Wheel alignment - do you leave your car?

[olfella]

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

I see you mentioned sound being the bigger issue in another post, I don't really see why?

www.oaic.gov.au/privacy-law/privacy-act/

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

I don't think they're saying too much as they are thrashing your car.

What about while they are working on it? It is not all about thrashing anything.

[FPV+fteT3]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007 View Post
I don't have this problem because I don't get wheel alignment's.
I find it amusing sitting at Bob Janes getting tyres fitted, watching their videos convincing people to get one every 10,000 kms.

I cannot remember the last time I had an alignment on my Falcon ute must be at least 4 sets of tyres ago must have got a good alignment way back when as the tyres wear even just rotate from front to rear every 10k no issues. Last time old mate set it up on the machine because he insisted it "needed to be done" replied I cannot align it without fitting a camber kit. Just goes to show the bloke had no idea. Last time I had tyres fitted there they asked again about an alignment I said do the tyres you are removing show uneven wear? If not don't bother as you don't know how to do it anyway and the $50 is better spent at the pub. Better than the local ford dealer who did it once and tried to charge me for aligning 4 wheels I asked him to show me the adjustment on the back of the ute

[NX74205]

Originally Posted by olfella

www.oaic.gov.au/privacy-law/privacy-act/

What about while they are working on it? It is not all about thrashing anything.

You might actually want to read the Privacy Act before relying on it. Which section(s) are you relying on to make your argument?

The only issue with using a dash cam to record your car being worked on is the rules that the owner of the premises can enforce. They can request that you disable the dash cam or else refuse to work on your car.

There is no law that prevents the use of dash cams per se, unless you're using it to record a "private activity" or otherwise in breach of any other law.

[SYZ]

Originally Posted by NX74205

The only issue with using a dash cam to record your car being worked on is the rules that the owner of the premises can enforce. They can request that you disable the dash cam or else refuse to work on your car. [...]

Correct. The mechanic's workshop is not considered a "public place" under the Act, and therefore the owner is legally entitled to demand that you disable any recording device. This includes both audio and visual.

You can however legally film the interior of the workshop (through a RS door?) and/or its yard space as long as you're doing so from a public space such as a roadway or the footpath.

I know if I was a mechanic working on your car, the last thing I'd accept would be your dash cam recording my every move. What if I wanna pick my nose, loosen a wedgie, or adjust my man-sack?

[NX74205]

Originally Posted by SYZ

I know if I was a mechanic working on your car, the last thing I'd accept would be your dash cam recording my every move. What if I wanna pick my nose, loosen a wedgie, or adjust my man-sack?

Under WA law, at least, if you're at work, it is not considered to be a "private activity" for the purposes of the Surveillance Devices Act. You can, provided that the owner of the premises has consented, be legally filmed while you're working on someone's car.

Anyway, a dash cam points out the front of the car. If you're working on my car, the bonnet is up and would be in the way, or else you'd be under the car so I can't see what you're doing anyway. It's only when the car is taken out for a drive that I'd know exactly where it is and how fast it's going.

[olfella]

Originally Posted by NX74205

You might actually want to read the Privacy Act before relying on it. Which section(s) are you relying on to make your argument?

The only issue with using a dash cam to record your car being worked on is the rules that the owner of the premises can enforce. They can request that you disable the dash cam or else refuse to work on your car.

There is no law that prevents the use of dash cams per se, unless you're using it to record a "private activity" or otherwise in breach of any other law.

The APP's particularly 3 + 4. Forget the surveillance act as at this stage the mechanic is not a crim. But his workshop is a private place and therfore he is entitled to know that you are gathering personal information about him.

[blackf6]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

No because there's nothing wrong with my camber.

my last tyres (old car) 100,000kms current set looking at doing similar.

Imagine if I let somebody put the spanners on it and ruin that for me.

I drive too fast through corners.

[sprintman1]

Rule # 1
Use specialists for each task so no wheel alignments or repairs at 'tyre shops'. Their business and expertise is tyres not suspension

Rule # 2
Have a coffee et al at suspension specialist while the car goes on the 'shaky ramp' then aligned if nothing worn. Walk out knowing job done by specialists who don't 'sell tyres' as a side line

[4vxc]

Originally Posted by sprintman1

Rule # 1
Use specialists for each task so no wheel alignments or repairs at 'tyre shops'. Their business and expertise is tyres not suspension

Rule # 2
Have a coffee et al at suspension specialist while the car goes on the 'shaky ramp' then aligned if nothing worn. Walk out knowing job done by specialists who don't 'sell tyres' as a side line

No but they will try and sell you front end repairs you never knew you needed

[NX74205]

Originally Posted by olfella

The APP's particularly 3 + 4.

What personal information am I collecting? His credit card number? Home address? Tax file number? Medicare number? Bank details? And how is a customer an "APP Entity" for the purposes of the Privacy Act?

