The rear tyres on my 981 Boxster S are wearing unevenly. I have been quoted £420 for a four-wheel geometry check and adjust by an OPC - 2.1 hours work, apparently. I'm sure they'd do a good job but can anybody recommend anyone to do as good a job but at a reasonable price? Within 25 miles of Reading. Thanks.
Wheel alignment recommendation
- Thread starter keephatch
- Start date
RadioRayson
Member
I have my Audi A4 Quattro booked in to ATS in Cowley, Oxford on Tuesday morning for 4 wheel alignment. They say it will take about 45 mins and will cost about £70. I don't know how you feel about 'high street' tyre sellers but my experience of ATS has been good. My 2005 987S Boxster seems pretty good on tyre wear, but I think I'd take it to ATS if it wasn't. I wouldn't go near Kwik Fit if you paid me to do so, but that is only my opinion, of course...!
I have been less than impressed by OPC alignments, the tyres wore faster! And they are way too expensive! Some tyre suppliers are capable but there must be a non-franchised specialist in your area so either talk to the Regional Organiser or check for specialists on google. Sorry I can't give recommendations for your area as I live in the Midlands.
The last time I had an alignment down was at Zentrum north of Nottingham and cost me £90+vat
The last time I had an alignment down was at Zentrum north of Nottingham and cost me £90+vat
I had mine checked at OPC Wilmslow about a year ago because the rears had worn not quite evenly. I can't remember what they quoted me but I think it was in the region of £200 if any adjustments were required and a lesser amount if not. In the end I waited slightly over an hour whilst they set up the kit and printed out the current status. The technician brought the report round and we discussed it. The fronts were fine and the rears were just sensibly in tolerance. He said that if I had had a full tank of fuel and if I had already replaced the worn rears the result would be different and probably fine. So I asked him what he would do if it were his car - he said nothing at the moment but if you are still concerned when you have replaced the rears, fill it with fuel and bring it again. All that took about and hour and a quarter. The bill? Nothing. A bit of surprise and delight from yours truly and I have stayed with them for subsequent service.
Thanks for all the input so far, which has been very valuable. I generally use my local OPC for everything except tyres but sometimes their prices are eye-watering, partly because of their very high hourly labour rate I suppose. I have had little success negotiating, but they are owned by Porsche GB unlike most other OPCs. Perhaps this is another reason, too. I might ring another OPC as suggested above, and also check with the regional organiser.
Jdhughes01
New member
Hi
for wheel alignment and all suspension queries, I would recommend Chris or Pete at center gravity in Atherstone, they are the specialist and cheaper (although not cheap) than you have been quoted.
Conversely I wouldn’t recommend an OPC or local tyre fitter, in my experience, while the equipment may be in spec, the operators do not use the kit enough or lack the training to ensure repeatability and if they cannot repeat the settings on the same equipment and vehicle how can you be confident that the settings are right in the first place?
one word on OPC Wilmslow, I orginally got my 911 from them a number of years ago. I took the car to them for an alignment check because it didn’t feel planted on the road, I was told everything was within spec. Following recommendations I took it to Center gravity who diagnosed that the rear thrust angle was not zero and indications were that a previous alignment had been bodged to get the front within spec. Lack of customer care or incompetence or just bad luck, I don’t know, but I now take my car to Ninemeister for servicing; who I also recommend.
for wheel alignment and all suspension queries, I would recommend Chris or Pete at center gravity in Atherstone, they are the specialist and cheaper (although not cheap) than you have been quoted.
Conversely I wouldn’t recommend an OPC or local tyre fitter, in my experience, while the equipment may be in spec, the operators do not use the kit enough or lack the training to ensure repeatability and if they cannot repeat the settings on the same equipment and vehicle how can you be confident that the settings are right in the first place?
one word on OPC Wilmslow, I orginally got my 911 from them a number of years ago. I took the car to them for an alignment check because it didn’t feel planted on the road, I was told everything was within spec. Following recommendations I took it to Center gravity who diagnosed that the rear thrust angle was not zero and indications were that a previous alignment had been bodged to get the front within spec. Lack of customer care or incompetence or just bad luck, I don’t know, but I now take my car to Ninemeister for servicing; who I also recommend.
