Hunter Tracking/Wheel Alignment

[Jimbob 2705]

How much are people paying for Hunter Aligment? Got quoted £50 by Kwik Fit and my local Tyre Specialist Place (Who I'd probably go with)

What the chap did mention was that if the Clio 182 doesn't have a fixed rear beam (He didn't know off the top of his head, and neither did I - he did offer to look but I didn't have the car with me), each extra adjustment is £10

From what I understand that £50 only includes Toe adjustment on the front wheels?

What other alterations could I possibly need? Such as Camber, Caster, etc

It's a 182 on Cup Suspension with Cooksport Springs, don't have any spacers or camber bolts or anything like that

If anybody could help it would be greatly appreciated, just this sort of thing is over my head tbh

Many Thanks,

James

 

[Martin.]

All you can adjust is toe and camber on the front.

Nothing on the rear. It's a 'fixed beam'

If you don't have camber bolts then it will just be the front toe.

In which case, take it to National Tyres & Autocentre. You can get it done for £15 with this voucher.

http://www.national.co.uk/special-offers-wheel-alignment.aspx

 

[172_Tom]

As above - it's only the tracking (toe) that can be adjusted on the front.

If your car is handling strangely or you've never had a full alignment check then it's worth doing so that you can check the camber, caster and rear camber/toe values are reasonable.

 

[dangerous dave]

Merityre would charge £30-35 for a front toe years ago.. £60 for front and rear, £10 a camber, £15 for caster..

Harder jobs could increase the price.

 

[Jimbob 2705]

Thanks all, was quite keen on the Hunter Alignment as @172_Tom mentioned, I can have readings and see how the car is set up as I've never had it done before

Then I can look at camber bolts, or spacers, etc

 

[ADS_V6]

just had hunter done on my cup,makes a world of difference,steering is tighter and wheel is straight for once,i payed 29,99 all in

 

[Jimbob 2705]

Jesus, that's hell of a difference to the £50 I've been quoted!!

Pleased to hear that it made a difference, mine doesn't seem to bad but the steering wheel isn't centred so that needs doing, and would just like to know the rest of the settings on the car and see if I'd benefit from say some camber bolts, etc

 

[ADS_V6]

Hi mine is lowered on cooksports,with new shocks all round etc,my wheel is finally straight,he put a clamp on the wheel,even came out for me to be happy with it and explain the machine and settings etc,mine was set up as the standard set up,only problem is my track rod and tie rod is worn,so once i fit new ones they are re tracking it free of charge.Double win,get it done felt much better.

 

[Jimbob 2705]

Bloody hell, can't say fairer than that!!

Where about did you get it done buddy?

 

[ADS_V6]

auto stop porth south wales,recommended by jaff on here.Dont know many places who will set it up again for free,typical welsh valleys garage honesty and friendly,i need it to handle good going for stage 1 turbo conversion soon beep beep.

 

[Steven103]

Bear in mind it's 95% about how much care the technician takes and 5% about how fancy the equipment is, so definitely worth getting local recommendations.

 

[guysy]

My alignments been out for ages, will take a drive down to my nearest national branch after MOT I think !

 

[imprezaworks]

I've been to quite a few places over the years. Most have equipment to adjust the camber on the moon, they also have people that operate it like people who think they can swim to the moon.

Op where you based?

 

[V6Dan]

I was quoted £90 for full hunter alignment on the vee at a local sports car specialist which covered up to 1.5 hours labour. Unfortunately it took a lot longer than that as the rear toe adjuster was seized then snapped and a front track rod was bent but now i have the car back it feels completely different, its transformed the car so well worth getting someone knowledgeable to set it up correctly.

 

[Jimbob 2705]

I'm based near Hereford, so anywhere near there would be good!

Asked a couple of local lads who they recommend for wheel alignment, so I'll see how I get on!

