Wheel alignment tollerance

[p4ilip]

I've just been to kwik fit for an mot and had a free wheel alignment check. They said one wheel was 27 minutes towing out. I had them adjust it but googled it and that's the equivialent of 0.45 degree which doesn't sound as bad. I wondered what tollerance do they normally work to? Having never adjusted tracking on a car myself 0.45 degrees sounds like a very small amount.

[tut]

Front or rear Phil?

Correct figures for a standard road setup should be front 0.2mm toe out overall (-0.03degs) and rear 1.2mm toe in (0.16degs) each side.

tut

[alicrozier]

I'm not sure on your car Phil but in general the front alignment settings vary from dead straight to 0.07 deg out overall (both sides added together) with a tolerance +/- 0.07 deg overall.

Rear setting vary from toe in 0.16 to 0.33 each side with a tolerance range of 0.07 deg and 0.04 deg side/side.

So if the kwikfit number is correct it was miles out and you'd be able to see that visibly (over 3mm) and should have been very noticeable to drive. If it was front it would have been very fidgety in a straight line, steering wheel not straight and would turn in like tut after a nurse. You would have some excess tyre wear on the inside edges.

If it was rear I'm surprised you haven't visited the nurses yourself as it would have been wanting to spit you off into the bushes at every opportunity...

[p4ilip]

Sorry, late reply. It was A fiesta on the front wheels. TBH I'd thought it felt pretty good to drive and hadn't really slowed me down at all. I had it done as had a new set of tyres on so thought best make it all correct but it feels much the same.

[Dominic]

I very much suspect this is a case of; Kwikfit "We'll give you a free alignment check - oh look, it's way out - let us fix it, that will be £££s to fix". I would be very surprised if it was as far out as they claimed. I am sure you would have noticed if it had been that bad. They are at it IMHO.

[Rosssco]

Assuming you needed disc and pads all round also?