Gordon Attar
New member
Northway Porsche 01189714333 just down the A4 from the OPC they do the latest laser 4 wheel alignment for I think £150.
richardjjs1
New member
Car over 10 years old should qualify for a low hourly charge
strictly speaking you have to leave it with them till they "have time"
well under 100 per hour + your Club membership discount
Both Porsche Wolverhampton and Porsche Chester oferred it to me
Had an OIl Cooler changed on my 996 by a Porsche Specialist in Horncastle nearly 1200.00 to fit a 200.00 part (3 days off the road no car)
Asked Porsche Wolverhampton and the FIXED PRICE IS 450.00 under 4 hours !!
strictly speaking you have to leave it with them till they "have time"
well under 100 per hour + your Club membership discount
Both Porsche Wolverhampton and Porsche Chester oferred it to me
Had an OIl Cooler changed on my 996 by a Porsche Specialist in Horncastle nearly 1200.00 to fit a 200.00 part (3 days off the road no car)
Asked Porsche Wolverhampton and the FIXED PRICE IS 450.00 under 4 hours !!
I had my previous Cayman S done in Norwich at STR for about £70. Fantastic job, made a huge difference to handling just by restoring factory settings. But I also went along to a PCGB event at a specialist body shop in Derby who were proudly demonstrating their stunning new 4-wheel alignment capability as part of the event. Their equipment indicated all 4 wheels of my 981 were miles out of alignment. But upfront I noticed their kit needed to know which suspension my car had - standard, PASM - 10mm, -20mm etc. They just made an assumption and didn't ask (and I suspect a lot of owners don't know anyway - not us of course). Once they got that right, the kit showed everything was fine. If I hadn't been there, noticed the menu setup and pointed out where they had got it wrong, I suspect the outcome would have been very different.
My advice would be to book it in at Center (sic) Gravity in Atherstone Nr Birmingham. Bit of trek for you admittedly, but take the day off and let Chris Franklin sort out your chassis, handling and road holding. You won't look back afterwards. Costs about £340, but he uses world-class Hunter alignment equipment and that'll include a whole day spent on it if necessary and until you're perfectly happy with the results.
Regards,
Clive
Regards,
Clive
RadioRayson
Member
Just to follow up on my post above, I had my Audi A4 Quattro 4 wheel aligned at ATS Cowley Oxford today. They showed me a digital display indicating my wheels were somewhat misaligned, then aligned them. It took about an hour and they gave me an NHS discount (I work for the NHS) so only paid £58-odd. The car is transformed. Smoother, less road noise, lighter steering: all very good! Obviously going to ATS with an 'everyday car' is different to going to an OPC or alignment specialist with a high-end Porsche, but it has certainly woken me up to the efficacy of 4 wheel alignment. I might take my low-end Porsche there just to see what they make of the car's alignment.
Steve Winter at Jaz in St Albans.
this is what pisses me off about paying £300 it's not hard to geo a car, it's only a few basic bolts and on Caymans and Boxster most items are fixed so very little work involved over say a GT4 or a GT3.
It's a top mount bolt and a toe link turn , job done ! paying daft money is daft.
I use the TT shop some times they will custom you one but it's cheap if you tell them what you want as they are Audi people not Porsche.
Northhamton Motor sport are good also and about £150
I only use the big boys if I need other work regarding sus doing at the same time.
It's a top mount bolt and a toe link turn , job done ! paying daft money is daft.
I use the TT shop some times they will custom you one but it's cheap if you tell them what you want as they are Audi people not Porsche.
Northhamton Motor sport are good also and about £150
I only use the big boys if I need other work regarding sus doing at the same time.
Take a look here https://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=981315 then make up your own mind. [
]
Regards,
Clive
]Regards,
Clive
Hi there I need an alignment check on my 77 911s Targa. I had Northampton Tyres look at it but they don't have the tools to adjust.
Centre Gravity have indicated £650 incl vat for the full 9 yards all day service. Thus sounds great but not sure i need that and as a miserable Scot it does sound quite pricey.
Someone mentioned Northampton motorsport I have dealt with Troy before but do the 70s cars need some magic tools or is this just smoke and mirrors and your better than average alignment guy can do it ?
Many thks
Centre Gravity have indicated £650 incl vat for the full 9 yards all day service. Thus sounds great but not sure i need that and as a miserable Scot it does sound quite pricey.
Someone mentioned Northampton motorsport I have dealt with Troy before but do the 70s cars need some magic tools or is this just smoke and mirrors and your better than average alignment guy can do it ?
Many thks
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