MX5Russ

Ah, OK. So all 4 corners may need adjusting. Will go in this weekend and have them correct it. The above example looks like it'd be 'interesting' to drive!

Well the thrust angle was straight - but will it need adjusting to get the steering wheel straight, or is it likely just front adjustment that will be needed to get the wheel straight?

Great, thanks Tony, Rich. I should've come here first - unfortunately I was in a bit of a rush trying to get it sorted at the weekend. I'll see if they'll let me sit in the car whilst they correct it. Will they only have to re-adjust the front, or likely the rear as well?

Dammit! Had I known before, I'd have definitely gone there. I'll bookmark this topic for next time. Thanks Rich!

Oh, and this is why you need to open a place in Bristol!

I don't think they have any ballast. I didn't see anything, other than dirty old tyres that could go in the car. Surely I could just hold the wheel central and keep my foot on the brake pedal?

Well I brimmed the tank on the way (which I never do normally) so hopefully that'll have been enough. Maybe I'll request to sit in the car when I get them to sort the steering wheel this weekend - I guess that'd give the most accurate adjustment?

Nah. I suggested sitting in the car, but he pointed out that they had to put the things in the cockpit to hold the brake pedal and steering wheel.

Yeah, will have to scan it in when I get home. They loaded in the standard BMW 1 series settings (don't have the MX-5 anymore), but the car is modified, so the front camber is showing as out of tolerance on the front (too much negative). Only just though.

Annoying really, because my wheel was straight before it went in.

They braced it, but didn't get me to check it. I had a peek, but think the guy moved it after.

They braced it, but didn't get me to check it. I had a peek, but think the guy moved it after.

Thanks Tony, makes me a feel a bit better that they weren't doing it totally wrong - now I just need the wheel straight!

The place that I had it done actually have a photo of the tyre hugger on the website: www.milestyres.com/tyres.php Scroll down to where it says "Alignment" and there's a decent sized pic of the reflector. Shows it sat in the centre of the wheel, but all mine were slightly higher up the wheel, and one was up and more forwards on the wheel.

Ah, well they rolled the car forwards slightly after putting the huggers on. Only issue is that the steering is slightly off centre now. Grr. Also, the wheel huggers left light scratches on all my wheels, which seems a bit crap. Will take photos of them when I go back. Not sure that they had pins at the edge of the wheel, just a circular piece in the middle. There were only two arms that stuck out to grab the tyres. I might ask to put the huggers on myself next time and try to get them as central as possible.

Hi folks, Does anybody know about the Hunter machines with the circular wheel hugger things that sit on the wheel and clamp to the tyre edge? Only, I had an alignment done yesterday and the place I went to had a Hunter machine with these. However, they didn't place them dead centre on the wheels, and the rear near side one especially wasn't anywhere near the middle. I mentioned it to the guy doing the alignment but he seemed to think they didn't need to be central, as long as they were on the wheel. Is that right? My wheels aren't even flat (concave slightly), so I don't see how it would get the data correctly?

Nope, nothing should be changing size-wise. Need to come in one Friday before the 15th of June... can I PM you to book?

I too have been meaning to get my lowered MX5 MK3 aligned properly at WIM... I must've done about 6000 miles at least since the car was dropped, but have not yet noticed any abnormal tyre wear, though tbh the wheels have stayed on the car. Need to get in for an alignment on a Friday afternoon at STS, just waiting for a set of replacement Mazda wheels to come through, and wasn't too sure if it'd be a good idea to wait for these to be replaced before having the alignment done, or whether it will make no difference, because the new wheels will be the same as the old ones (just hopefully without corrosion!). What do you think Tony?