Refused Wheel Alignment

[jamlid]

So I've just taken the car to have the alignment done at a reputable place with some good equipment (JB 3D?) and they came back to say the only alignment data on their system is for a 1987 3 series but when they load that onto the computer, it was completely way off what they were seeing.

They said they weren't willing to adjust it to the 1987 specs with it being so far off, it could be that those settings are actually wrong..


Has anyone come across this before?

It's a 1991 J Reg 325i on Standard BBS RZ's but lowered on coilovers. Track rods and balljoints are all fine.

This is how it sits:


Thanks

[Green]

Some places can't do it if its too low, I've had that issue. Never come across it being the wrong data though just an incompetent tool monkey that can't use a computer.

[jamlid]

He said I should probably take it to a Motorsport specialist with a rolling road who can set it up based on the suspension change?! I only want the front toe adjusting!!

[Grrrmachine]

I'm so good to you guys

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... _Explained

Have a read of that, follow the guide at the bottom, convert to degrees using the link provided, and compare your results with the settings on the page.

[Topblag]

I'm sure BMW used to hang weights off the front and rear of the car to do the wheel alignment. I've had refusals based on this also.

[jamlid]

I'm so good to you guys

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... _Explained

Have a read of that, follow the guide at the bottom, convert to degrees using the link provided, and compare your results with the settings on the page.

Thank you

So the settings on the page (Front 0°06' to 0°12') would that be suitable for a car that's lower too? Is the setting somehow relative to the height of the car or is 0°06 to 0°12 going to be correct whatever the height?

I'm tempted to call the Garage back up on Monday with those numbers and just ask them to set it to that.

[Grrrmachine]

No, if you've lowered it then all your settings will be completely buggered, as the page says. You can try adjusting things to those settings, but if you read the page it will tell you there is no adjustment ability at the rear, so you're f00ked.

[jamlid]

Yeah, the rear was pretty fine when they showed me on the screen. Camber was fine with a little negative all round, but it was even. It was just the front toe that was off the scale. I know there's no more adjustment in the car without aftermarket parts. I probably should have mentioned that in my first post

I'll see what they say then!

[Brianmoooore]

I can assure you there's plenty of adjustment available for front toe, unless you have some very strange parts on the car. You need to set it for a small amount of toe in. I aim for about 2mm, and set it up as accurately as it needs to be with a simple piece of string.

[driftwood]

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewit ... 0708096231
If you want to do your own tracking after adjusting ride height I recommend one of these. Very cheap and works brilliantly. You need a relatively flat floor to use it though.

[harry_p]

Depending one how much its been lowered, you've probably gained a load of toe out.

The rideheight shouldn't make any difference to their ability to set the tracking, I have no idea why so many garages are so useless.

[maxfield]

Depending one how much its been lowered, you've probably gained a load of toe out.

The rideheight shouldn't make any difference to their ability to set the tracking, I have no idea why so many garages are so useless.

Sometimes because you can't see the lasers due to the car being lower, had it a couple of times or can't get it on a 4 poster ramp (unless its a flush mounted one)

[DanThe]

Depending one how much its been lowered, you've probably gained a load of toe out.

The rideheight shouldn't make any difference to their ability to set the tracking, I have no idea why so many garages are so useless.

Some of the laser jobo's have to hang the gauge off the wheel, there are 2 or 3 arms that go over the tyre, so if you have slammed/gaped/poked your stretched nankangs to the max, man, they cant get the gauge on the tyre.

I use the old skool dunlop gauges, no problems

[sweep]

my old man tracks mine with the old style guages also as dan says^^^^^^and its lowered.

[jamlid]

So, bit of a resurrection..

I took the car back to get the tracking done and gave them the figures from the Wiki for the toe and they agreed to do it with no guarantee (due to the coilovers)

Since they've done it, I've found it pulls to the right enough to be annoying.. but the numbers on the tracking are good for the toe now?

Here's my printout




Any ideas? I'm going to check my tyre pressures are OK and also measure the heights all round to make sure I've not got one corner too high/low..

[jamlid]

So I swapped my tyres front to back and now it pulls to the left a bit! I'm guessing it must be due uneven tyre wear then..

[Grrrmachine]

Daft as it sounds, have you got the same tyre pressure in the two front tyres? That can have a noticeable effect.

[jamlid]

Yeah, after owning wheels in the past that lose air a lot I'm militant with tyre pressures!

Now that we've moved both front to back and it now pulls to the left, I'm going to keep the left side as it is and change the right side back round to see what happens!

At least it seems to handle better now. Maybe placebo effect..