KwikFit visit. Help!!

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:29 am

Ok. I'm getting some tyres put on the front on friday arvo. streched for time, but there is a KwikFit right across the road from me. i'm going to assume they haven't jacked an elise before.
haven't read book, but from remembering the underside of ed's car there's 4 jacking points, 2 at the front and two in the middle.
what am i missing?? will they just have to do one at a time with a trolley jack?? with the car parked on a piece of wood??

tenkfeet · Post by **tenkfeet** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:01 am

There is also a jacking point underneath at the side just behind the door . Look for the blue sticker . They will probably not have a jack low enough so you will have to drive it up on to a bit of wood . I use a bit of wood against the car to stop it getting damaged . The last c**ts to jack up my other car stuck four dimples in it from a spikey jack .You also have a PM .

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:07 am

Sweet, thanks

offshorematt · Post by **offshorematt** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 11:54 am

Last time I went to a tyre warehouse, they made me jack up the car myself otherwise they wouldn't touch it.

Personally wouldn't touch KwikFit with a sh1tty stick. Had a couple of horrific experiences there on previous cars. The worst (and last) being the snapping off of three manifold studs while changing the exhaust manifold, then sending me on my way without a word about it.

Needs must I guess but make sure you stand over them while they work...

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 4:39 pm

I read somewhere (Maybe here) that one of the high street tyre places refused to fit tyres to a liz as they were different sizes front and rear. Apparently, according to them it's impossible and illegal.

I had mine done at a high street type, I showed them everything, how to jack and how to work the locky nuts but they fitted the tyres anyhow, the little valve marker isn't anywhere near the valve. Not to mention the enormous number of weights on each wheel.

To be fair there is no vbration at all and no damage at all. They also gave me a free exhaust clamp a few days later. £7+ VAT per corner.

Watch them like a hawk!

Rich

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 4:44 pm

RICHARDHUMBLE wrote:I read somewhere (Maybe here) that one of the high street tyre places refused to fit tyres to a liz as they were different sizes front and rear. Apparently, according to them it's impossible and illegal.

I had mine done at a high street type, I showed them everything, how to jack and how to work the locky nuts but they fitted the tyres anyhow, the little valve marker isn't anywhere near the valve. Not to mention the enormous number of weights on each wheel.

To be fair there is no vbration at all and no damage at all. They also gave me a free exhaust clamp a few days later. £7+ VAT per corner.

Watch them like a hawk!

Rich

Do wheels that are offset from their centre axis need to be balanced differently???

Scottd · Post by **Scottd** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 4:48 pm

no

RICHARDHUMBLE wrote:....according to them it's impossible and illegal.

I love that!

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 4:49 pm

He just did a sh*t job of it

mac · Post by **mac** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 4:51 pm

Tom,

Since the rotation isn't in that plane I don't see why they would. As far as I know they weights are there to make up for an differences in the construction of the tyre not the wheel.

What would make a difference is if the wheel was not attached to the balancer properly - if it's been mounted ecentrically, even just a little then that would cause problems.

2p

Mac

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 5:10 pm

mac wrote:Tom,

Since the rotation isn't in that plane I don't see why they would. As far as I know they weights are there to make up for an differences in the construction of the tyre not the wheel.

What would make a difference is if the wheel was not attached to the balancer properly - if it's been mounted ecentrically, even just a little then that would cause problems.

2p

Mac

and the balancer fixes through the hole in the centre of the wheel?? and not the bolt holes??
hence broken/lost centre caps...

mac · Post by **mac** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 5:44 pm

yup

And it's a special mount too - although if the guy is really good he can use one of the standard one.

Mac

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:35 am

mac wrote:yup

And it's a special mount too - although if the guy is really good he can use one of the standard one.

Mac

woo hoo!!! i am brimmed with confidence....

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 4:55 pm

well, 20 mins no bother mate, turned into 2 hours...

busy or something. so, watched like a hawk, v. careful w. jacking, wheels off, tyres etc, back on, used torque wrench (80-85Nm as specified), didn't use airgun thank fcuk

asked him what airgun does, he said 100/120 or something like that

wheels on ,caps on, job done happy boy

Cost £19 to have 2 tyres fitted that i supplied. Would def. use again. Ed had them do his 18" BBS monsters on his Anniversary Golf, no damage, and they did mine fine as well. Budget Tyre place at Meadowbank next to Morrisons. Top Job.

(although haven't driven at speed yet to check the balancing)

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 5:18 pm

Good news. Did they seem interested in the car? That is normally a good sign that they will take care.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 5:20 pm

RICHARDHUMBLE wrote:Good news. Did they seem interested in the car? That is normally a good sign that they will take care.

yeah, chatted a bit to the guy. They do MOT's and he was saying that when they did their training they had an elise in. Probably one of the worst cars for an MOT tester he said, given the size/undertrays etc... he'd worked on a few before though so it was fine