Four wheel alignment in Wiltshire

[duncanh]

I need to get my alignment fixed, (c220cdi 2002).

The two nearside tyres are wearing badly on the outside edge, the front offside wearing slightly on the outside edge, the rear offside wearing flat.

I am wary of taking it to the dealer, they tend to be horribly expensive. It was first done by a dealer at about 30K miles, improved it a bit, but still wearing on the edges. It is now 90K miles and seems to have got worse again. I believe that the suspension is OK, I have recently changed the antiroll bar bushes and link rods and it has just passed its MOT.

Does anyone know where else I can take it (preferably in the Swindon area)?

Thanks

 

[stats007]

Micheldever are very good and aren't too far. IMO all Mercedes wear badly on the outside edges - look at the extent of the caster angle when the wheels are turned.

 

[bolide]

Micheldever are very good and aren't too far. IMO all Mercedes wear badly on the outside edges - look at the extent of the caster angle when the wheels are turned.

Yes but the caster angle is designed to sit the car up straight (tyre perpendicular to the road) when cornering with soft suspension. In a straight line where, let's face it, most driving is done, caster angle has no bearing on tyre wear but camber does

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[stats007]

That's fine if you have straight roads to drive on! Round 'ere there aren't too many. Wear rate increases dramatically with slip angle - so they tend to have an even influence if you're doing more than just motorway miles.

 

[lil.smartie]

Try Bathwick tyres I know they have a branch in Chippenham on Bumpers industrial estate, they seem pretty good so would have thought they would do alignment too.

kate

 

[duncanh]

Thanks for your help, and advice about caster and camber angle.

I have recently stopped doing much motorway driving, it is now nearly all on A roads, slow ones unfortunately, thanks to the number of lorries and the 50mph limits and speed cameras. Although my speeds are greatly reduced, my tyre wear has increased. I used to get about 25K miles, now lucky to get 15K. This may be the change of road, it may also be the fact that the last tyres were Firestone, previous few sets were Dunlop.

I've used Bathwick in Swindon in the past for tyres. They are very friendly and very cheap. I have never been convinced that they balance the tyres very well. I don't know if I would trust them with alignment. Still, if the price is OK it may be worth a try!

Duncan

 

[Fishy Dave]

Protyre in Westbury offer camber set up as well as the usual alignment, however, they are pricey. I've never tried them, just know they can do it, I usually travel to a specialist in whatever car I own at the time.

Cheers, Dave

 

[bitonw]

Please, please, please gentleman. Read this http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/ before you all gone talk indian stories... Here you find all the knowledge about the settings of your car!