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Wheel alignments

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alignments
15K views 21 replies 13 participants last post by  rimibar 
#1 ·
any info on the wheel alignment for the Giulia / Qf

the 159 had a peculiar camber, i believe this is just a straight 0 alignment ?

i hit a pothole yesterday (rear LHS) and believe it now wanders slightly to the left, will need to get it checked, assuming its a straight forward alignment
 
#2 ·
Data not on Computer



I took my Quadrifoglio in for an alignment check yesterday. I always believe in doing a check on a new car having little confidence that they all come out of the factory correctly set up.

I went to Protyre in Gloucester (a Pirelli Performance Centre), but they wouldn't do anything because the Quadrifoglio's data isn't on their computer yet.

They said it wasn't possible to do a check on a car for which they had no data. That, I believe, is nonsense.

'Come back in June' they suggested.

I also went to NJS where Neil said they did have the data, but I didn't have time for him to do the car then and there.

Alfa dealers will have the data, but tyre suppliers probably not yet.

Andy
 
#4 ·
Front Wheel Geometry

Half toe
  • All Versions: 0' (±4')

Camber (not adjustable)
  • 2.0/2.2 RWD/AWD: -30' (±20')
  • Quadrifoglio: -35' (±20')

Caster (not adjustable)
  • 2.0/2.2 RWD: +6°8' (±18')
  • 2.0/2.2 AWD: +5°37' (±18')
  • Quadrifoglio: +6°18' (±18')



Rear Wheel Geometry

Half toe
  • 2.0/2.2 RWD/AWD: +13' (±8')
  • Quadrifoglio: +13' (±4')

Camber (lower wishbone to crossmember bolt needs to be replaced)
  • All Versions: -1°30' (±20')



All values are with the vehicle in "Standard A" - unladen except accessories/tools and with a full tank.
 
#7 ·
Mopar Tech Authority starts by saying:

The wheel geometry/angle checks must be performed using appropriate alignment equipment after checking and adjusting
the tire inflation pressure to the proper specifications and ensuring that the vehicle exhibits the following load conditions:
• Vehicle including spare tire, tools, accessories, and a full tank of fuel.


However, FCA Unetversity starts by saying:

Note:
The front toe adjustment must be performed only when the vehicle is on the standard:
 Standard 0: Vehicle in running order without fuel (only reserve)
 Standard A: Vehicle is in running order without fuel (only reserve)


Any thoughts on which is correct?
 
#8 ·
This is normal Alfa 'Speak'. It relates to the weight on the vehicle and elsewhere will be a description of A and O.

ps Don't get confused on setting applied to the 159 (and 156 before). Front wheel drive pulls the wheels against the rubbers and changes the alignment. So normally you would start off with Toe Out. On rear wheel drive the front wheels are pushed backwards and it is normal to start with Toe In.
 
#9 ·
I went to an Alfa dealer in Montreal to have a wheel alignement done... they do not have the specs, do not know when they'll get them!!! What do I do from there? I had a fender bender, the insurance covered it. I only miss my wheel alignment to get my car back before it snows.
 
#10 ·
So going to get my car lowered on Eibach springs but wont get them until January now... Will then let them settle and get a wheel alignment done after... Is it still been found to be the case that the lower wishbone to crossmember bolt needs to be changed if the rear camber need adjusting? If so anybody got the part number by any chance?
 
#11 ·
@cloverleaf535 , I have not really delved into alignments so I am not 100% certain and the service manual translated from Italian is ambiguous on if the lower control arm bolt needs replacement if it just loosened for adjustment and not removed. It says "lower wishbone to cross member bolt needs replacing". But there is no cross member bolt! It appears to have a screw and a locking nut. You loosen the nut and turn the adjusting screw for the rear wheel camber. If it is threadlocked, I would just re-tighten it with a little more threadlock unless the NUT is removed completely.

See attached procedure (ignore the section where it says "...rear wheels half-toe in adjustment....", it means rear camber adjustment. This is were the auto translate has gone haywire). It appears you turn the adjusting torx/hex screw counter-clockwise to move the eccentric washer which in turn reduces 'negative' camber and clockwise to 'increase' negative camber. They are meant to check the toe, adjust camber and again re-check toe as messing with camber will affect toe-in. Bread and butter for a decent alignment workshop. Full procedure is also attached.

The rear bellypan will need removal for access to the suspension in the Quad. The other Giulias, it is exposed.

The front wheel camber is non adjustable. You will need shims between the Lower Control Arm and mounting point if you wish to adjust more to increase negative camber. As you know stock front camber is -0.5 degres. Lowering would increase it to -1.0 deg and be non-adjustable. I won't be concerned upto -2.0 degree as long as it is relatively balanced both L and R.


