Having renewed everything at the back end a few weeks ago, finally got round to having a four wheel computerised alignment done. Fortunate to have Micheldever Tyres more or less on my doorstep, so booked in for 0900 this morning.

"Julian" took the car off me ( I hate giving someone else the keys!) and started work.

Car driven into bay with pit, and "reflectors" fitted to all four wheels. The initial scan showed up significant tow out on the Front Right and Rear Left (as expected on this one as been getting outer tyre wear at rear). Car then seemed to adjust itself a little and the toe out at the front came within limits, but still a little toe out.

Looking at the tyres, the fronts, which were nearly new back in July 2008, and have done @ 40K, are just starting to show signs of wear on the inside, with @ 4mm difference to wear on the outside. Rear left has gone more or less bald, especially on the outer edge, rear right, some outer edge wear, but this seems to have evened up since the rear end refit.

So decided no adjustment needed to camber front or back but adjustment to all the toe on both axles. Saw that Julian had a nifty air gun vibration tool to loosen up the track rod end nuts, not that mine looked like they needed it! Also good to see that when working from a pit/ramp, and with the right tools, all the adjustable eccentric bolts are accessible without wheel removal

So here are the results:

FRONT

Toe
Front Left Initial: 0.18º Min -0.09º Max 0.09º Final: -0.01º
Front Right Initial: -0.66º Min -0.09º Max 0.09º Final: -0.01º

Camber
Front Left Initial: -0.38º Min -0.83º Max 0.17º Final: -0.66º
Front Right Initial: -0.86º Min -0.83º Max 0.17º Final: -0.63º

REAR

Toe
Rear Left Initial: -0.87º Min -0.07º Max 0.27º Final: 0.15º
Rear Right Initial: -0.07º Min -0.07º Max 0.27º Final: 0.15º

Camber
Rear Left Initial: -0.78º Min -1.50º Max -0.50º Final: -1.22º
Rear Right Initial: -1.19º Min -1.50º Max -0.50º Final: -0.96º

See that simply adjusting the toe has brought the camber into line as well Thumbs Up

On test drive the car is very susceptible to road camber so pulls slightly to the left on normal A/B roads, goes straight if I straddle the white line. Not tried on motorway, but if still pulls to the left might take it back for more adjustment. I put two nearly new tyres on the rear at the same time, so might let them bed in a bit. ( now 3rd set on rear with these wheels, given the fronts have lasted since ownership)

Of interest, Micheldever use Autodata as their reference book, giving slightly different numbers to the ones quoted in RAVE for steering geometry (we are only talking 0.01 of a degree !)

Wheel alignment check and toe in adjustments £60. All done inside 90 minutes (includes tyre swap @ £28 )

Found a nice article (OK, its for racing cars but the idea is the same), that explains castor, camber and toe:
http://www.ozebiz.com.au/racetech/theory/align.html

A quick dash through eBay shows that toe/tracking and camber tools can be had from @ £100 for DIY .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Could just be me, but getting 1.3 more mpg (from 26.6 to 27.9) since alignment .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

You should get more MPG when correctly adjusted...

Joe90 wrote:

Could just be me, but getting 1.3 more mpg (from 26.6 to 27.9) since alignment

mm i wonder if i get mine done will i get 27.9 MPG????  Growing old is compulsory Growing up is optional

probably, with the wind behind you and going downhill, and changing your engine to a diesel might help ...  ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

After another day it is up to 28.2 mpg - enjoying this  .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Still returning over 28 mpg, although I do have the A/C off atm due to it not working but enjoying the breeze  .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

fuelly says 25.9..  ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Click the image in my sig and check latest mpg .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

good read. I swear by having mine done every 2 years at Harwoods as the off road work in the winter i am sure knocks it out slightly 3.0 VSE - 2015MY
Corris with Black, RSE, 22 turbines, privacy, deployables

Anyone know a good place to get this done near Harrogate?

Oh yeah! You diesel guys just rub it in! The only way I'd ever get 25+ mpg would be to push it down a steep hill.

hahahahahahaha like you ever get over 20mpg in a ffrr.....oh wait are you saying they really do?  2007 3.0L Diesel VW Touareg SE
2003 4.4 LPG, Vogue, Silver

TDV8 26mpg all day long without trying, no fiddling with LPG hoses, visit to Tesco to fill up once per fortnight (diesels run on anything no need for Ultimate, Maximum, Superior top price fuel) and good performance on tap now I have had it remapped

However the 4 wheel alignment sounds like something I should get done, anyone know anywhere in the North West? Geoff

thanks for the alignment setting, i have saved them and will be getting my L322 done when i take delivery here in RSA this week.
thanks