quattro fatal accident

[isham-research.freeserve.co.uk at pop.pol.net.uk]

>> > Dad did my  alignment at the dealership he works
>> at and as long as the shop
>> > you are taking it to has the computerized
>> alignment rack, all the stats are
>> > built in with the correct tolerances.  The tech
>> just looks at the screen and
>> > it goes green when you are in tolerance.

>> This is _EXACTLY_ how it shouldn't be done.

> PLEASE extrapolate.

I would have thought it reasonably obvious.  I've lost count of how
many times I've pointed out Audi's instructions that the nominal
values are to be achieved if at all possible, and also how many times
I've said that this is critical to handling, especially of a Torsen
car.  There are _NO_ acceptable tolerances on a quattro - Audi's
manuals are quite clear on this point, and anyone who just accepts a
'green' value quite obviously hasn't read the book and thus should
not be touching the car.

Secondly, I find that most shops with computerised rigs rely on them
as a substitute for mechanical skill.  It takes about ninety minutes
to align a quattro properly, plus however long it takes to free up
rusted or stuck adjustments.  There are _NO_ short cuts - the process
is critical to proper handling.

--
 Phil Payne
 http://www.isham-research.freeserve.co.uk/quattro
 Phone +44 7785 302803   Fax: +44 7785 309674