Hi,

A simple question, are there different types of wheel geometry alignment? Is alignment different to geometry setup?

Reason I ask is I've asked Avondale honda to do a wheel alignment (lazer) + replace fuel filter (as it was missed off from last service due to out of stock). I've waited for 2 hrs for all work to be done (longer then they expected), so they said they will give me a discount for being patient. So they knocked off the price for the wheel alignment which was about 30pounds.

Now, I thought these alignment thing costs

 

I would say there isn't, but that depends on your own understanding. If I remember correctly alignment original meant making sure you front wheels were pointing in the correct direction (ie toe-in/out), but this was mainly due to the fact that this was the only adjustment on most cars for a very long time.
More recently most modern days cars have more adjustments, such as toe/chamber/castor and also adjustable at the back (4 wheel alignment) and I guess this is when geometry setup comes in (ie more angles to shake a stick at).

You could say check my alignment of my toe/chamber and castor and this would be true or just say check my goemetry and they will say what? don't you mean 4 wheel alignment.

So they could both mean the same or different. Best thing is just ask for what you want "4 Wheel toe/chamber and castor check please". The 4 wheel should mean that they check the "thrust line" as well. If they don't know what this is then walk away.

There is a good web page somewhere on 4 wheel alignment with lots of nice buzz words and diagrams to through at your grease monkey.

Check the Tech FAQ for geometry settings and check these againts your report. Its all detail Front/Rear castor/toe/chamber Total toe etc.

 

There are four settings I think for current s2000s, The original MY settings for MY00 02 and 04 plus an optimum setting for MY00 to address the snappy handling this you can put on MY02. When you have a 4 wheel alignment done it measures the amount the front and rear wheels point in/out (toe in/out) and the amount the top of the wheels go in toward the body or out (camber), Theres castor angles but im fooked if i can remember what that one is. I beleive the principal is that if the more the front wheels point toward themselves the greater the straight line stability is but the worse the understeer is. More toe out makes sharper turn in but unstable on straights. The rears toeing in = less oversteer, out = more oversteer. I think thats about right but please someone put me right coz it is an intersting subject. When I had my old s,s done it was 100 the first couple of times and 60 later on. Most garages at that time had not really done many.

 

Scan in the printout they gave you and we will see what the settings are - and what they have done

 

The fuel filter is not a serviceable item on the S2000 unless it has gone wrong.

 

For Santa's sake don't ask a dealer to change the fuel filter - chances are they will damage the softop (which is right on top of the pump access - the only fuel filter on this car is fitted to the pump and is not a service item) doing the job and cause you loads of grief! (The Honda service schedule is wrong in respect of the fuel filter change for this car.)

 

I was told by Avondale honda that my fuel filter needs to replace as listed on the schedule. It took them a good hour to fit it, and now my car smell of petrol.



dammit! Now you guys mention it, I can hear a few more rattles from the soft-top, have they damaged it? What shall I do now? Should I complain? but the job's already done?

 

If it rattles take it back simple

 

A lot of tyre garages do "alignment" and they just do the toe and ignore the other settings. So there are definitely different types of alignment. If it takes 5 minutes and they charge you