Do you trust wheel alignment without computers ?

[Darth_mel]

Got my tyres and rims changed yesterday and was supposingly "aligned" by a guy using just a spanner without any computerised equipment whatsoever.

 

How accurate can that be ?

 

 

[Yeobh]

Just wrench , did he use some string

[Maverick79]

i think human expertise can't beat computer precision when it comes to wheel alignment.

find Kenny at AMK Autopoint. best in the business.

[Darth_mel]

  On 10/15/2009 at 12:24 PM, Maverick79 said:

i think human expertise can't beat computer precision when it comes to wheel alignment.

find Kenny at AMK Autopoint. best in the business.

Got address ?

[Yuan]

  On 10/15/2009 at 1:32 PM, Darth_mel said:

Got address ?

 

Try google Creative Trading.

 

Located at Woodlands Industrial Park E.

 

This shop does computer alignment. Boss is okay and nice. I have been using him.

[Joseph22]

very accurate, we always do alignment without computer at army. Remember that all alignment were first made without computer. anyway, we also pass STA alignment test and FYI, STA is more strict with SAF vehicle.

[Windchoco]

Guys, I happened to strike a kerb really badly yesterday... Left rear rim was basically so damaged that some metal chipped off together with the paint of the rims. After that I realised that the wheel camber seems to look different from the others... I m not sure if i am being paranoid. Is it possible I need to do rebalancing or realignment to that wheel?

 

Please advise. Thanks..

[Luckcent]

  On 10/20/2009 at 3:07 AM, Windchoco said:

Guys, I happened to strike a kerb really badly yesterday... Left rear rim was basically so damaged that some metal chipped off together with the paint of the rims. After that I realised that the wheel camber seems to look different from the others... I m not sure if i am being paranoid. Is it possible I need to do rebalancing or realignment to that wheel?

 

Please advise. Thanks..

Do your car goes to one side side when driving, if so, better send for alignment.

[Route]

what i wana know is.. why is computer alignment in msia so much cheaper then sg ? alignment in msia is rm 15 - 20 but singapore is around $40 to even $80 at some place.

[Yeobh]

Workshop rental and labour cost takes up a high percent of the direct cost. There are many indirect costs and they help to kill business in Spore.

I am still unable to figure out how on earth some shops can survive in Spore by charging s$10.00 per sesssion for labour when changing oil even customers bring thier own oil and filters.Did they ever factor in use of car lift, shop space, cost of repair and service the lift not to mention buying tools to replace those damge and loss.

Any cost accountant care to enlighten me.

[Furrynadz]

very simple, average it out

those who dont bring their own stuff become the carrots

 

[Yeobh]

Chance of averaging out is very slim. Most of them handle only a handful of oil change jobs per day and majority are car owners who I classified as D customers.

[Kusje]

  On 10/19/2009 at 12:40 AM, Joseph22 said:

very accurate, we always do alignment without computer at army. Remember that all alignment were first made without computer. anyway, we also pass STA alignment test and FYI, STA is more strict with SAF vehicle.

 

How is alignment without computers done?

[Yeobh]

Wrenches , string , metal rods , scribbers, chalk - all these tools can be used for manually adjusting wheels toe readings. Many under develop countries are still using such simple easily market available tools.

For adjusting caster and camber - what is need is a modified water leveling gauge used by brick layers and carpenters.

[Shai]

  On 10/20/2009 at 3:07 AM, Windchoco said:

Guys, I happened to strike a kerb really badly yesterday... Left rear rim was basically so damaged that some metal chipped off together with the paint of the rims. After that I realised that the wheel camber seems to look different from the others... I m not sure if i am being paranoid. Is it possible I need to do rebalancing or realignment to that wheel?

 

Please advise. Thanks..

Bro, happen to me too last 2 weeks. wet road and i was driving fast. all of sudden my car slide to the extreme left lane and hit the kerp. The impact was very hard. My left rim badly damage and crack. went to change new rim and realignment but still cannot perfect. i found out later that my left lower arm badly out of shape. change new left lower arm and left absorber sent for wheel alignment again. this time round my handling is back to normal.

[GoodCar]

  On 10/20/2009 at 5:18 AM, Yeobh said:

Wrenches , string , metal rods , scribbers, chalk - all these tools can be used for manually adjusting wheels toe readings. Many under develop countries are still using such simple easily market available tools.

For adjusting caster and camber - what is need is a modified water leveling gauge used by brick layers and carpenters.

 

 

True.

 

Manual alignment is a skill.

 

The job of the computer is to make the job easier so that more average skill people can be trained and less skillful people(hard to get) is required. But on the other hand, the quality and consistancy of the alignment improved.

 

Now we have cheaper, better and faster service

 

But very concern "Or sim " towkay use this opportunity to cut peoples pay

Some of these "or sim" people-miss interpret the true meaning of productivity.

[GoodCar]

  On 10/20/2009 at 4:32 AM, Route said:

what i wana know is.. why is computer alignment in msia so much cheaper then sg ? alignment in msia is rm 15 - 20 but singapore is around $40 to even $80 at some place.

 

 

I will probably do more alignment here if they charge cheaper.

But since I go up north al least once a year, I rather do it there.

 

When the price disparity is so big, very hard to give local shop here a chance.

 

Malaysia has a proper car industry, so I do not buy the story that they are less skillful,

After all, with the aids of the computer, only basic hand skill is require liao.

 

[Robo]

  On 10/20/2009 at 4:44 AM, Yeobh said:

Workshop rental and labour cost takes up a high percent of the direct cost. There are many indirect costs and they help to kill business in Spore.

I am still unable to figure out how on earth some shops can survive in Spore by charging s$10.00 per sesssion for labour when changing oil even customers bring thier own oil and filters.Did they ever factor in use of car lift, shop space, cost of repair and service the lift not to mention buying tools to replace those damge and loss.

Any cost accountant care to enlighten me.

 

there are many factors to be considered into cost.

 

simply said there are the fixed variable and semi variable.

 

there are the depreciation of the machineries and your tools. den down to your wages and salaries, den your cost like the engine oil etc.

 

i also dont really know how to put it simple. let me try

 

for just changing oil, ws cant charge too expensive also, $10 for a oil change when customers BYO everything, they just have to consider their wages for eg, $1000/mth divide by no. or working days den divide by the hrs. so it works out to be very small amount per hr. change oil for 1 car frankly can be done under 10mins if done by a seasoned mechanic. so assuming the mechanic is paid $5/hr. and he does a job in 10mins that works out to be ard $0.90 of labour cost. and he charges $10, den less his car jack time cost which he assume he buys it at $200 and he can use probably for at least 200 times. so we put at $1 la. den if u want less his rental for that 10mins assuming $3000 per mth / 24 working days / 10hrs / 60mins * 10 mins = $2.08 , his profit is ard $6/car! i havent facto in thefact that there might be other cars around and some of them owns the WSspace. so this kinda cost is negligible to them.

 

so its still profitable for him to just charge $10 oil change. i also understand this kinda ws also rather earn thru volume. which benefits us end consumers.

 

bigger WS has higher running cost. so if u notice they charge around $20-$30 per change. still. with that increase, their margin also increases 3folds at least.

Edited October 20, 2009 by Robo