complex system and would require a reference point off the vehicle.
Do you have a photo of the wheels with the trims fitted?

[John320d]

Originally Posted by therealdb1

It depends on the equipment used. A lot of garages have a spider-like device that clamps on to the edge of the wheel rim where the tyre touches the wheel and that clamp holds the optics for the alignment. I would not expect anyone to "scan" the wheel itself as that would be a lot more complex system and would require a reference point off the vehicle.
Do you have a photo of the wheels with the trims fitted?

I will check it out tomorrow. Thanks for the replies

[Digitalize]

Equipment shouldn't touch the face of the wheel, either hang on the tyre or grip the edge of the rim.

[Adam1990]

Did they not give her a before and after print out?

[ChawenHalo]

Originally Posted by Adam1990

Did they not give her a before and after print out?

Yep, that normally comes with the bill, whichever tire fitter you're using.

[creepy coupe]

Have a look at the track rod end locking nuts. see if there is signs of spanner work.

[Will_460cs]

go to any garage with a hunter machine and get a check for free (google alignmycar -they show a list of machines by location)... most places do this even dare i say it Quickfit

[Shanusascarabus]

Originally Posted by Will_460cs

go to any garage with a hunter machine and get a check for free (google alignmycar -they show a list of machines by location)... most places do this even dare i say it Quickfit

Really.... I paid 80 quid... yes it was booked in for a check and adjustment but it didn't need adjusting and I still got charged

[Will_460cs]

Originally Posted by Shanusascarabus

Really.... I paid 80 quid... yes it was booked in for a check and adjustment but it didn't need adjusting and I still got charged

sounds like you have been shafted... if there is no adjustment there is no charge. Of course there maybe unscrupulous ppl out there but checking alignment is a 5 minute job with a hunter.

[Will_460cs]

Car and Van Wheel & Tracking Alignment | Kwik Fit
Kwik Fit offers a free wheel alignment check at all of our UK centres so stop in if you need any help. Find Your Nearest Centre . Hunter Four-Wheel Alignment.
Search domain http://www.kwik-fit.comhttps://www.k...heel-alignment


Should we find that no adjustment is necessary, we will happily refund you

[AndyVR]

Originally Posted by Will_460cs

sounds like you have been shafted... if there is no adjustment there is no charge. Of course there maybe unscrupulous ppl out there but checking alignment is a 5 minute job with a hunter.

Nothing is a five minute job. Maybe they could check it properly in 20 minutes...and charge a fair amount for it.

A smaller garage that has invested in a hunter machine (£££££££££££) has also got to get the thing to pay for itself.

Kwik-fit will be doing a 'free check' as a sales pitch to get you in, they will find something wrong with the car and charge you well for it.

I'd rather pay a well known Independent BMW specialist with a hunter m/c, than take a chance with a place like Kwik fit.

[Will_460cs]

Originally Posted by AndyVR

Nothing is a five minute job. Maybe they could check it properly in 20 minutes...and charge a fair amount for it.

A smaller garage that has invested in a hunter machine (£££££££££££) has also got to get the thing to pay for itself.

Kwik-fit will be doing a 'free check' as a sales pitch to get you in, they will find something wrong with the car and charge you well for it.

I'd rather pay a well known Independent BMW specialist with a hunter m/c, than take a chance with a place like Kwik fit.

Just about all places with a Hunter machine will check for free not just quick fit... And yes it is a 5 minute job. Of course its a sales pitch that why they do it.

Your post is really angry dude, I am not promoting KF just simply helping the OP get his alignment checked after be potentially rinsed by a local garage... Sadly you seem to have missed the context.

[Jeff123]

Originally Posted by Will_460cs

sounds like you have been shafted... if there is no adjustment there is no charge. Of course there maybe unscrupulous ppl out there but checking alignment is a 5 minute job with a hunter.

I have had a couple done and it surprised me how long it took to actually do the check. The equipment has to be placed onto the wheels and there are weights to put inside the car to simulate a driver. Then its all to be adjusted on the car to get the "before" read-out.

I reckon that the whole job took around one hour, maybe more, and the initial set-up and check was around 25 minutes.

