Alignment

[quk@isham-research.demon.co.uk (Phil Payne)]

> One word we use in the states re the above:  Horsepucky.  The fact
> is, the alignment settings on a quattro *can* be done with string
> and tape measure, is NOT dangerous.

But you are the one claiming that your car is dangerous, not me.

And now I know what's making it dangerous.

> I remember taking a suspension design course in college.  One of the
> first things I had to do, was an alignment using calculator, string
> and tape measure.

An academic exercise, almost certainly _NOT_ on a car with a Torsen
centre differential, is a lot different from setting up a car for a
family to take bends in.  Bet you weren't working to five minutes of
arc, either.

> That exercise might help you understand what you are saying Phil.

Funny how it's always the people you debate with who never understand,
whereas you always do.  Of course.

> An alignment rack is nothing more than string, calculator and tape
> measure wrapped up in an optical comparitor.

And three orders of magnitude more accuracy.

> Please don't be fooled by "specifications".  They are within a
> range.  If your wrench uses "spot on" please define that for us.

Just did.  The whole lot yesterday, rear toe a few minutes ago.

> This isn't black magic, nor dangerous, nor 'inaccurate'.  Doing
> "something" with a string and a tape measure, is infinitely better
> than doing nothing at all.

No, because you create a completely false sense of security.

> Some of us claim, it's just as good as 90% of alignments done in
> less than an hour (ck the book time on a 44q alignment sometime).

As I have repeatedly said, even Martin Parker at BR Motorsport takes a
minimum of two hours - even on a car where all the adjustments are
not frozen.  Book time on a Type 44 Q alignment is two hours, according
to Autohaus Riverside in Northampton (+44 1604 416181).

> If you didn't get a recheck on yours, how do you know you really are
> "in" specification?

Of course I got a recheck.  Don't be daft - ten miles up the Fosse Way,
back to the workshop and back on the rig.  Standard practice.

--
 Phil Payne
 UK Audi quattro Owners Club
 Phone: 07785 302803   Fax: 0870 0883933