Alignment lesson learned...

[NickZag]

I recently had my car aligned at a reputable tire/wheel shop that I've gone to for sometime. After an alignment about 2 weeks ago, I noticed that my wheel isn't centered and pulls very slightly to the left. Seeing as I'm going to Laguna Seca in a few weeks, I figured driving in a straight line is important so I had to take the car to my dealership in order to get it straightened out. The dealership is pretty much the only way to truly align these cars and take around 2 hours. In comparison, It usually takes a basic alignment shop 45 minutes to an hour to do an alignment on my car and while they have the specs on file, they still can't truly align the car or reset the servo to straighten the wheel. In short, don't waste your money like I did. Ended up costing me $89 to align my car at that shop and they couldn't even do it properly. :(

[K1_Builder]

I recently had my car aligned at a reputable tire/wheel shop that I've gone to for sometime. After an alignment about 2 weeks ago, I noticed that my wheel isn't centered and pulls very slightly to the left. Seeing as I'm going to Laguna Seca in a few weeks, I figured driving in a straight line is important so I had to take the car to my dealership in order to get it straightened out. The dealership is pretty much the only way to truly align these cars and take around 2 hours. In comparison, It usually takes a basic alignment shop 45 minutes to an hour to do an alignment on my car and while they have the specs on file, they still can't truly align the car or reset the servo to straighten the wheel. In short, don't waste your money like I did. Ended up costing me $89 to align my car at that shop and they couldn't even do it properly. :(

How much it run you at Audi? Just got mine done 2 weeks ago and it was 90$

[maga4]

Unfortunately I think I learned the same lesson with firestone last week (top of the line, brand new equipment, yes we can do it, etc...). It seems they got it fixed the second time but who knows... Did the dealership say why they were different/the only ones?

[MilesM]

My dealership had to align mine after dropping on ST Coils and since my wheel has been ever so slightly off to the right. Being OCD, I think about it every time I'm driving.

[ultra]

never had mine done yet either since all the wheel and tire swapping

[NickZag]

Unfortunately I think I learned the same lesson with firestone last week (top of the line, brand new equipment, yes we can do it, etc...). It seems they got it fixed the second time but who knows... Did the dealership say why they were different/the only ones?

They said there is a difference in equipment and most shops can't reset the servo. Guess it requires a vagcom?

How much it run you at Audi? Just got mine done 2 weeks ago and it was 90$

$185 :( So add the $89 and I'm at almost $300 spent aligning... Ouch

[K1_Builder]

They said there is a difference in equipment and most shops can't reset the servo. Guess it requires a vagcom?



$185 :( So add the $89 and I'm at almost $300 spent aligning... Ouch

Jesus! I got my alignment done and all 4 tires removed replaced and balanced for $195 OTD!

[coolwater]

I've seen some dealerships run the pothole special right after winter. $99.99 for 4 wheel alignment.
I've got to get mine done soon also... Prices ranging from 129.00 to 189.00 depending on the dealers I've called.

-cW

[grnfool]

I have a buddy that works at Hunter Engineering, who makes Audi OEM equipment. I can get a free alignment there, but would it be a waste of time if they can't reset the servo?

[maga4]

This is probably bad for me to say, but after it was done at firestone, they told me they had to reset/recenter the stearing servo and used the toyota one. Seems to be ok, asked them if they have done that before and what it could have messed up. Said they have done it before and is perfectly fine. Just chalked it up to trusting them and them knowing more than me...

I asked this in a thread previously, but does anyone know how to reset it with a vag-com?

[TCHUN003]

OP too bad you don't have a place like West end alignment closer to you. I live an hour and a half away, but I always go there to get my alignments. The owner is amazing at what he does and most of the people who track their cars in socal know about him and always take their cars there. It looks like it's 6.5 hours away from Roseville :(

[SickAvant]

What dealer did it for you?

