wheel alignment

[lightningad]

first off....its a 96 third Gen KZN185 3l td.

I have been crawling around underneath to find the cause of some metallic knocking and think it may be the anti-roll bar mounting bushes, which look knackered on the side the noise comes from.....whilst down there, also noticed that the tyres are wearing away on the insides so i guess i need to have the wheel alignment checked.

I have rung a few places and all seem quite happy to do the job until i tell them its an import, and they get all funny and refuse to do it. Odd excuses include our "machine doesn't have settings for imports", or "we don't do commercial vehicles" - it was outside and he didn't even bother to look at the truck!

Anyway, question is - are there any places that do alignment on Surfs?. I'm quite happy to go somewhere like kwikfit, but they are the ones who have the best excuses....so any recommendations please!

[BUSHWHACKER]

first off....its a 96 third Gen KZN185 3l td.

I have been crawling around underneath to find the cause of some metallic knocking and think it may be the anti-roll bar mounting bushes, which look knackered on the side the noise comes from.....whilst down there, also noticed that the tyres are wearing away on the insides so i guess i need to have the wheel alignment checked.

I have rung a few places and all seem quite happy to do the job until i tell them its an import, and they get all funny and refuse to do it. Odd excuses include our "machine doesn't have settings for imports", or "we don't do commercial vehicles" - it was outside and he didn't even bother to look at the truck!

Anyway, question is - are there any places that do alignment on Surfs?. I'm quite happy to go somewhere like kwikfit, but they are the ones who have the best excuses....so any recommendations please!

Just tell them it's a 4 runner. it's the same as the surf, but don't tell them that!

[Linda]

Not sure where you are but Micheldever Tyres nr Andover Herts does surfs and even has the settings on their computer.

You are more likely to find a independent tyre centre will do it than a kwik fit.

[lightningad]

Just tell them it's a 4 runner. it's the same as the surf, but don't tell them that!

I thought the 4Runner was a 2nd Gen....mines a 3rd and so has different bits underneath.

Linda - thanks but i'm about 300 miles north of you! I will begin calling the independants in the morning.

[BUSHWHACKER]

I thought they were all 4runners to the rest of the world.........except Japan obviously



But I could be wrong!

[marky]

Go to containerway Tyres near where INDESPENSION was on Manchester road at the back of the Ford garage. Landcruiser Prado might be the same chassis

[Uplander]

Go to containerway Tyres near where INDESPENSION was on Manchester road at the back of the Ford garage. Landcruiser Prado might be the same chassis

Good ideas, keep well away from kwik fit on this one....

Plenty of places will take this job, jeez the responses you gettin makin it sound like a badly cobbled together kit car - to$$ers....

Theoretically it doesnay matter which model it is, the top class alignment gauges will self align when the car is driven / placed onto the jig...as long as you can supply the correct geometry spec:

Camber Caster and Toe In....

[Rob]

Mine was done by a Toyota dealer. Here's the report thingy with the alignment specs on it. Sorry for the large pic, just trying to keep it readable.
Hope this helps,
Cheers
Rob

[lightningad]

thanks Rob - i'll take a copy with me to National Tyres and Autos, who've quoted £22 for the job.

[Rob]

£22 - sounds like a price for doing the tracking only, which most garages can do. If you want the full alignment including camber and castor etc, you need to check they can do it - I had a hard time finding a garage that has the equipment to do the full alignment around here.

[Johnny]

Had the same problem on my 3rd Gen.

Took mine to William Jones Motors in Stone, Stoke on Trent.

All ok now.

Johhny.

[M35A2]

I called the Toyota dealership in Oxford and not only can they do all the parts for your SURF off the shelf, they can obtain the interior bits too. I spoke to the guy about mechanical work and he said they have loads of SURFS on the books. So although you are paying a lot more to have the job done, at least you know it's going to be done properly, with the right settings and you have some come back if your not happy. It's more or less a one off job, as long as you haven't smashed into any 1ft high kerbs. I would recommend that you have the same tyres and tread wear on all the wheels, otherwise the readings could be off. Hope this helps.