Alignment check

[poprivet]

I still have excess wear on the inside tread of both front tyres despite having the tracking done a while ago, so I'm now thinking of having a full geometry check as there are no worn bushes or mounts that I can find. Strangely there is no feathering of the rubber, just more wear. The rear tyres wear evenly.

Now that many places have modern laser equipment can anyone who has had this done give a rough idea of cost and time needed?

[ptjs1]

Pop,

I would suggest that you find a place that's got a Hunter alignment bed. The use of a really good bed together with a good operative is so worth it. Also the benefits of using a good bed is that it can measure elements that are not to do with front end problems but which can manifest themselves in front end wear. For exams if the alignment of the rear end in relation to the front end is out, the car can be slightly askew which can knock out your front tyres.

Recognising that many of the adjustment elements of an XJS are quite difficult to perform quickly, particularly the back end, you may beimited as to what adjustments they can do onsite, but at least you'll have the data.

A good operative could do the setup and measurement in about 30 minutes and IME will cost you about £45. Money well spent.

One suggestion - go and get your wheels balanced beforehand as that can also contribute to tyre wear issues.

Good luck

Paul

[davidr]

Pop - Julian at Micheldever Tyres is your man. I've worked with him before and he knows the XJS well. He also works with KWE.
I'd ring ahead and make an appointment and make sure that you get the right guy - you don't want pot luck if you turn up unannounced!

[Brakebuster]

I had mine done at ProTyre , and a full 4 wheel laser ( better than that to be honest ) alignment and cost me £89

they will check all aspects of the geometry on a state of the art system , others can also do this , and to be honest its well worth it

I would check the camber shims on the top wishbone mount, if both insides are wearing, they may need pushing out a shim or two to level out the contact patch on the road

BB

[PaulGover]

My experience with state-of-the-art is it's still pot luck. For a start, no-one has the suspension-setting links and cones (see the workshop manual) that Jaguar say are required, so the measurements are made with the suspension in an unknown position. Second, some of them measure to 1/5 of a degree, not 1/4, so their angles are rounded up or down. Third, and most important, the results are inconsistent.

I took my XJS to my local prodrive, who had all the flash computer/laser stuff, and found I was about 1/2 degree out in most directions. Having carefully and laboriously moved the shims and washers about, on a remeasure, it was about 1/2 degree out in mostly opposite directions! (and that's my experience over several generations of tools). I'm currently dropping the rear subframe; when I get it back together, the plan is to make the setting links and cones, and a home-made gubbins to measure the angles. At least that way I'll know who to shout at!

[Brakebuster]

cant beat a bit of string, a bob weight and an engineers square ,




but , the Egyptians didn't have jaguar cars though , lol

BB

[poprivet]

Thanks to all, some interesting ideas.

The car handles well and doesn't pull to either side but I will have a think about what to do. If anyone has further thoughts I would appreciate your views.

[Tintin]

I used to have my alignment done at every tyre change using the latest gizmos and gadgets - but it was never correct and the tyres always wore badly again after. Latterly, my trusty indie simply checks the camber with a spirit level and adjusts the track rod lengths "by eye" until the uneven wear stops. Unbelievably it works and my tyres have been spot on since. I now firmly decline my tyre shops offer of their fancy computerised laser technology!

Robbie

[oldtimer]

Doesn't anybody use a Dunlop Castor/ Camber gauge any more - guess most people have forgotten how to use it !

As Paul rightly points out you also require the links and cones but you can make those and you need the slip plates of course.

[340jag]

You could try the main Jaguar dealer close to you !
Its like most things , wheel alignment , wheel balancing , only as good as the operator , and the tools , most never get recalibrated !

[PaulGover]

You could try the main Jaguar dealer close to you !
Its like most things , wheel alignment , wheel balancing , only as good as the operator , and the tools , most never get recalibrated !

I'm pretty sure the main Jaguar dealer close to me ships the car down the road to the latest gee whizz laser shop. I talked to the master technician at the previously neared dealer (they've moved) some years ago, and they didn't have the cones and setting links, just gee whiz lamps and mirrors (lasers were next on their shopping list).

As to slip plates, a thick glossy magazine sans staples, makes an effective substitute, like a sort of multi-plate clutch. I recommend BMW or Audi Enthusiast magazines