My dealership had to align mine after dropping on ST Coils and since my wheel has been ever so slightly off to the right. Being OCD, I think about it every time I'm driving.

[SickAvant]

I will use these guy, Thanks Man!

OP too bad you don't have a place like West end alignment closer to you. I live an hour and a half away, but I always go there to get my alignments. The owner is amazing at what he does and most of the people who track their cars in socal know about him and always take their cars there. It looks like it's 6.5 hours away from Roseville :(

[Presario]

OP too bad you don't have a place like West end alignment closer to you. I live an hour and a half away, but I always go there to get my alignments. The owner is amazing at what he does and most of the people who track their cars in socal know about him and always take their cars there. It looks like it's 6.5 hours away from Roseville :(

Coincidentally, I was just there today getting my alignment done. On ST coils with 19" wheels. Darrin and Chris are top notch and the best in the biz. Definitely feel lucky they are in Southern California.

[coolwater]

I was able to get the pothole special at Anchor Audi.
Car is there for the day. 99.99 for the alignment.
They are going to checkout the oil consumption also.

-cW

[MonzaA5]

I recently had my car aligned at a reputable tire/wheel shop that I've gone to for sometime. After an alignment about 2 weeks ago, I noticed that my wheel isn't centered and pulls very slightly to the left. Seeing as I'm going to Laguna Seca in a few weeks, I figured driving in a straight line is important so I had to take the car to my dealership in order to get it straightened out. The dealership is pretty much the only way to truly align these cars and take around 2 hours. In comparison, It usually takes a basic alignment shop 45 minutes to an hour to do an alignment on my car and while they have the specs on file, they still can't truly align the car or reset the servo to straighten the wheel. In short, don't waste your money like I did. Ended up costing me $89 to align my car at that shop and they couldn't even do it properly. :(

Just because your "reputable" tire/wheel shop screwed up, doesn't mean the dealer is the only place that can do wheel alignment properly (dealers screw up alignment jobs all the time too) . Also, just because your dealer bills you for two hours worth of work, doesn't mean they actually spend two hours working on your car. FYI.

[jordancl]

I haven't gotten an alignment yet.

I hit a pothole and got a bubble in a tire sidewall around 16.5k miles. Put on new tires at all 4 corners at 17k miles. Lowered the car at 23k miles. Switched to snows at 26k miles.

The summer tires that just came off do not show any uneven wear and the car does not pull at all. But I should still get it aligned

[coolwater]

Results of my $99.99 at Anchor Audi.
If you are in NYC, give them a call and ask for Christina.




-cW

[vtheman]

They said there is a difference in equipment and most shops can't reset the servo. Guess it requires a vagcom?



$185 :( So add the $89 and I'm at almost $300 spent aligning... Ouch

Jeez, did it come with a dinner at Morton's??? Rector Audi is running or was running a special for $69.00. I couldn't refuse to take the offer especially after I took over the car from my wife
BTW: if you're close to Rector ask for Paul Medina, he has been great to me for the past 10 years.

[coolwater]

$69 is crazy. What else do they offer on the cheap?

-cW

[vtheman]

$69 is crazy. What else do they offer on the cheap?

-cW

There were other coupons such as free tire rotation, free loaner and some ridiculously (can't remember the price) low offers for a fluids and brakes.

[tingman]

So here I am, just installed my H&R OE and now my steering is pulling to the right. If i put the steering wheel straight, the car goes toward 11' o clock direction. I went a reputable shop and the alignment spec looks dead on. Any suggestion?

[Rodmar]

wtf you guys paying that kinda money for for an alignment I paid 59.99 at my dealership HAHA

[TCHUN003]

I paid $130 at Ramona tire for lifetime alignment and I've gotten my money's worth. Recently had my third alignment. I'm gonna need another one after I get some adjustable control arms.

