Scoobydaddy

Can I run the space saver on the front to get me to the tyre centre 2 miles away?



This is prolly a good time for me to replace all the tyres, the centre has a lazer tracking set up, is this the same as a geometry set up, if not what’s the difference please?



Scoobydaddy

wacky.banana

Tracking = Alignment of the front wheels so they "track" in the same direction.
Geometry Setup = All 4 wheels aligned relative to each other and to the suspension of the car.

If you are getting new tyres then get both types of setup done. Note: this is a simplistic description to aid your understanding, not a thesis. Disclaimer is here as you will get some **** techno come along in a minute and pick holes in my words.

Hope this helps.

WB

Scoobydaddy

wacky.banana: Thanks, that’s what I needed to know.



and the space saver is ok on the front for two miles??

Scoobydaddy

Gary C

No problem, just keep to the speed restriction and remember the cornering and braking will be affected, but not as bad as you might think.

As far as I am aware, big problem with the space saver is going too fast or overloading them. Think they build up heat easier and begin to fail.

Scoobydaddy

Gary C: yes you are right it was not a problem driving on the spacesaver, in fact it drove quite nicely.

The man repaired my front tyre as it was found to be repairable within the limits.

He put two new ones on the back, Yokohama AVS Sports, they look like the Toyo’s tread Patten and the best in their range, and have a slightly harder tyre wall much like the Bridgstones that are on the front he said

I noticed the shoulder of the tyre was less rolled and tapered than the Bridgstone’s.

He checked my tracking and said it was crabbing and adjusted the rear track, the front was OK

Now do I still get it Laser Geometry aligned and where do I go?

If so is Power Station the closest, I live in Oxford, phoned them and they are not answering their phone on a Saturday.

Scoobydaddy

wacky.banana

I would still say yes to the geometry question. AFAIK Powerstation tend to be pretty busy on a Saturday. I would phone in the week to book an appointment.

I'm having both tracking and geometry done sometime next week, for the second time, when I replace my set of 4 F3's which have lasted nearly 20k miles (some very hard driven miles) on the back of the last track/geo setup. I do this at every tyre replacement cycle.

On my previous Scoob, before I saw the light, I was lucky to get 9K out of a set of tyres!

wacky.banana

BTW, forgot to say, if you go to www.alignmycar.co.uk and follow the on-screen directions you should be able to find someone close to you who offers a tracking/geometry setup service. Hope this helps.

Brun

My spacesaver only fits on the rear of the car. The Brakes are too big on the front

Scoobydaddy

Brun: lets hope you only get a flat on the rear tyre then

Well worth pointing out, thanks

Wocky.banana: looked up on alignmycar and found

WRC Technologies Ltd
Unit 41-42
Technology Park
Silverstone Circuit
TOWCESTER
NN12 8TN

Booked it in for alignment Wednesday, cost £70.00 +VAT to look at it price goes up to £110.00 + VAT if adjustments needs to be made, price is per axel.

Scoobydaddy

Scoobydaddy

Is this a good price or not???

Phil

I understood the spacsaver only goes on the rears on the STi

Could be wrong though

The Brembo's are just to big

Phil

Scoobydaddy

Phil : I suppose the obvious thing to do is try it on when you are playing with your wheels next.

If that’s the case you would be doing a fair bit of tyre swapping at the road side, probably have to ignore the directional tyres requirement in an emergency.

Perhaps is worth getting a can of tyre inflator grunge for such an occurrence, no idea if it’s any good, perhaps someone on here would know.

Also my road side jack does not lift the car high enough to get the wheel off the ground, it still hangs off the suspension, bought a RAC trolly jack from Argos for 15 squid, that sorted it, but it’s a bit heavy to carry

Scoobydaddy

Phil

I carry a can of tyre weld

jasonius

iTrader: (1)

Tyre inflator works quite well, the only downside is it renders the tyre un-repairable AFAIR.

Still good quick and safe way to get you going again, especially on M'way..!

Plus means you can do without the 12kgs (IIRC) of the spare..!

wacky.banana

Yes its the average price these days. However if you were to travel to Northampton & go to Tyres Northampton you might be pleasantly surprised.....

WRC are very good though so its your choice. Didn't Autolign come up in your search then? Have used them before and their work was spot on.