Anyway, we've drifted way off topic. Suffice it to say that the Privacy Act is not relevant to the usage of any recording device by a customer recording the goings on in and related to his car in a workshop; the only thing that is relevant is whether the owner of the workshop consents.

The OP's question was whether we stay with the car. My answer to that is yes. Always. However long it takes. The only people I trust with my car are my detailer, and the dealer at which I get my car serviced.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by FPV+fteT3

I cannot remember the last time I had an alignment on my Falcon ute must be at least 4 sets of tyres ago must have got a good alignment way back when as the tyres wear even just rotate from front to rear every 10k no issues. Last time old mate set it up on the machine because he insisted it "needed to be done" replied I cannot align it without fitting a camber kit. Just goes to show the bloke had no idea. Last time I had tyres fitted there they asked again about an alignment I said do the tyres you are removing show uneven wear? If not don't bother as you don't know how to do it anyway and the $50 is better spent at the pub. Better than the local ford dealer who did it once and tried to charge me for aligning 4 wheels I asked him to show me the adjustment on the back of the ute

Same with the Territory, there's no camber adjustment for the rear, yet these places will happily take your money for the Phantom adjustment.

[Express]

Originally Posted by castellan

like coil overs are big load of toss nowadays with people believing it's the only way to go B/S ! they would try to sell your grand mother coil overs

Coilovers offer more adjustment over a spring and shock package, whether you need that on a street car is unlikely or at the very least debateable.

What they do offer is the opportunity to refine the stance of the car.

If it’s aesthetics you’re after you can adjust the ride height to get accurate closure on the guard to tyre gaps which is something you can’t do to the same degree with off the shelf springs.

The added advantage after that is you then have the means to be able to adjust the handling performance of the vehicle.

On the track, well it’s all about adjustment to get the perfect setup for your car and driving style.

My Chassis man tried to talk me into springs and shocks for my new Ute as he said it was more cost effective.

When he admitted he may not be able to get the ride height perfect for my new rims and tyres then coilovers became the logical answer.

[Express]

Originally Posted by 4vxc

No but they will try and sell you front end repairs you never knew you needed

I agree about being cautious but your posts you are coming across as someone who only believes repairers are out to get you.

I get there are some bad to downright shonky ones out there but there are also plenty that are doing the right thing by their customers.

Not everyone is a crook.

You should always question everything someone tells you and if you have the slightest doubt go for another opinion.

I shop around and research everything I buy and car related issues and items aren’t any different.

Here we have the advantage of being able to ask other members for advice then we can go into a repairer forearmed.

I’d never let someone do repairs I wasn’t aware I needed without getting a second opinion unless I really trusted that repairer and if what they are telling you is true they will be able to visually back it up.

And still, if I wasn’t sure I’d say I want to think on it while I ask around.

[castellan]

Originally Posted by Express

Coilovers offer more adjustment over a spring and shock package, whether you need that on a street car is unlikely or at the very least debateable.

What they do offer is the opportunity to refine the stance of the car.

If it’s aesthetics you’re after you can adjust the ride height to get accurate closure on the guard to tyre gaps which is something you can’t do to the same degree with off the shelf springs.

The added advantage after that is you then have the means to be able to adjust the handling performance of the vehicle.

On the track, well it’s all about adjustment to get the perfect setup for your car and driving style.

My Chassis man tried to talk me into springs and shocks for my new Ute as he said it was more cost effective.

When he admitted he may not be able to get the ride height perfect for my new rims and tyres then coilovers became the logical answer.

Yes that's true I agree totally with you in that all.

[castellan]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Umm, I'm a Grandfather and Ive had a couple of old V12 Jags.

Jaguar had inboard brakes with Coilovers on all 4 rear shocks. I guess this means that Jag didn't know what they were doing

It's the set up design that Jaguar used that worked well with that design.

But it's all about the geometry that makes a car handle first and foremost and then comes the spring rates etc and damping.

Bloody hell most bikes had coil overs even back in the 70's Yamaha DT 125 etc remember

[sprintman1]

Originally Posted by 4vxc

No but they will try and sell you front end repairs you never knew you needed

Not if you build a relationship with them unless of course it's Pedders then all bets are off!

[Sprint]

I do my own wheel alignments now, after owning a go-kart years back its technically not hard.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by sprintman1

Not if you build a relationship with them unless of course it's Pedders then all bets are off!

You need a relationship with a suspension specialist?

[TRAU BLAU]

I had 4 new tyres put on at B.Janes.Every valve cap was different,scratches on paintwork,spare tyre wound up upside down(sta.wag.) & later when working on wheel area noticed something spinning around inside tyre which they removed when I took it back.I think the trouble is you don't know in a busy garage who is doing the job,it could be the new apprentice 1st time on their own.

