Wheel alignment?

[Brightsbane]

I'm getting 4 new D697's put on at Kmart Tyre & Auto this afternoon and they want to do a wheel alignment. Is this something that I should only get a specialist to do?

[BMKal]

I wouldn't be getting K-Mart to do the wheel alignment on mine. ;)

Stick with someone recommended by your LR dealer or trusted LR independent workshop.

I don't think there's anyone in Kalgoorlie that I'd trust to do a wheel alignment on mine - it would be a trip to Perth for me.

[LRD414]

.... they want to do a wheel alignment. Is this something that I should only get a specialist to do?

A specialist is required to put vehicle into Tight Tolerance mode for a wheel alignment. Kmart unlikely to have equipment for that.

If it helps, I just had a wheel alignment done at Austral, I think it was $140.

Cheers,
Scott

[Brightsbane]

Ok, I'll tell them not to do it. I'm taking off my 22" Stormers and putting back on the factory 18"s so it probably should get an alignment done. I won't be able to get into Austral until next week so I hope there won't be any short term issues to drive the car without an alignment until then.

[4evershiva]

good decision...don't ever go with kmart for wheel alignment...they do not have the tool to put our vehicles into align mode neither do they know about it....

[LRD414]

Well I drove around on my new GOE 18's after changing from factory 19's for quite awhile (~8000 k's) without an alignment.

Austral found the alignment was out quite badly, particularly on the rear. Oops:angel:.

So the sooner the better but you shouldn't have any major issues if only leaving it a week. I won't be leaving it ages like that again.

Scott

[Brightsbane]

Well the D697's are on and I didn't go through with the wheel alignment however they seemed to know all about the TTM setting and the suspension sensors etc. He said the guys have done Discos before and have all the correct equipment to do them. I guess it remains to be seen.

[LRD414]

.... however they seemed to know all about the TTM setting and the suspension sensors etc. He said the guys have done Discos before and have all the correct equipment to do them ....

Well that's interesting. Could be worth a go with them then. Experience and equipment is what counts, not the name on the workshop.

Scott

[letherm]

I just had mine in for an oil change at my dealer and asked them to do a wheel alignment as I had clipped a gutter and split a rear tyre. I was waiting for the car and the service manager came and had a chat. They don't do wheel alignments there but send them to the local Bob Jane T Mart. He suggested I could do that myself both to save time and cost and gave me the guy's name to ask for to tell him the service manager had sent me. Cost $75.00 which I thought was reasonable. Must admit I presumed that they put it in TTM as everything had been turned off including the auto headlights plus the fact that the dealer sent me there. Car is driving well so everything is ok. Time will tell I suppose.

Martin

[vbrab]

Have read in LR manual that when wheel aligning, FILL tank, and take extra baggage out of vehicle.
You need a "4 wheel" aligner, and some smart types have told me that the aligner needs to ensure that after setting vehicle up, and running through height settings to return to "normal" height, that they leave drivers door open (not sure if it matters which door), as seems open door will prevent suspension making height adjustments while alignment is being done (which might evidently affect alignment readings).
So when aligners tell me they have experience on Disco 3's I ask them what they do to keep suspension from making "adjustments".....have only found 1 aligner so far who mentioned the "open door" strategy, but have had "expert" aligners set me up, only to rip the edges off tyres in under 3000K's straight from aligners.
If you find an aligner who actually sets your vehicle up correctly, stick to them, as they are hard to find.

[scarry]

Well the D697's are on and I didn't go through with the wheel alignment however they seemed to know all about the TTM setting and the suspension sensors etc. He said the guys have done Discos before and have all the correct equipment to do them. I guess it remains to be seen.


k-mart where?

[Brightsbane]

Garden City, Upper Mt Gravatt, Brisbane.

[scarry]

Spoke to the tyre guys we use for our work vans,they say they have done alignments on heaps of D3/4.

What they do is leave them running at normal height,forgot to ask about whether they leave the door open.

They say they do them all like this,no complaints at all,been doing it for years.

Anyone heard of this?

[Celtoid]

Have read in LR manual that when wheel aligning, FILL tank, and take extra baggage out of vehicle.
You need a "4 wheel" aligner, and some smart types have told me that the aligner needs to ensure that after setting vehicle up, and running through height settings to return to "normal" height, that they leave drivers door open (not sure if it matters which door), as seems open door will prevent suspension making height adjustments while alignment is being done (which might evidently affect alignment readings).
So when aligners tell me they have experience on Disco 3's I ask them what they do to keep suspension from making "adjustments".....have only found 1 aligner so far who mentioned the "open door" strategy, but have had "expert" aligners set me up, only to rip the edges off tyres in under 3000K's straight from aligners.
If you find an aligner who actually sets your vehicle up correctly, stick to them, as they are hard to find.


Or you could just get LR or a device, or a mate with a device to just set it up in TTM and then you'd have no issue. :D


You're (and I certainly don't mean you vbrab ... I'm talking generally) talking about expensive cars with expensive tyres and how much do we save by not getting the wheel alignment done properly?

[Celtoid]

Spoke to the tyre guys we use for our work vans,they say they have done alignments on heaps of D3/4.

What they do is leave them running at normal height,forgot to ask about whether they leave the door open.

They say they do them all like this,no complaints at all,been doing it for years.

Anyone heard of this?


Heard of it often mate, but I'd avoid like the plague any professional outfit that suggests this path.


I had a Mr Muffler guy telling me they could align anything .... but didn't know what TTM was or what it is actually achieving ..... Yup dude, don't touch my car!


Daisy Hill in Brissy has a 'State Of The Art' workshop for BMW, that assured me they knew all about air suspended vehicles ....their wheel alignment turned out to be out by a massive amount when I got the car checked after seeing unusual wear on my tyres a few months later.


With regards to complaints .... a few mm will not be detected by the driver ... especially in a D4 .... especially on our wonderful roads :) .... long before it's too late.