ATS Wheel alignment.....

[Donbronski]

Ok, I've just fitted all the rear control arms/links to my W124 plus my steering wheel is a little wonkie so it's time to get the wheels aligned. For convenience purposses I've opted to book it into my local ATS, they are going to check then correct/adjust accordingly (apparently) at a cost between £40 - £65.

Pretty reasonable i thought..... Wish me luck!

 

[Will]

Sounds good value but I'm on the fence - will ATS know how to set up the rear geometry of the complex multi-link suspension properly?

Best of luck and fingers crossed they know what they're doing. I think it's 90%+ operator, 10% equipment.

Will

 

[BlackC55]

Spot on Will.

Take it to a company that are used to doing wheel alignments on 124's.

I have had a few 124's recently that have had seized adjustment bolts for the camber/castor at the front.

If they are seized they have to be cut off and it is a long old job because acess is tight.

 

[kth286]

I had that AND I had to cut off the rear toe link as the bolts were seized (both sides).

I have come to conclusion that on 124s all links need changing at 100k miles to stay on top of everything and keep good the tracking.

 

[fenns]

Donbronski - I respectfully repeat my earlier advice under your original posting and would commend you to look again at Will's comment as to the "skill" rolleyes of the ATS "technician rolleyes: ).

Having been scammed and ripped off by barely sentient oafs at various Qwik-Thik; ATS; Hi-Q etc. I can assure you, via bitter experience, that very, very few places understand their equipment let alone how to use it -even half competently. The average 'Colin in the Street' doesn't give a toss about a job being done properly if he can't see it and the vast majority of service providers to the masses have cottoned on to this sad fact and exploit it by seeing how much they can get away with. True skill and the desire to do a job properly are now extremely rare commodities in this country so when you find it I value it and make use of it lest it disappear!

Check out the "Horrors of the Week" section of the Wheels in Motion forum - they are seeing this stuff day in, day out and bear in mind those horrors must be only a tiny fraction of what is exiting workshops all over the country - frightening stuff

Buy cheap & pay twice.

altho' it may be a journey of a couple of hours for you I can thoroughly recommend Wheels in Motion in Chesham, Bucks - the proprietor is a Mr. Tony Bones. These chaps really understand wheel geometry and are a world away from the Thik-Fit jockeys and various other charlatans offering "wheel alignment" services. Mr. Bones is experienced with Mercedes vehicles as well as having diagnosed fundamental and serious geometry problems (and cures) for Lexus and Mk3 Mazda MX-5's which the importors denied existed despite empirical evidence to the contrary from owners.You'll see a small piece on Mercedes alignment issues on their website.
I now have all my cars set up by Tony at least once a year and at £100 it's money well spent in light of sleeping policemean and potholes that our Scottish government seems determined to inflict on us - presumably with a view to keeping more people off the roads

Contact details are on his website:

Wheel Alignment and Steering Geometry Specialists : Wheels in Motion

[finish quote]

 

[x332race]

Thumbs up for WIM

 

[flango]

Thumbs up for WIM

I would only ever use WIM, used to use BTMR in Birmingham but they screwed up our last job really badly and could not care less.

Its over 3 hours for us to WIM but at least you know it will be done right and done first time with repeat visits not being necesscary, pays for itself in the long run.

There is no one else even in the same league as WIM and certainly non of the ATS, Kwik Krap type outfits.

 

[lynall]

I bet all they will attempt to set up will be the toe front and rear, never mind the rest.



Lynall

 

[Donbronski]

Got the car back in one piece & they didn't even charge me
I know the bloke who works there mind.

Yeah because i had just done all the rear links the adjustment bolts were new & easy to adjust plus the front was only a tad out, so they didn't require payment.

Bad bits: They don't have the equipment to check/adjust the camber or castor.....

 

[lynall]

So thats the potential award for the most expensive tracking ever



Lynall