Info On Alignment and Balancing

[inlinesix]

I know wheel alignment is tricky. Wheels balancing has to be done for all 4 wheels. Not many place do hi spd balancing here. Hi spd balancing is different from wheels balancing.

 

By d way, most place use Hunter alignment machine (including shop here). What could b d issue?

Edited December 16, 2008 by Davidtch

[Chickensoup]

High speed balancing not so cheap in JB anymore. Need experience guy to do. Otherwise do half a day still cant get it right.

[Chickensoup]

I had done a few times in JB. Sometimes good but not always. If you ask what went wrong, I dont know. Their machine, the digital ones shows o.oo but when I drive off, the car still feels funny. It is not the pulling to one side but steering feels greasy.

 

Later I went to Stamford, paid a premium $80 and they show me the alignment was out.

 

Then there was another good incident at JB. Some shops still using the meter type. RM25 and after he checked the alignment, the mechanic under the car and adjusted the alignment. Then without further checking, he said car is ready.

 

I ask him to reconfirm the setting, he said if no good I wont collect money. True enough it was a well done job. So what can i say.

 

Conclusion, only some are good. Experience i guess.

[Chickensoup]

Alignment machines are probably accurate but the mechanic can be new. It could be they need to "compensate" the reading by some margin to get it right. Like those F1 cars, the feel is important, not just my numbers.

[Sky8807]

If you are very particular on a proper and professional job, shd have it done in Sg. My experience tell me, its risky to do it in JB. even if you don't feel anything now. After a couple of months, will know whether it is adjusted correctly. It's risky, the chances of a good job is 30%.

[Chickensoup]

Under normal circumstances, our cars seldom need these alignment done. Only when you hit kerb too much or change some steering components or drive shaft.

 

I think good alignment job requires experienced mechanic.

[Sky8807]

Agreed, If the tyres are evenly worn and no abnormality, there is no need to do alignment.

Edited December 16, 2008 by Sky8807

[inlinesix]

That's why local insight is veri important!! As said b4.

[Kenmical]

called EuroAutomobiles today and told them about my wheel thingy.. ask me to go back on monday for realignment.. hehe.. saved some money..

 

Do they do damper check? Example check what is the individual coil or damper spring rate, height.

[Chickensoup]

Wondering if such machine exist to check damping rate and coil spring stiffness without taking out the individual parts.

[Kenmical]

i read about it in option magazine. wondering if such services are available here and where plus rate.

[Chickensoup]

Of course local insight is important. We dont frequent alignment shops too often. The next visit can be 2 or 3 years apart. Shop can be the same but workers change Unless the shop keeper is the one doing it.

 

In Sin Ming there is one shop i remember which is quite good also Ricardo or something like that. They sell tyres also.

[Chickensoup]

If you strip out the spring and the damper, surely there is machine to test spring rate. But damper rate I think at best they can tell you damper is good condition or not. Oil damper and Gas damper different characteristic. So to invest in a machine to test damper might be too costly.

[Victorco]

high speed balancing + rotation SGD onli 25bucks. PM me if u need the address.

no need go all the way to MY to do.

 

high speed balancing they will jack up your front tires set in on a jack which in return will be connected to the high speed balancing machine. and the machine will spin the tires up to 1200rpm after which they will stop the tires and get the reading for how much weight and where to stick the weights.

 

it's a easy job as u think but experience also count.

 

i have encounter once require the tires to be remounted when the boss son was doing boss told his son to remount it even after the machine show 0 - 0.

boss say it's not right to have so much weights on the rims after doing high speed.

 

due to the fact that high speed balancing wheels require lesser weights unless the rims have problem or have been rebuild before.

[inlinesix]

Alignment should b check every 10k. So, it is every yr.

 

I went to 1 shop in Sin Ming directly opp Sin Ming Autocare. Veri detailed job. But veri ex

[Chickensoup]

IMO alignment to be done if some repairs done on steering area, otherwise dont waste money. These things are funny, when all the mechancial parts are working in harmony, it is best left alone.

[Chickensoup]

I used to swear by high speed on-wheel balancing. But if job not well done, you get vibration above 90km/h and then no more vibration after 100km/h kind of thing.

 

Then I changed to 4WD car, cant do high speed on wheel. But now I can say normal balancing is good enough if your steering/ chassis, bushes and rims are in good condition.

[inlinesix]

Good luck!!