[QUA77RO]

So here I am, just installed my H&R OE and now my steering is pulling to the right. If i put the steering wheel straight, the car goes toward 11' o clock direction. I went a reputable shop and the alignment spec looks dead on. Any suggestion?

Did the shop reset the steering angle sensor? If you are in reverse, do the steering path lines on the dash display match your steering input? Hopefully you just need a reset.

All Vehicles as of 2012 and some vehicles since around 2005 now will need additional work while performing a wheel alignment service — You now need a reset of your car's computers steering angle sensor. This is an additional step added on now so that your vehicles onboard computers can do their job in assisting you with the built-in safety features built into your vehicles today.

- Stoke's Tire Service website.

Other than that, I notice that your camber is different from right to left on the front axle. My alignment specs are the same... Not sure what is going on there.

[tingman]

Good to hear from you QUA77RO !! I have a question about reseting the steering angle sensor. Do you get a fault code that needs to be Vag'd or go back to dealers? A lot of the drivers on the S4 Thread with ACC/ADS are showing the same problem of steering off to the right. But they are advised don't touch steering sensor unless they have to. http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ms-ADS-and-ACC

[QUA77RO]

Good to hear from you QUA77RO !! I have a question about reseting the steering angle sensor. Do you get a fault code that needs to be Vag'd or go back to dealers? A lot of the drivers on the S4 Thread with ACC/ADS are showing the same problem of steering off to the right. But they are advised don't touch steering sensor unless they have to. http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ms-ADS-and-ACC

I read that thread you linked. Pretty crazy situation. Even with the proper equipment, if the tech fails to properly perform a steering angle sensor reset after the physical alignment on a car that requires it, he has failed to complete the alignment procedure for the car. If I had to go to a dealer or another shop to have the procedure completed, I would have that covered by the original shop as part of their cost of learning more about the new cars they want to be able to service. Much cheaper lesson than litigation.

I have had my Avant aligned several times. Once at a dealership, twice at shops with high-tech racks, and once manually in a parking lot when I had the coil-overs adjusted for corner balancing. I never had any issue with faults codes or the steering wheeling being off-center with the Avant. Maybe, I don't need a reset due to my car being an '09. Not sure. I just found that info on the Stoke's Tire website when I was looking them up to schedule an alignment. I just put a new set of Michelin Pilot SuperSports on a few days ago and need to wait until I return next week to take the Avant down for an alignment. I'll ask them if they know anything about this issue. I think it has more to do with the equipment and tech than anything else... I know several B8 S4 owners that also use Stoke's Tire for alignments and haven't reported any issues.

[kt883]

Ouch. Will def have to consider this when taking mine in next season

[SDF1]

Anyone figure out another option than going to the dealer after an alignment and followed by Christmas light ?

[DoItAllGarage]

Anyone figure out another option than going to the dealer after an alignment and followed by Christmas light ?

Thanks bumming this up. I need new tires followed by alignment, this is a good read!

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[audiAYYY4]

Thanks OP, I'm getting ready for an alignment soon.

I'm pretty sure the last alignment I got was a waste now. I think it took 20-30 minutes, and was $60. They probably didn't do it right, and I was not as critical as I should have been of them. Now I have some questions to ask a shop if I decide I don't want to go to the dealership.

I want to read that S4 thread soon.

[Rollin Thunder]

I just went through the same issue with a dynamic steering fault after getting a perfect alignment. Speaking from experience and talking with a Hunter Rep, HUNTER DOES NOT have the ability yet to reset the servo motor sensor on Dynamic Steering. Even though the hunter machine plugs into the car only a Vag-Com or similar tool (Snap-on scanner) can reset the servo motor sensor. Luckily I was due for the steering update and my dealer reset it for free while doing the update. It can be done outside the dealer just not using the Hunter Machine.

