Stilo Wheel alignment or something :)

When my car was lowered they tracked it at the same time, this was done at a motorsports garage that actually sell tyres too, but even they said it idealy needs to be done by computer tracking and they recommended a place called Christchurch tyres because they had all the right equipment and their ramp was suitable for a lowered car.
I didn't bother at the time because I thought they were being perfectionists and I couldn't be arsed to go anywhere else. My car felt a little bit odd, it was pulling strongly to the left but I ignored it for a while. I then had the tyre wear problem so I got Fiat to look at it and they tracked it at the dealers, but my car was still pulling left, I took it back to Fiat, they looked at it and said it was tracked perfectly.
I then took it to christchurch tyres who stuck it up on the ramps and aligned the wheels using computers and gave me a readout at the end. The wheels were WAY out of alignment. As soon as I got back in the car it felt unbelievably stable at low and high speeds..

Taken Directly from the christchurch tyre website..

http://www.christchurchtyre.co.uk/



What Everyone Should Know About
Total Wheel Alignment

On this vehicle, the front wheels are not aligned to the rear thrust line. This can happen from normal wear and stress, whether your vehicle has adjustable or non-adjustable rear suspension.
To steer straight ahead, you would have to steer the front wheels slightly to the right.A common result would be that the vehicle would "dog track" and possibly pull to one side.
Of course, the angles are exaggerated so you can more easily see the condition. But it takes only a small misalignment to create problems. Why Four Wheel Alignment?











Reduced Tyre Wear Improper alignment is a major cause of premature tire wear. Over the years, a properly aligned vehicle can add thousands of miles to tyre life.Better Fuel Consumption Miles per gallon/litre increase as rolling resistance decreases. Total alignment sets all four wheels parallel which, along with proper inflation, minimises rolling resistance.Improved Handling Does your car pull to one side? Does the steering wheel vibrate? Do you constantly have to move the steering wheel to keep your car traveling straight ahead? Many handling problems can be corrected by total alignment. With all the system components aligned properly, road shock is more efficiently absorbed for a smoother ride.Safer DrivingA suspension system inspection is part of our alignment procedure. This allows us to spot worn out parts before they cause costly problems.

1. Angled readings are measured at all four wheels
2. The steering wheel is centered
3. Front wheels are referenced to rear thrust line and set to specification
   Result: All four wheels are parallel and the steering wheel is centered.

For vehicles with adjustable rear suspensions

1. Angle readings are made at all four wheels
2. Rear wheels are set to specification. (Rear thrust line corresponds to vehicle centerline.)
3. Steering wheel is centered.
4. Front wheels are referenced to rear thrust line and set to specifications.
   Result: All four wheels are parallel and the steering wheel is centered.

Important questions about wheel alignment


Q. How important is wheel alignment?A. Think of it this way. Research indicates that the average car is driven about 12,000 miles per year. A car with toe alignment just 0.34 degrees (Just 0.17 inches) out of specification has dragged it's tyres sideways for more than 68 miles by the end of the year!!Q. What are the "symptoms" of wheel alignment.A. Have your car checked if you notice any of the following:

• Excessive or uneven tyre wear
• Steering wheel pulls to the left or right
• Feeling of looseness or wandering
• Steering wheel vibration or shimmy
• Steering wheel is not centered when car is moving straight ahead

Q. How often should I have my car aligned?A. Follow the vehicle manufacture's recommendation noted in your owner's manual. But, as a general rule, have your vehicle's tyres checked every 10,000 miles or at least once a year.

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Here's the before and after wheel alignment readout I was given...

The link below with the red Toe alignment is the one before it was done so there was quite a difference considering it had just been tracked at Fiat before this, it shows it needs doing properly.
I left both pictures as large as possible so it was easier to read the numbers.

Before it was computer aligned

After it was computer aligned

Hi mate, I had exactly the same thing done earlier this year.
I gave up on fiat as they said it was perfectly tracked with 4 wheel laser alignment!
So I took it to a local specialist alignment place in Perivale, London.
The difference it made was amazing cornered better and felt much smoother, and it corrected the steering wheel as it was skew.