When you start the job, you can never be sure what the alignment looks like, so I would expect a charge even if everything is OK.

By the way, with the type of equipment being used and the tolerances etc, I would be amazed if many cars don't need some form of alignment. The garage that did mine is close to a number of main dealers and they do quite a few virtually new Mercs.

[ChawenHalo]

Originally Posted by Jeff123

I have had a couple done and it surprised me how long it took to actually do the check. The equipment has to be placed onto the wheels and there are weights to put inside the car to simulate a driver. Then its all to be adjusted on the car to get the "before" read-out.

I reckon that the whole job took around one hour, maybe more, and the initial set-up and check was around 25 minutes.

When you start the job, you can never be sure what the alignment looks like, so I would expect a charge even if everything is OK.

By the way, with the type of equipment being used and the tolerances etc, I would be amazed if many cars don't need some form of alignment. The garage that did mine is close to a number of main dealers and they do quite a few virtually new Mercs.

Well once the car is raised and the machine set up with all the bits it does give a "before" readout. That in itself is at least 10 mins. Doing the adjustments can take an hour if its a 4x4. If ypu change something on one side it will affect the other. I've used my local Euromaster and they've always done a good job on my newly acquired cars or when I change tyres. They're in the business of making money and not doing a crappy job and losing customers...

[AndyVR]

Originally Posted by Will_460cs

Just about all places with a Hunter machine will check for free not just quick fit... And yes it is a 5 minute job. Of course its a sales pitch that why they do it.

Your post is really angry dude, I am not promoting KF just simply helping the OP get his alignment checked after be potentially rinsed by a local garage... Sadly you seem to have missed the context.

It's probably 5 minutes just moving the car back and forth to the machine. 3 minutes doing the printout. Time discussing result with customer. Nothing is for free.

If I had my car checked thoroughly on a Hunter machine, by a good technician, and they reported back that my car was spot on, then I'm more than happy to pay £50 for that. £80 is a bit steep though.

The way people treat cars generally, wheel alignment will 99% of the time need adjusting.

Not angry at all mate.

[Will_460cs]

From their website..

HAWKEYE® ALIGNMENT SYSTEM
Two minutes is all it takes to get a printout with alignment reading prepared for your customer, using Hunter's new PowerBay Express Alignment System. By integrating strategic high speed technologies, the PowerBay System redefines the wheel alignment service bay for greater speed and efficiency.


- I speak from experience of using a hunter machine..

-Weights are not needed on the current generation of Hunter..

-https://www.hunter.com/alignment-systems/hawkeye


See 2 minute drill..


Oh I actually have access to and use a Hunter machine, it incredibly easy to take before and after, drive the car on the ramp, attach the wheel brace and attach the 4 self centre wheel clamps..


Oh and I published a how to on DIY adjustment string method on this forum..

Thats why shops with Hunter machines offer it FOC! If you want to pay £50-80 to check alignment it not my money but I would rather buy a beer and throw the Operator a few beer tokens.

Again this thread was to help someone get there alignment checked after they suspected nothing had been done!

[Will_460cs]

Originally Posted by Jeff123

I have had a couple done and it surprised me how long it took to actually do the check. The equipment has to be placed onto the wheels and there are weights to put inside the car to simulate a driver. Then its all to be adjusted on the car to get the "before" read-out.

I reckon that the whole job took around one hour, maybe more, and the initial set-up and check was around 25 minutes.

When you start the job, you can never be sure what the alignment looks like, so I would expect a charge even if everything is OK.

By the way, with the type of equipment being used and the tolerances etc, I would be amazed if many cars don't need some form of alignment. The garage that did mine is close to a number of main dealers and they do quite a few virtually new Mercs.

Current gen KDS and Hunter don't use weights, so must be an old machine.. The equipment on the wheels takes about 20 seconds per wheel to fit..

[Jeff123]

Originally Posted by Will_460cs

Current gen KDS and Hunter don't use weights, so must be an old machine.. The equipment on the wheels takes about 20 seconds per wheel to fit..

I am going back a few years here, seems like things have moved on.