 

[imprezaworks]

Yeah go with recommendations mate. Sadly your a distance from the likes of blink Motorsport in Cheshire but I'm sure others will see you right

 

[MattJB]

I stick mine on the ramp after work and use the Hunter! It's pretty impressive what the kit will detect. It can be a pain to set up depending on the rims, if bits are seized it gets awkward to adjust too, so I can kinda see why it's expensive getting it done right, even though it's not particularly difficult.
Glad I can get access to it though as it saves money, I get to know exactly what's done and how much care is taken.

 

[Jimbob 2705]

Got it Hunter Aligned today, but couple of things that I wanted to check :

Hunter Alignment by Jimbob_2705, on Flickr

Firstly, have they used the settings off a Clio 197/200? Just looking at the year of manufacture...

If so is the 197/200 set up differently from the 182 - I'd assume so, so just want to be sure it's set up right

Also, anything that could do with changing/improving?
I see that both the Caster is out, and the Front Right Camber, would a camber bolt solve this?

Rear end looks spot on though, well it's all green which has got to be good haha

 

[JamesBryan]

-12 total toe is right for a 182

 

[ADS_V6]

looks like they have gone off the clio mark 3,mine was done off the f4r engine clio mark 2

 

[imprezaworks]

Have you got shims on the rear

 

[Jimbob 2705]

Have you got shims on the rear

Not as far as I know, but I've never fitted any

Why?

 

[imprezaworks]

The rear camber isn't adjustable without them. Your rear seems more than I thought it would be.

Although no expert and can't remember what the standard camber is. I had 2 degree shims on mine and the rear was, er 2 degrees lol.

 

[imprezaworks]

And the front although in 'tolerance' annoys me as it should be close to the same on the front

 

[imprezaworks]

From a search it looks like these have 1.5 ish as standard on the rear. Didn't know that.

 

[Jimbob 2705]

From a search it looks like these have 1.5 ish as standard on the rear. Didn't know that.

From when I looked 1.5 is around normal, so mine looks fairly good

I'll agree with the front camber - I'm thinking of getting some camber bolts and setting to -1.5 on both as that seems a popular fast road setup

 

[imprezaworks]

Maybe I did know lol. Thought it was less but think I read others have been. But yeah all sweet and bolts are cheap enough mate

 

[ADS_V6]

chap who did mine,said when the clio sports are lowered it is best to get camber bolts and the tyres tend to go in a bit,if that makes sense.

 

[Jimbob 2705]

Maybe I did know lol. Thought it was less but think I read others have been. But yeah all sweet and bolts are cheap enough mate

chap who did mine,said when the clio sports are lowered it is best to get camber bolts and the tyres tend to go in a bit,if that makes sense.

Gonna get some ordered, only thing is I'm wondering if I'll have to pay for it all again if I just want the camber adjusted! Possibly a stupid question but would fitting camber bolts adjust the toe setting?

Also, do spacers (would be a rear axle spacer, and normal front ones) affect geometry settings?

Many Thanks!

 

[imprezaworks]

I've been under the impression spacers don't. Are you fitting the bolts yourself?

I'm being thick tonight, lack of food iirc

 

[Jimbob 2705]

I've been under the impression spacers don't. Are you fitting the bolts yourself?

I'm being thick tonight, lack of food iirc

I can fit the bolts myself, issue is I won't know when there at -1.5 camber, so I'll have to get them to adjust it for me

 

[ADS_V6]

give them a buzz tomz,i doubt they will charge full amount if your a repeat customer etc

 

[Jimbob 2705]

give them a buzz tomz,i doubt they will charge full amount if your a repeat customer etc

This man speaks sense

 

[imprezaworks]

Ask him about cleaning, go on I dare you

 

[ADS_V6]

i just think if they care about customers etc,you will come back,i have too have new track rod ends and tie rods after the euro car parts failed after 3 months,they are fitting those for £25 and a free set up again,i would get the powerflex camber bolts on ebay cheap enough and free post.