WB

Scoobydaddy

Aylesbury Panelcraft Ltd
Rabans Lane

WRC Technologies Ltd
Unit 41-42
Technology Park
Silverstone Circuit
TOWCESTER
NN12 8TN

Broughtons of Pangbourne
Station Road
Pangbourne
READING
RG8 7AN

Kwik-Fit
Saxon Street
Bletchley
MILTON KEYNES
MK2 2JU

All had imaging systems, Broughtons of Pangbourne, wanted £300 + VAT flat,

Scoobydaddy

WRC Technologies Ltd seemed professional and sounded right on the phone, seems like they have all the kit and competent staff, still we will see Wednesday.

Well am I a bit of a rebel, bought Yokohama AVS sports not GY F1’s or Toyo’s

Going to WRC, Silverstone, and not Powerstation

How much do PowerStation charge for Laser Geometry set up, any ideas?

Scoobydaddy

Scoobydaddy

Good idea, gona get a can when I am out next. ))

simo

iirc P/station cost around £110 for the car. I was told Kwik fit Bletchley were £50? but no experiance of them thou my mate does work @ kwik fit Wolverston so I can trust him. (pity they do not have the laser alig there

andypugh2000

Any ATS tyre centre have state of the art geomety setup, they even have the prodrive settings stored on the system

Scoobydaddy

Simo: Looks like that’s why Powerstation is so popular £110.00 for the car at a flat rate, presumably if they make adjustments or not.

Andypugh2000: Its interesting you say that ATS do geometry setups

Because as far as I understand most good tyre centres do laser geometry set ups, my local tyre centre set my car up using laser equipment and adjusted the rear track as it was crabbing slightly.

They had all the stuff callipers that sat on all four wheels and a thing that sat on the seat to hold the stearing wheel to hold the power steering steady, lasers were shining everyware.

I am lead to believe that this is a 2 dimensional laser geometry set up.

What I am having is a 3d setup, that takes into account the way that the car sits on the suspension, so it can also be adjusted.

I understand this will take them about 2hours to do on a 30K specialist geometry bay, this type of work is done by car repair body shops and specialist motor sports garages.

Can I be lead to believe that the same level of expertise can be had at some Kwik fit and ATS tyres centres.

wacky.banana

Scooby D

You already know the answer to the question you pose. Enjoy WRC as while you are there I'm sure you will want to take the opportunity to discuss their better-than-PPP engine upgrades

Scoobydaddy

wacky.banana:

It was a rhetorical question to andypugh2000 and I suppose anybody else reading it.



You covered it in your first reply to me, and I thank you for that, but I wonder how many others have missed the point.



The remap is on the cards, I have been looking at their website, wonder if they also do that at ATS LOL



Scoobydaddy

andypugh2000

Just incase you are in any doubt, thames valley motorsport done my geometry setup using the equipment at ATS and it was a first class job, even pointed out to me that PE had set both back wheels in the same direction

Scoobydaddy

Andypugh2000: I suppose if you are happy with what you paid for and got the results you wanted, it was money well spent.

I think one thing is clear from what you said; it’s down to the competence of the operative that does the settings.

Seems to me you could make a right mess of it, as they say a little is knowledge can be dangerous.

Scoobydaddy

Scoobydaddy

wacky.banana: Went to WRC Technologys today as per appointment.
They had a problem with the lift not working and could not sort it out.

So I came away without the job being done

Scoobydaddy

Phoned Power Station they are doing the geometry and I also asked them to put a set of eibach springs on, should be done this Saturday

wacky.banana

Scooby D,

That's unlucky . Bet you were peed off at the wasted trip.

What was their place like and did you get to speak to anyone re the engine conversions they do?

Scoobydaddy

wacky.banana: Allan who I assumed was on of the owners was friendly, did not get any hard sell, but would have expected a bit of a sweetener seeing that I had a wasted trip.



Did not even get offered a coffee, while they waited to get the lift sorted.



The technician who I spoke to was pleased to show me a sports cat they use and spoke about a Ecutec remap, showed me a Spec C and I had a look at some of the other cars there including an Evo.



Very expensive for the work they do, but its difficult to know the competence levels of the staff, especially if you get let down by getting nothing done.



Spoke to one of the other guys, who I assumed was the technical manager and said that I recognised him, turns out he had previously worked for G-Force Aylesbury, I must have seen him on a dynoday there.



It will be interesting to report on PowerStation



Scoobydaddy

wacky.banana

Yep, let us know how you get on at Powerstation.