Dear Octavia Gurus,

My car is in the body shop having a dent repaired (thanks to Mr fecking delivery lorry driver **** who drove off after hitting my car). Whilst in the repairers I asked for a 4 Wheel check and adjustment since they have Hunter Laser alignment equipment and I have recently had 4 new tyres.

Any way - long story short. Went to pick up car on Saturday as all ready but on driving home there is a terrible whistle from NSR door. I believe from searching on here this is common and the rear quarter light glass seal, so I'm hoping for a relatively easy fix. So they still have the car :(

Anyway, back to the alignment. They gave me the print out of the wheel geometery. All very good apart from rear camber. This reads as -1degree 55' and -1degree 59' respectively. They both show up as Red (not within spec) on before and after print outs. When I queried this with the tech at the place he said first that there was no camber adjustment on the rear. Bull****! and when I asked him if he was using the revised spec of 1degree 20' he went to check then said that there was no need to adjust as this was within tolerance. Bull**** again I think?? Then he said that since the car was over 5 years old then there was bound to be settlement in the suspension and that I should not worry about it if I did not have any untoward tyre wear. I dont, but then should I ask them to adjust it to spec?? All seems to handle well and wear well, so should I??? I'm a little confused.

Anyway. Hope they can cure the dreaded whistle/drone soon. I'm dying for my car back as the Corsa 1.2 courtesy car is soooo slow!!!

edit: ahhhh, it seems they are adjustable on an octy II...... you lives and learns

Edited 17 January, 201016 yr by TeflonTom

Tom, you sure about that?? I'm sure i've seen posts on here about rear camber being adjustable with an eccentric bolt. Possibly even pics of it too?? You might be correct but I can never trust my memory nowadays hence I'm posting the question.

all my nuts and bolts are eccentric.

the only place i can think that an eccentric bolt would go is in the tca bush but that doesn't sound likely to me... i could be wrong :yes:

Edited 17 January, 201016 yr by TeflonTom

The bolts are clearly visible when the car is on a ramp. Standing underneath the car at the back looking forwards they will be facing you on both swingarms.

You are definitely being given the runaround!

If, as has been suggested, the car has settled on the suspension with age, how come you now have a negative setting that comes with the car being 'jacked up'? If the car has settled you would have an increased amount of positive camber to, say, 2degrees +.

Presumably the work is being paid for by your insurance; have a word with them. Say that you are not happy with the work carried out, both camber and door seal, they should get it sorted for you, perhaps even by another garage.

Edited 18 January, 201016 yr by bahnstormer vrs

Thanks for the info guys, you have confirmed what I thought.

Just waiting for them to call me to say they have fixed the wind noise before I get them to do the camber check/adjustment again. The insurance is paying for the bodywork damage but I'm paying myself for the geometry alignment. I figured since they have the car and the equipment they could do it and save me an additional trip to the same place as I would have gone there anyway for the alignment. Not so sure I would use them again considering their attitude. They are a very big outfit but their Customer service seems to suck a little :(

Also, where the repair to the rear wing has been done, to the eye it looks perfect, however when you very lightly rub your fingers over the area you can feel the very slightest of a tiny bulge. Not sure if I should accept that - I am a seriously fussy bugger/perfectionist. I'm sure most people would accept this and I'm not sure if I'm being too picky

Hurrah. Got car back from repairers. Wind noise now gone.

They rechecked the wheel geometry this time using the right settings for the right car. Previously they had the data for a MK1 Octy as mine is a 54 plate (Late Nov 2004) so from the operator POV it was a MK1 from their data sheet.

Anyway, now all the printouts show readings in the Green (correct), however they did not adjust anything and the rear camber is still -1degree 55' but since it is within spec they wont adjust to 1degree 20'. Should I go back or accept this???

Edited 19 January, 201016 yr by Golf-Fiend

Hurrah. Got car back from repairers. Wind noise now gone.

They rechecked the wheel geometry this time using the right settings for the right car. Previously they had the data for a MK1 Octy as mine is a 54 plate (Late Nov 2004) so from the operator POV it was a MK1 from their data sheet.

Anyway, now all the printouts show readings in the Green (correct), however they did not adjust anything and the rear camber is still -1degree 55' but since it is within spec they wont adjust to 1degree 20'. Should I go back or accept this???

I'd say you'll be OK; just keep an eye on tyre wear on the inner edge of the rear tyres. Unless you want to be picky, then get it changed but it would be fair that you pay for that (as clearly there is no knock on effect from your accident).