Geometry Setup

[Bodgit]

i have just had to have 2 new tyres on the front of the compressor. The garage checked the alignment and said it was out. Fair enough it did look out as the figures didnt match when they showed me.

i didnt get them to do it as there were a few things they said that worried me.

1. the guy walked into reception and said "who owns the seat?" naturally i didnt answer. Followed by "you know the red car on the ramps over there". I pointed out it was a toyota and he replied oh.

2. I asked how much it was out by and what it should be set at. He replied "i checked the chart" to which i replied "yes but you looked up the seat settings."

3. I queried the fact they wanted to use the t-sport setup. Now this is where i am a bit fuzzy. I was concerned they may not have the right settings because it was different size wheels and lowered and they may not be the same. The replied we'll just toe both sides in .5 and that should do it.

4. they were going to charge £30 but they then said if i wanted them to phone toyota technical to check the settings and setup the 4 wheel alignment it was now going to cost me £90.

It was at that point i told them not to bother.

I gues my question is a, did i do the right thing or was i being paranoid? and b, should i be taking the car to toyota or a specialist to get this done?

The tyre fitting service was really good. they are a registered Pirelli performance centre and the tyre prices were pretty good £90 each (blackcircles.com wanted £95).

Anyway i guess that is my minin rant over and i have got that off my chest.

[St3ve]

If you're in Northampton, Cant Sims Toyota do it? or dont they have the facility?

[Bodgit]

If you're in Northampton, Cant Sims Toyota do it? or dont they have the facility?

i was thinking about that but wasnt too sure what the quality of work would be like if they carried it out. reading these boards i have read a few worrying stories about dealers.

Has anyone out there any experience of Sims?

[rolley]

they were going to charge £30 but they then said if i wanted them to phone toyota technical to check the settings and setup the 4 wheel alignment it was now going to cost me £90.

Not so long back I had major outside wall wearing. So I took it in to my local T dealer Lindop Borthers in Wrexham and asked them to check it out. Got a 4 wheel alignment for about £80 I say 4 wheel but apparently its not possible to change some aspects of the cars rear suspension (Normal Pre-facelift Corolla) Anyway thought I'd give you a ball park figure.

Anyway was quoted a 4 wheel alignment from Bentleys in Warrington which was double that

Anyway as for the cars setup as yours is a Compressor and has different tyre size and is lower its probably best you go to dealer or a reputable garage rather than have Tommy Dicks Garage Monkey about with it from a Pre-historic Wall Chart. Anyway find out the costs first from a main T dealer and do a bit of shopping round to she what other T dealers will cost ya and another thing you could do is check the phone book to see any other places do a four wheel alignment service. See whether they can do it or if they can't!

[SMW]

http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/index.htm

This guy is really good but he is based in Watford so no good for you.

However take a look round his site and you will see just how complicated 'real' geometry alignment is.

[cfc1]

3. I queried the fact they wanted to use the t-sport setup. Now this is where i am a bit fuzzy. I was concerned they may not have the right settings because it was different size wheels and lowered and they may not be the same. The replied we'll just toe both sides in .5 and that should do it.

4. they were going to charge £30 but they then said if i wanted them to phone toyota technical to check the settings and setup the 4 wheel alignment it was now going to cost me £90.

It was at that point i told them not to bother.

I gues my question is a, did i do the right thing or was i being paranoid? and b, should i be taking the car to toyota or a specialist to get this done?

1st of all it wouldn't matter if the T-Sport settings are the same or not, the fact that you have lowered the car means that the standard settings won't apply. The standard settings can only be used with the standard suspension setup.

2nd. Toyota technical wouldn't have been any use either, as again they would only have details for cars fitted with their own suspension setup.. even contacting the manufacturer who made your suspension wouldn't do you any good as they would have no idea what the setup would be for your car.

3rd. You did the right thing to walk away from this one.. what you need to do is get a Full Global Geometric Check carried out.. don't confuse this with 4 wheel allignment.. A Full Global Check will check, and set up where applicable, 15 different angles, incl Castor and camber... but unfortunately this is more costly.. anywhere from 50 - 100 quid.. shop around for the best price.

I haven't looked at http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/index.htm but i know that they do know their stuff, but good info can also be found here... http://www.whiteline.com.au/default.asp?page=/faqsusp01.htm

[Bodgit]

Thanks for all of the info on this. I have now spoken to Sims Toyota and they have quoted £55 and said although the work will take jsut over an hour they would like it all day.

after the comments that have been made and after looking at the websites i think i shall look at taking the car to a specialist. I feel it needs doing more from a stability on the road than tyre wear, i had niticed some twitcheyness under cornering but to be fair in a straight line you can take your hands of the wheel and it does not wander.

the only other thing is i dont trust a lot of tyre places as they work on bonuses and will do anything to show tracking is out. I should know i worked for ATS about 16 years ago.