Wheel alignment

[vr1066]

Hi,

Just a post to moan…

On Monday this week I put my car into Farmers (a local chain owned by the previous Kwik fit owner) to have a track rod replaced and my wheels aligned.

I dropped the car off, got some breakfast and went back to collect it. When I got the car back and started to drive I couldn't believe it. The steering wheel was way off to the right and the car seriously pulled to the left.

I called and informed them car wasn't right and was told "oh yes it was very difficult to do, just bring it back tomorrow and we'll sort it". Now I’m wondering why give me the car back when they knew fine well it wasn't right!?

Tuesday I go back and they attempt again, I get the car back and it's no different! I call them and get told that the equipment needed re-calibrated but if I come in tomorrow they will definitely sort it.

I'm trying not too go mental by this point.

Anyways, I go back on Friday and they try for the 3rd time. Third time lucky? NO! This time the steering wheel is almost centre but the car still pulls to the left, not as much as before but all the same it's not right. I call them again and this time I’m told to take it to their “specialist centre” where they use this £60,000 machine to do it, hunter system I think they called it.

I arrive at their "Specialist Centre" today for them to finally sort this out. They take the car and vanish for about 10-15 mins then come back to say they can't get the equipment on the wheels cause the cars to low!

My car is lowered but its buy no means low. I called my mate who has experience in this area for some advice. He advised that they were just not up to the job and saying my cars to low was an excuse for not being able to do it properly.

Moral of the story don't use ****e commercial companies if u want a job done properly.

I’m now going to put the car into a real garage, like I should have done in the first place.

[waynne]

You gets whats ya pays for!

[buddy]

Hope you didn't pay any dosh to them and learnt a valuable lesson.
MECHANICS FIX MOTORS AND FARMERS PLOUGH FIELDS....

[vr1066]

Originally Posted by buddy

Hope you didn't pay any dosh to them and learnt a valuable lesson.
MECHANICS FIX MOTORS AND FARMERS PLOUGH FIELDS....

heheh to true man.

I just assumed that anyone with the proper equipment could carry it out.

My main reason for concern is that I just bought 2 new tyres and would like to get some use out of them.

I tried calling a couple places today but got now answer so hopefully I can it get sort next week.

[buddy]

Have you tried skidz in falkirk,they are very good and know what their talking about?let us know how you get on.

[HDi fun]

Wheel alignment is a bit of a black art. Last time I had my car aligned properly it took nearly three hours. Most of this is checking and aligning the test equipment to the car initially.

Adjustments are usually simple but when you get into camber and castor adjustments at the back it can take time. The service cost me £165 from AMD Technik in Bicester, Oxon who re-aligned my Peugeot 406 after a nasty encounter with a very deep pot hole.

Pricey, but it goes absolutely arrow straight since.

In my opinion it's money well spent given the reduced spend on tyres and fuel. Even better when you get the local authority to meet the cost but you have to prove negligence on their part, which involves a court hearing as all have a statutory defence entered.

I offered them the opportunity to 'test' their defence. They declined eventually and wrote a cheque!!