Wheel Alignment

[chrisdenton]

Can anyone recommend a place where I can get a full wheel alignment check and adjustment done near Milton Keynes.

I've thought of Weltmeister at Silverstone but they sound expensive.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Chris,

I'm pretty sure that Weltmeister DO do alignment although I've never been there to get my 964 done. Personally I use JZ Machtech in Kings Langley because I know that they are good and I find it more convenient to get the train back to MK. JZ are quite expensive (they charge £260 + VAT for the 964) but Chris Boys really does know his stuff.

G-Force in Aylesbury will also do it although I've never had a good feeling about their "string and protractor" equipment but I have heard good things said about them nevertheless.

Hope that helps.

Regards

Dave

 

[Fen]

3, 2, 1... (or has a card been marked?)

 

[berg944]

[]Must be on holiday..............maybe across the pond[]

Mike[:'(]

 

[Guest]

I was told by my MOT guy that there's a man here in Banbury that'll do a full laser alignment check for £30, and do the adjustments working on a rate of £20 an hour (MOT guys customers have always said to him what a good job they've done after going there). Once I've fitted my camber plates, I'm going to see him, so if you can wait until early in the new year (ie mid-Jan) then I'll let you know.

 

[944turboS]

I would be interested in the results & contact details if the work is good.

 

[Guest]

Of course! If he does do a good job, rest assured I'll let you guys know (it'll get him experienced on 944s then too![] )

 

[colin129]

I can vouch for JZ Machtech as well.

 

[danmason]

While we're on this subject, does anyone have any recommendations for places in or around Birmingham?

 

[chrisdenton]

One place I would definitely not recommend is F1 Autocentre in Leighton Buzzard. They have all the latest equipment for sure but this can only be as good as the person operating it. After 20 minutes trying to loosen a seized nut I went over to see what the problem was. Even I, with my limited auto mechanical knowledge, know that to loosen a nut you have to try and turn it anti clockwise!

I left quickly at that point. We'll try somewhere else tomorrow

 

[944turboS]

Thats a real worry, how do these monkeys get jobs????

 

[Andy Duncan]

Dan,
EMC in Birmingham are very good. Leading preparer of 944's in the Porsche Open Championship. They also prepared Tom Segrue's Championship winning 944S2.

Kevin or Alex 0121 328 2225, if you mention my name they'll probably charge you another 5%.......
andy duncan

 

[danmason]

Many thanks Andy - I'll give them a call.

Cheers
Dan

 

[Guest]

That doesn't sound far off to me. I used a local independent specialist (Red Line Racing) and they charge £180. However, I have spoken to some other non-Porsche owning friends and they have paid substantially less for a supposedly laser four-wheel alignment. However, I don't know if we are truely comparing apples with apples, so to speak.
Regards,

Graham

 

[944turboS]

Be sure about what you have been quoted for. A 4 wheel alignment can be very different from a full geometery set up. The latter will cover Camber, Castor & Toe In settings.

 

[Fen]

Wherever you go needs to have the right equipment, access to the specifications and an understanding of what adjuster makes which change and the order to set the various adjustments. The independent I use was dealer trained on the 944 and he has the required knowledge and data. He hires the gear from the local ProTyre (in other words he takes the car there and sets it up himself, paying them for use of the alignment kit). I don't know what he charges for the job on its own, though I'm pretty sure 2.5 hours is longer than it takes - that is assuming the fasteners are not corroded solid of course. An OPC should be able to do it and would have access to the data, but they might be doing it from the manual if nobody there has had the 944 training. Independents might have the training/knowledge but not the equipment and places like ProTyre might have the equipment but not the knowledge (or data even). Wherever you go it's worth trying to get a fixed price in case they have to struggle with seized fasteners.

 

[burrow01]

OPC Cambridge do seem to have retained some knowledge of older Porsches

They were able to tell me over the phone how to bypass the DME relay by wiring pins together on my 86 911 when it failed on the way to Le Mans, and have done some work recently on my 993

I got a quote of £220 for an alignment on my 993 from Weltmeister (although this includes doing the kinematic toe in, I cannot imagine that the time taken would be any longer)

There is someone in the Bedford area who was very cheap for alignment - may be able to find this via a search if they would be close enough to you

Hope this helps []

Pete

 

[dlknight]

This old chestnut

Just received my car back from the bodyshop after my mishap in January, and noticed that the geometry is way out on the front. Turns out they sent it to a local tyre and battery place to have the geometry checked. Gave them a call and don't think they had even heard of castor lol

So bodyshop is having is back on Friday to get it done properly...... fingers crossed then hey !

Dave K.