Wheel Alignment - Cheshire, help/recommendation needed

[DanHohm]

Hi everyone,

First time posting. I’ve got an 18 month old T6. It’s been pulling to the left for a good year now. About 5 months ago I took it to a garage to have 4 wheel alignment done. They altered something they said was way out. However back in the driving seat the van felt the same. I waited to get new tyres (nearside outside edge worn) but hardly different with new tyres.

I am now getting through another tyre on the same side, pulling is worse than ever, and I’ve just noticed the outside edge of the REAR nearside tyre becoming badly worn.

So I’m in need of a recommendation of an expert in wheel alignment, someone who really understands suspension geometry rather than has just bought a laser machine and needs to make it pay for itself.

I live near Holmes Chapel, but business is in Stoke on Trent, although definitely willing to travel a bit if I was confident it would get sorted.

Thanks in advance for your help

Cheers

Dan

 

[Niknak]

Did you get a print out from the alignment ? So we can see the figures but only ever trust a print when you’ve seen it carried out, do you feel the van drift or is it a definitive pulling

 

[T6ARF]

Hi everyone,

First time posting. I’ve got an 18 month old T6. It’s been pulling to the left for a good year now. About 5 months ago I took it to a garage to have 4 wheel alignment done. They altered something they said was way out. However back in the driving seat the van felt the same. I waited to get new tyres (nearside outside edge worn) but hardly different with new tyres.

I am now getting through another tyre on the same side, pulling is worse than ever, and I’ve just noticed the outside edge of the REAR nearside tyre becoming badly worn.

So I’m in need of a recommendation of an expert in wheel alignment, someone who really understands suspension geometry rather than has just bought a laser machine and needs to make it pay for itself.

I live near Holmes Chapel, but business is in Stoke on Trent, although definitely willing to travel a bit if I was confident it would get sorted.

Thanks in advance for your help

Cheers

Dan

Hi Dan, is your van lowered at all or is it on the stock suspension?? As far as I know you want to be looking for a specialist tyre garage with a Hunter Wheel Alignment system.

 

[Andyr12]

Hi Dan I feel your pain. I am lucky that mine tracks well however I would love to get it checked but don’t want anyone to mess it up. I have tried at least three in your area as I am from Congleton on my Mercedes but still so bad that I am now looking further afield.

 

[Niknak]

Hopefully it was set as it should be as the spec is different from panel van to caravelle even with weight loads

 

[Niknak]

The alignment tools are only as good as the operator, all bushes must be checked first and ball joints, tyre pressures, fuel load vehicle load lots of parameters

 

[DanHohm]

Thanks for your reply NikNak,

Low and behold they couldn’t get it to print, I’ll try to find the photos I took of the screen but I’m not even sure was on the right screen at the time.

In regards to pulling or drifting, I’m not sure I know the difference. I know on a straight road I’d end up in the ditch within 10 seconds if I took my hands off the wheel.

Cheers

Dan

 

[Niknak]

I done mine the other day and now it’s lovely and straight

 

[Niknak]

Thanks for your reply NikNak,

Low and behold they couldn’t get it to print, I’ll try to find the photos I took of the screen but I’m not even sure was on the right screen at the time.

In regards to pulling or drifting, I’m not sure I know the difference. I know on a straight road I’d end up in the ditch within 10 seconds if I took my hands off the wheel.

Cheers

Dan

That old chestnut oh yeah printed don’t work

 

[DanHohm]

Hi Dan, is your van lowered at all or is it on the stock suspension?? As far as I know you want to be looking for a specialist tyre garage with a Hunter Wheel Alignment system.

Hi T6ARF,

Van is a work and not lowered, Hunters, ok I’ll look into that thankyou.

Cheers

 

[Niknak]

Thanks for your reply NikNak,

Low and behold they couldn’t get it to print, I’ll try to find the photos I took of the screen but I’m not even sure was on the right screen at the time.

In regards to pulling or drifting, I’m not sure I know the difference. I know on a straight road I’d end up in the ditch within 10 seconds if I took my hands off the wheel.

Cheers

Dan

Check the rear end on the van, that’s where your issue is going to be if it’s pitching that bad

 

[DanHohm]

Hi Dan I feel your pain. I am lucky that mine tracks well however I would love to get it checked but don’t want anyone to mess it up. I have tried at least three in your area as I am from Congleton on my Mercedes but still so bad that I am now looking further afield.

Ayup Andy,

we are in the same boat then

 

[Niknak]

Hi T6ARF,

Van is a work and not lowered, Hunters, ok I’ll look into that thankyou.

Cheers

On a panel van obviously you have the lwb and swb setting but also fuel load must be as stated and the load entered, when I adjust alighnment I make sure is it needs loads in passanger and drive seat most do these days

 

[DanHohm]

Check the rear end on the van, that’s where your issue is going to be if it’s pitching that bad

Thanks, I’m no kind of mechanic though, I’ll stick to plumbing, just need someone that knows what they’re on about to sort it for me

 

[DanHohm]

On a panel van obviously you have the lwb and swb setting but also fuel load must be as stated and the load entered, when I adjust alighnment I make sure is it needs loads in passanger and drive seat most do these days

Its got 3-5 hundred kg of racking at tools in the back

 

[Niknak]

Ok so what’s the gross load weight that can be carried by your van ?

 

[Niknak]

That weight is ok but how is it distributed ?

 

[T6ARF]

I can only imagine that the garage you’ve used have set it up on the wrong load settings. With it being a panel/work van, they will have set it up on a ‘full load’ setting assuming that you will be carrying a lot of weight! Now your van is over compensating for a load that is not there and the camber and toe will be pushing it to the kerb from the rear.... and you will be physically steering/pulling it from the kerb on the front, hence the tyre wear/scrubbing on the outer edge of both your near side tyres. I hope that all makes sense?

I’ve had my van aligned at a place called Tyre Medics in Hinckley, Leicestershire.... they’ve done a good number of vans from this forum and know what settings to use.... if all else fails or you’re travelling this way, it might be worth a visit to them. Good luck in getting it sorted Dan

 

[Andyr12]

I have heard that a place in Macclesfield with Hunter alignment is good so will probably use the Mercedes as the guinea pig.

 

[DanHohm]

That weight is ok but how is it distributed ?

pretty evenly but maybe a bit more on the offside