Tracking Gauge

[oldcodger]

Hey,

Anyone had experience of the Gunson G4008 Trakrite Wheel Alignment Gauge selling for around £50 - £60.

Was going to get my tracking checked /adjusted after busting a tyre in a pothole, only to find most places quoting £35 a go, so if they are good, buying a Gunsons might be a worthwhile investement as the roads unlikely to be getting better any time soon.

[CorollaD4D]

don't you also need a ramp and the knowledge of how to use the equipment in order to track your car properly? and £35 is steep i pay £15 for tracking.

[oldcodger]

don't you also need a ramp and the knowledge of how to use the equipment in order to track your car properly? and £35 is steep i pay £15 for tracking.

Hey,

Not according to the Gunson manual, just a smooth flat floor , using it sounds a bit iffy thats why I was interested to know if anyone else has used one.

Had noticed your earlier post / tracking comment about £15 at Hi Q ??? - phoned my local depot yesterday, check and adjust £36 ! - in line with 3 other quotes I had.

[msprince]

You do need a good idea of toe in toe out, also if they just adjust the tracking on the front there is a chance you will knock your steering wheel off centre.

I have 4 wheel laser alinment at our other depot so i do my own alinment.

[Jamesbelfast]

Wheel alignmnet is a black art - even some of the tyre depots who offer track alignment checks don't even know what they are doing.

The Gunsons kit is a best only a crude test of toe-in or toe-out of the front wheels. Either of these can be correct and the car will still handle like a boat. A full 4-wheel geometric check using properly calibrated equipment is essential.

For anyone interested have a read through the link below.

http://www.familycar.com/alignment.htm

[CorollaD4D]

Yes £15 at my local HiQ. Are the HiQ branches franchise? Or maybe they're not putting the £15 tracking jobs through the till? You just turn up and wait your turn. You have to say that you've been referred for £15 tracking by a large local part worn tyre place...Either way they do a stellar job whenever I've been there.

I have one had tracking done by some guy who came out to my house. He charged £40 and the only difference I would see was he gave me a piece of paper with lots of data about my wheels on, all stuff I had no clue about anyway. However he did say he was prepared to adjust/move the subframe if needed and I think many people wouldn't attempt this?