Greetings ladies and gents,

It's time for some new tires and an alignment on my 2005 Super V8. I called the two big tire places in my small town, one of them said Jaguars have to be taken to the dealership (3 hour drive) for an alignment and the other said bring it in.
What have you guys been doing?

Thanks,

Mo

 

Mo,

I just needed a front-end alignment, it felt as if the car was pulling a little to the right (even on left lane position where the crown slopes to the left). Took my car to a more experienced alignment center in town, a mom 'n pop type of place; they came highly recommended.

They looked at the car and told me that because of the air suspension, they would not be able to touch it. They suggested I get it tweaked by a Jag dealer. He said that the suspension could be a little off on any side and that would throw their alignment off if they adjusted it the normal (mechanical measurement) way.

As yet I have not take the car to the dealer, but would be interested in the responses you get.

Sorry, I have latched onto your thread with no feedback to your question...

 

No worries Nash, I think we're 2 for 3 on independent shops saying they can't touch the car. Hopefully we'll get a definitive answer from a more knowledgeable member.

 

I can't understand what the air suspension has to do with the alignment...as long as the car is in normal run mode the level should be consistent. Then isn't it really just a matter of adjusting the tie rod ends?

 

I don't know man. It's not like air suspension is a new technology, but if it's that simple then why would a competent shop with good reputation turn down work??

 

to align your vehicle, the vehicle must be set in "alignment mode" which puts the air suspension at exactly the right height on every corner. If the suspension is not at the right height, every aspect of alignment geometry changes. if it's too low, the camber will appear too negative, and most likely, it will look like the toe is too far in. if it's too high, the opposite will be true. It's especially true on the front, but the rear will be off too. I applaud the independents that are trying to help you out by steering you to the dealer. I'd trust them down the road for the other work that they are able to do.

 

Bobby, thank you very much for the info. I did ask the question a while back if the car should be running during an alignment to get its normal stance. Didn't know about that mode.

I guess setting the car in alignment mode requires special Jaguar software to talk to the ECU/suspension controller. Or is that something that could be purchased online? The nearest dealership is 3 hours away (Raleigh).

 

There is a portion of the diagnostic software designed to serve this purpose, or dealers can get an OBDII dongle that sets the car in alignment mode. As far as I know, these tools are not available to the general public, but I may be wrong.

 

Have a read of this page from an English independent website who service my car. This is the kind of rig you need to do the job correctly. My car was done by them and tracks arrow-straight on the highway at speed.

Wheel Alignment and Tracking - XJK Jaguar, Staffordshire

The equipment also includes a wheel balance that doesnt use weights on the wheels by matching wheel against tyre.

 

Thanks again Bobby and Fraser for the info. So confusion continues, called the Jaguar dealership in Raleigh and they said only Jaguar can perform the alignment, not unexpected. Called another Jaguar dealership in VA, which I visit more than Raleigh, and they said any shop can do a front alignment. Only Jaguar can do a rear alignment because of some special too, but they are positive that's all there is to it and there's no alignment mode. Ugh!

Bobby, did you have an X350 at some point, or is the alignment mode on your XF?

 

Just changed inner tie rod and speed sensor in my 2004 xj8. Next adjusted toe by holding steering wheel in straight position and set car's wheels straight and parallel to each other. Manual calls for 0.1 degree + or - 0.2 degree, so 0 degrees will fall in this category.
Car drives great and straight. Don't thing that any so call "professional mechanic" would do better job, but might brake something in the process. Always say that if you want done something right, do it yourself.

 

Maciek, how are you measuring for parallel?

 

Attached 2 aluminum I beams to the rims reaching the and of the car using aluminum spacers so they will not touched the rubber. Primitive method but it works, lol.

 

There is no suspension "alignment" mode, but to align the wheels, the car must be on a level surface. It will normally automatically be on Stance or Preliminary Mode as Drive Mode only switches in above a speed of 1km/hr.

 

Maciek. Any chance of some pics of your rig?

Thanks in advance

 

If you search the web for

diy wheel alignment

you can spend days or weeks following the rabbit hole of different techniques

They are basically all the same, but with different refinements.

With a consumer grade laser level, measuring down to .05 degrees toe repeatably is within reach.

 

So the bottom line is any competent shop can do a front alignment. The jury is still out on the need for a special tool for the rear alignment. Correct?

 

meirion1,

Hardly would call it rig. Just 2 I beams attached horizontally to the rims with the clamps and spacers so will not touched the tires. Measured distance between them near the front wheels and at the end, behind the car to make sure they are parallel to each other and to the car. Did't take any pictures, sorry. Probably does not give 0.05 degree accuracy but after all this is not a Space Shuttle, lol