Hi All,  I will be selling my Focus in a couple of months and top of my to look at list will be a Octavia Diesel vRS prob about 11 plate, i have been on the site gleaning info about this car one thing that has come up a bit seems to be 4 wheel alignment.  This is something new to me i have not heard of having to have this done before and to be honest sounds a bit worrying, i obviously know all about front wheel tracking but having to get all 4 wheels done!!!.

 

Could you explain why this is and why i have not heard about it with other type of cars.  Is it something that has to be done often as it seems an expense i could do without.

 

                                                                            Cheers,  Kev.

Welcome Skutters.

 

Fraud I know very little about 4wheel alignment.

I only do a 2wheel one on my front wheel drive cars.

And a 4wheel alignment on previous 4wheel drive cars.

Am sure members here will give u a more detail explanation.

 

Cheers.

The Octavia II has multi link rear suspension that is adjustable.  You would only need to get a full four wheel alignment done if the back tyres are sawtoothing (run your hand across the tread - if it's smooth it's fine, if it has sawtoothed it will be obvious).

@JulieD

Be wary of running your hands blindly over tyres without visual inspection first.

Tyres that have worn through to the wire mesh hurt when your hand gets impaled on all the sharp little needle points.

Any car that has adjustable rear suspension can benefit from having all four wheels aligned. On cars without adjustable rear suspension you are just stuck with what you've got. It's not a weakness of an Octavia, rather an indication of a more advanced suspension setup.

@JulieD

Be wary of running your hands blindly over tyres without visual inspection first.

Tyres that have worn through to the wire mesh hurt when your hand gets impaled on all the sharp little needle points.

 

Very true, and obviously you don't want to run your hands over a tyre that has a bit of glass or a nail stuck in the tread, but you'd hope that anyone with any degree of common sense would be aware of that.

I think its always recommended after any suspension work / mods. I have had mine done twice after my suspension mods have been fitted. I have never suffered any saw-toothing or uneven wear to warrant an alignment check but I know its not that uncommon. 

 

I last had mine done a few months ago at Buckley tyre services for about £50.

Did not realise they had adjustable rear suspension so nothing to get worried about then, i am still gleaning info about the vRS before i go and have a look at some.

I can recommend Hunter alignment systems. Do a search online for a local one. BUT, ensure the user of the system know how to use it.

I have had good and bad experiences here. FWIW, Wheels in Motion in Chesham are excellent - if you're ever near NW London.

A properly aligned car drives much, much better than one that is even slightly out.

My vRS was out from new, and I had it sorted alignment-wise at three months old. Transformed the drive.

Good luck.