Alignment requirements
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AudiWorld Junior Member
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Alignment requirements
I have a 2017 A7 prestige with the bells and whistles. The dealer is saying I need a $500 ‘alignment and calibration’ service after getting four new tires. If I don’t have any calibration problems before hand, shouldn’t I just be able to get a four wheel alignment for $125 and call it good? How important is the ‘calibration’? Thanks,
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
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From: Toronto, Canada
I have a 2017 A7 prestige with the bells and whistles. The dealer is saying I need a $500 ‘alignment and calibration’ service after getting four new tires. If I don’t have any calibration problems before hand, shouldn’t I just be able to get a four wheel alignment for $125 and call it good? How important is the ‘calibration’? