[s-cars] Alignment issues

[seanupchurch at comcast.net]

The vibration was pretty bad - started off like it was the road then quickly escalated to full car shimmy and we could not pull over right away because there was highway construction that reduced I-90 to left lane only for about 2 miles, soon as we could I had her pull over.  The alignment shop that I used has had its reputation go down in the last year of so but I had not experienced any problems with them before, but now I have.  I have a feeling that if the tire(s) are toast, I will have a fight on my hands to get the shop to pay for new ones or even pay for some of the cost. 



thanks, 

Sean 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Kase" <dkase at dorma-usa.com> 
To: "Vittorio Bares" <Vittorio.Bares at nuance.com>, seanupchurch at comcast.net, "s-car-list" <s-car-list at audifans.com> 
Sent: Thursday, August 6, 2009 8:34:05 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific 
Subject: RE: [s-cars] Alignment issues 

After re-reading your story - Vitt is probably right.  Tire(s) are toast... 



-----Original Message----- 
From: Bares, Vittorio [mailto:Vittorio.Bares at nuance.com] 
Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 11:28 AM 
To: David Kase; seanupchurch at comcast.net; s-car-list 
Subject: RE: [s-cars] Alignment issues 

I also just had my wife's A4 aligned (yesterday) apparently there are 12 different chassis codes, with different alignment specs for each. Just an FYI since apparently when you left the shop the car drove straight, but it wasn't until the lugs loosened that it started to pull. Don't know how rough the vibration was, but it might have moved a belt? 

Vittorio - 

-----Original Message----- 
From: s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com [mailto:s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com] On Behalf Of David Kase 
Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 11:15 AM 
To: seanupchurch at comcast.net; s-car-list 
Subject: Re: [s-cars] Alignment issues 

I know that the A4 (and other) Quattro's take a special alignment rack.  I am not sure what the difference is but older alignment equipment will not work.  I got this from my neighbor/tire guy that just recently upgraded his rack.   His new rack will do the Quattro's.  Did the equipment look old? 

In any case it looks like you need to take it to a recommended and/or trusted garage.  If they fix it, get your money back from the first place. 

Kase 


-----Original Message----- 
From: s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com [mailto:s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com] On Behalf Of seanupchurch at comcast.net 
Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 11:07 AM 
To: s-car-list 
Subject: [s-cars] Alignment issues 



Recently got my wife's A4 1.8T Q aligned at a local shop I have used quite a few times before and also had them replace the front tie rod ends.  Two days later on a road trip to Montana, left front end starts making loud noise.  I have my wife pull over and  discover that 4 lug bolts are loose (the fifth was probably bound up and could not come loose).  I re-tightened bolts, cussed for about three minutes and then continued on without much issue.  Did not notice it right away but now car pulls to the left.  When we returned to Seattle I took the car back to same shop to get the pull fixed.  Alignment shop says that car is aligned but it sitll pulls to the left.  They swapped front to rear tires and it still pulled to the left.  They switched left to right and car pulled to the right.  They swapped left to right again and car pulls to left.  Alignment shop says 'must be the tires, put up with it until the tires wear out and then car should pull straight again.' 



I am no tire/alignment expert but has anyone experienced this?  Oh, the tires are about a set of Yokohama Avids, about 4yrs old and have some decent tread life left in them. 


Sean U 

95 S6 Avant 

Bothell, WA 
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