When It comes to the tyre problem FIAT DO NOT HAVE A CLUE, take it to an independent specialist and send the bill to Fiat UK.

Hiya KK1. It was your original recommendation that made me enquire into this in the first place after I discovered I had tyre wear problems, I did mention on the other thread that you had got yours seen to at a specialists too so cheers mate Maybe this will save a few Stilo tyres now. Mine had worn flat on one side after just 3,000 miles But no sign of uneven wear now and I'd be very surpised if it comes back without me noticing because the car feels so much smoother and like you say it corners better too.

I got through 3 sets of fronts in 15000m!
Make sure you send the bills for your tyres and alignment to fiat uk with a stern letter, and also mention trading standards as they supplied a car with incorrect steering settings.

Problem is, the wheels camber is altered from lowering the car, therefore Fiat are under no obligation to refund any money or replace the tyres, so I didn't bother myself as I replaced my wheels and tyres with 18's.

My car being a 54 plate was apparently not at risk from the uneven tyre wear problem as it was fixed on the newer Stilos and the only reason mine was out was from the lowering.

does anyone no how much this costs??
think mine needs doing as its lowered and my tyres dont last long on the front :-(

Ah a subject close to my wallet... TOO CLOSE! Bought my Stilo with 15K and had a 4 wheel alignment done soon after getting it (May '05) at tyre place I have used for tyres/alignment last 15 years. Just dad it done again (Nov/30K) as front anti roll bar links shot and rears wearing outer edges... due to rear track being out Price usually £30-£40 but worth it as quality tyres in any stilo size not cheap... local Fiat Dealer ok, did repair and subbed tracking out to specialist... MUCH BETTER NOW Usually get my 4 wheel alignment checked every 6 months... So much revenue Mr Brown and soo little investment in Highway Maintainence (don't get me started )

Does anyone know of a full wheel alignment place in manchester?

As ive been looking around but cant find anywhere.

Ive found a place in liverpool and one in nottingham...

Hi, noticed a lot of concerns over tyre wear on earlier stilo's but not so much on the later ones. Ok,KoArAnG says it doesn't affect 54 plated cars but I just wandered if this is the case or some are luckier than others. Thanks.

For peace of mind I think I'd get a full alignment check on any car (Fiat or otherwise). After all you don't know what the previous owner has done with the car (as in hit something ).

It's not that expensive anyway - about £13 for mine

Got my wheel alignment checked just after getting the JTD and before putting my alloys on. Anti roll bar links replaced today under warranty...

Fiat states that for the Stilo front toe in must be at -1mm. (+-) 1.
But if you set it to 0 the steering the response is faster and car turns easier but tyres will worn faster on the inside.

My front toe in is exactly in the middle of the allowed range which in degrees is -0°09'

I recently noticed a mild juddering at speed, especialy when accelerating and it was particularly bad at 90+. This occured in the cars 4th year.

I could be driving comfortably at 80 but when I accelerated the juddering started and eased off when I stopped accelerating. Only ever noticable on motorways/dual carriageways.

I noticed uneven wear on my front tyres, 2mm less on the inside of one and they did seem to wear quicker. The tracking was out by almost 2% at the front and 1% at the back. After the tracking wasorted the juddering disappeared completely and the car seemed more responsive, hard to quantify how much but noticable.

At the next MOT one of the front wheel hubs needed replacing though I'm not sure if this is related. My stilo has done abou 35k.

Hmmm.

I'm on my second Stilo now, purchased in Sep 2004, therefore 54 plate.

I am now experiencing pretty awful tyre wear problems - the insides of my tyres (215/45/17) wore very quickly. I think this last set lasted about 8000 miles before they were illegal

I've just replaced them and had the tracking checked and suitably adjusted by National Tyres who I have a good relationship with. It was out, but not massively.

Therefore, just what is causing this pattern of wear ?

At my last service at JCS Kegworth, I queried this and it was taken up with Fiat's area manager who seems as much use as a chocolate fireguard - he basically doesn't want to know and won't entertain any contribution towards tyre replacement costs.

This despite tacit acknowledgement by the service technicians that they've seen this problem before on Stilo's.

So, just what do I do about it, to prevent my car trashing this current pair of front tyres in a few thousand miles ?