I would only trust a performance shop familiar with sports and high end car alignment with hunter computerised alignment. I would even contemplate getting the check done at a competent Alfa dealer like LC motors, Monza sport or an independent like AHM Alfa care /NJS Pershore. Other alternative is a dealer who is not your normal servicing place if you do not wish to make your lowering public. Most dealers won't be fussed if you are paying for a service. It is easy to sport the car has lowered springs anyway.

Probably more information than you asked for but hey ho... ;) :geek:




Text Screenshot Web page Number


This picture shows the rear camber adjustment better:
945430



Procedure of half toe check:
945428
 

Attachments

#12 ·
Is this relevant ?

At the rear, there is a multilink solution, called Alfa Link TM , an exclusive Alfa Romeo patent. The lower arm is able both to carry out the function of containing the convergence when cornering, and to guarantee excellent flexibility in the longitudinal direction, to the advantage of ride comfort. For this reason, Alfa Romeo calls the four-arm system “and a half”. Altogether Alfa Link TM it allows a very accurate control of the movement of the wheel, whose angles in the three planes remain practically unchanged, during the vertical excursion of the suspension. The suspension holds the record in the segment both in terms of longitudinal bulk, which is the most compact, allowing the space available for the rear seats to be increased, and in terms of lateral stiffness, to the advantage of road holding. To adjust the toe or camber, you can use a patented device that allows you to keep the rigid points of the suspension unchanged. In this way the elasto-kinematic behavior of the suspension is not modified following the adjustment of the static angles.

Braccio
Lower arm of the Alfa Link (TM) rear suspension (right side).
1- and 2- The two hinges on the support frame fixed to the frame.
3- Hinge fixed to the upright holder.
4- Shock absorber anchoring point (separated from the spring).
5- A connecting rod is fixed to one of the two upper arms. Its function in particular is to counteract the rotation of the mast under longitudinal loads (braking, acceleration).

Rear suspension. The device (patented) for the adjustment of the convergence is highlighted. This takes place via an eccentric inserted inside the attachment point of the toe-link control arm. The solution allows to keep its length unchanged and therefore not to vary the elasto-kinematic behavior of the suspension.
 
#13 ·
I thought I read you could only adjust toe and not camber for both front and rear on the Quad? So we can adjust the rear camber without installing adjustable arms?
 
#15 ·
I'm a recent convert to the world of Alfa and have a lovely Misano Blue Giuilia Veloce. It's a 2017 model, but with very low mileage. I took the car into a tyre sevices yeserday for its new Michelin Pilot Sport 4's. They took off the rear Goodyear Eagle F1s and found this on the nearside tyre!! I couldn't believe it, never have I run on such a dangerous tyre!! 😱

The offside tyre was nowhere near as bad, so my questions to you all, is what could have caused this wear to be so different to its partner? Alignment? Over-inflation (it wasn't BTW)? Or is it reasonably common?

Was honestly horrified, and I'm keen to stop this happening again if it is a fault... @Andy Bowden - I'd be interested to hear your recommendations on local experts, I'm in nearby Bristol...

Cheers all

Tire Automotive tire Tread Bicycle tire Synthetic rubber
 
#20 · (Edited)
I'm a recent convert to the world of Alfa and have a lovely Misano Blue Giuilia Veloce. It's a 2017 model, but with very low mileage. I took the car into a tyre sevices yeserday for its new Michelin Pilot Sport 4's. They took off the rear Goodyear Eagle F1s and found this on the nearside tyre!! I couldn't believe it, never have I run on such a dangerous tyre!! 😱

The offside tyre was nowhere near as bad, so my questions to you all, is what could have caused this wear to be so different to its partner? Alignment? Over-inflation (it wasn't BTW)? Or is it reasonably common?

Was honestly horrified, and I'm keen to stop this happening again if it is a fault... @Andy Bowden - I'd be interested to hear your recommendations on local experts, I'm in nearby Bristol...
Cheers all
It surely has to be either an alignment issue or a manufacturing defect in the tyre. I use Briant Tyres a small local chain with a branch close to home, but for what seems to be a major alignment problem, you might be better going to Protyre in Lawrence Hill. Though it's a few years since I last used Protyre.

Googling 'Hunter Wheel Alignment Bristol' reveals a number of results
 
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#16 ·
Never seen it this bad or anything of concern at all in the past. My guess is the alignment was out of spec. It would be worth checking front and back at a reputed Hunter 4 wheel computerised alignment workshop.

The specs are at the top of this page.
 
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#22 ·
A somewhat tardy promised reply (!!!).

It was the alignment that was "significantly out" - they suspected a bad pothole had been met at some point in the past. Protyre in Bristol were excellent and used the Hunter alignment to get things shipshape. Tyre wear, since then, has been much easier to stomach!
 
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