[SDF1]

I just went through the same issue with a dynamic steering fault after getting a perfect alignment. Speaking from experience and talking with a Hunter Rep, HUNTER DOES NOT have the ability yet to reset the servo motor sensor on Dynamic Steering. Even though the hunter machine plugs into the car only a Vag-Com or similar tool (Snap-on scanner) can reset the servo motor sensor. Luckily I was due for the steering update and my dealer reset it for free while doing the update. It can be done outside the dealer just not using the Hunter Machine.

Thank you Rollin Thunder. So all I need to do is reset the servo motor sensor?
Can this be done using VCDS?

[Rollin Thunder]

Thank you Rollin Thunder. So all I need to do is reset the servo motor sensor?
Can this be done using VCDS?

I believe there's a procedure to recal it using vag-com. Don't have a vag-com to verify but that's what the dealer said they had to do. Full left and right sweep to recal the servo motor.

[SDF1]

SOLUTION FOUND

VCDS Ross-Tech is truly AWESOME! Saved me $$$$ from going to the dealer.

- TURN CAR ON
- turn steering wheel left 90 degrees, then back straight, drive 10 seconds under 20km/h
- Go to 16 Steering
- Group 33 and put your steering wheel to 0.00
- Security Code 40168
- Select Basic settings
- Select Group 001
- Click Next till it says ON
- There should be an "OK" in a block for Calibrating Steer Sens.
- Close Controller
- Open 1B-Active Steering
- Security Access 61378
- Enter Basic Settings Group 101.
- DO IT!
- Click Next till it says ON
- Wait for it to say OK.
- close, close, close.
- turn car off
Pray
- turn car back on
- drive SLOW under 20km/h.
- make a full stop, while in drive keep foot on break pedal hard for 5 seconds, then drive slow to 10-15km/h then make a wide left/right turn for a few seconds then straight.
- Turn car off.

WORKS LIKE A CHARM :)

[Dingotech]

I I know several B8 S4 owners that also use Stoke's Tire for alignments and haven't reported any issues.

I recently had the alignment done to my b8 Avant at Stokes. Steering wheel adjustment was part of the deal. Very happy with their service.

Been going to Stokes, on and off, for 30 years. Back in the day, they were a General Tire dealer.

[DoItAllGarage]

SOLUTION FOUND

VCDS Ross-Tech is truly AWESOME! Saved me $$$$ from going to the dealer.

- TURN CAR ON
- turn steering wheel left 90 degrees, then back straight, drive 10 seconds under 20km/h
- Go to 16 Steering
- Group 33 and put your steering wheel to 0.00
- Security Code 40168
- Select Basic settings
- Select Group 001
- Click Next till it says ON
- There should be an "OK" in a block for Calibrating Steer Sens.
- Close Controller
- Open 1B-Active Steering
- Security Access 61378
- Enter Basic Settings Group 101.
- DO IT!
- Click Next till it says ON
- Wait for it to say OK.
- close, close, close.
- turn car off
Pray
- turn car back on
- drive SLOW under 20km/h.
- make a full stop, while in drive keep foot on break pedal hard for 5 seconds, then drive slow to 10-15km/h then make a wide left/right turn for a few seconds then straight.
- Turn car off.

WORKS LIKE A CHARM :)

Nice! So, if alignment shop can get you within specs toe, camber, and caster, followed by with vcdc reset, I'm good to go. Sweet!

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[TheTrucidator]

Could'nt stop myself letting out a loud laugh at the "Pray" part! Hahaha!!

Good find SDF1

[SDF1]

Could'nt stop myself letting out a loud laugh at the "Pray" part! Hahaha!!

Good find SDF1

Thank you TheTrucidator, this took me days to figure out. Once it worked I posted it.
Enjoy!

Don't forget to pray, trust me... when I did it was very worried lol

[pwdrskr]

Thank you TheTrucidator, this took me days to figure out. Once it worked I posted it.
Enjoy!

Quick question for confirmation, is this the procedure to center the steering wheel? Had an alignment done yesterday and the wheel is off center. No warning lights however. Thanks.