[Brian_H]

I'm in the Hills area of Sydney and have always found it difficult to get a good align and balance.

Does ANY shop these days do ON-CAR dynamic balancing? I had a guy once two decades ago that did and he retired. Never been able to find an ON-CAR balancer since. It balances the whole wheel with the brake disc and hub - much better to remove and out of balance wiggle in the steering than the hit-and-miss OFF-car static balance or the OFF-car dynamic balance.

Anyone know of a guy doing this in Sydney? If not then who's the best wheel aligner going? Cheers!

[arronm]

I dont care with most of my cars but my BA F6 is only insured for me to drive. Saves me heaps on the policy.

So I advice the technicians that my car is not to be driven on the road as my insurance wont cover it. I do always note the odometer. Never had an issue.

I only use suspension shops for wheel alignment.

[The Yeti]

Life's to short to hang around workshops waiting for work to be done, I drop and run and come back at the end of the day

If you have any concerns about the shop your having work done at and won't turn your back you need to find a different shop

They are doing work that can potentially impact on yours and your family's safety as well as that of other road users a guy giving it a bit of stick on a road test should be the least of your concerns

[sexyxe]

I take my car to Pedders in Darwin. I developed a relationship with them here, and coincidentally my partner knows the manager (which we didn't know until she went to collect my old car one day). They road test my Merc, and the second to last time they couldn't as it was pouring rain so the wheel was slightly off center. So I booked it back in and 10mins later and a trip around the block it was sorted. They used their common sense and decided that any potential risk of a road test of my car in the rain wasn't worth the reward, which I appreciated.

[EWT]

The Pedders guys opposite the Ford factory is where i take my G6ET.
There was noticeable improvement in the car after having an alignment done and I managed to get 55,000 km's out of the Dunlops.
I'll be taking my sprint there to adjust the read camber back to neutral and add a camber kit to the front for the same reason.
They are mostly Ford guys at this shop so will most likely be drooling over it.
Having said that, I'll probably stay at the shop coz I can work remotely off the computer.
,btw, just informed that my car build starts this Friday and with a bit of luck, arranging some photo's as it's coming down the line.

[Big_Daz]

My last few cars where company cars so I just left them their and picked it up in the arvo... IF the drove/flogged them A) not my car and B) couldn't do any worse than I was... When I had My FG XR6T though Id only take it to a tyre shop I trusted and had been going to for years (know my old man and I) and they never test drove and always took the utmost care of our cars...

Funnily enough when my Mazda 6 was in for its 10,000km service at my local dealer my wife was dropping me off and we where at a red light about 200m before the dealer.. Next thing I see my car come flying round the corner (90 degree from sidestreet onto main road) and then fly off down the road to the dealer at full throttle... I was not impressed and made sure the service department was aware of this fact.... They apologized and all that but needless to say it went to another dealer for its 20k recently... Funny thing is, its a Bloody 2.2 litre twin turbo diesel auto sedan.. Not exactly exciting or anything so god knows what was going through his mind...lol

[mike_nofx]

Just a genuine curiosity here (and my googling isnt helping much here), is there any formal training or qualifications needed to work at a suspension shop? Is there a "suspension apprenticeship"?
Also, is there any training to work in a tyre shop doing wheel alignments?

I'm just wondering why its automatically assumed a guy in a suspension shop is an 'expert' and a tyre fitter and wheel aligner is not.

Also, many mechanic workshops carry out wheel alignments and we know mechanics have done an apprenticeship at least which I'm almost certain would have included a subject on wheel alignments.

[Olbucko]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Same with the Territory, there's no camber adjustment for the rear, yet these places will happily take your money for the Phantom adjustment.

But it does have adjustment for toe in, which should be checked and adjusted if required.

[mechanic]

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

Just a genuine curiosity here (and my googling isnt helping much here), is there any formal training or qualifications needed to work at a suspension shop? Is there a "suspension apprenticeship"?
Also, is there any training to work in a tyre shop doing wheel alignments?

I'm just wondering why its automatically assumed a guy in a suspension shop is an 'expert' and a tyre fitter and wheel aligner is not.

Also, many mechanic workshops carry out wheel alignments and we know mechanics have done an apprenticeship at least which I'm almost certain would have included a subject on wheel alignments.

Well, in my day as an apprentice we had to be fully conversant with all aspects of front wheel geometry. I don't know what the situation is these days but if the operator has no understanding of the effects of camber caster and toe-in then how do they correct problems?

[sprintman1]

Originally Posted by 4vxc

No but they will try and sell you front end repairs you never knew you needed

I said pro suspension shop. I didn't say Padders!

[sprintman1]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

You need a relationship with a suspension specialist?

With any body who does stuff on my vehicles. It's the difference between being a client or a customer.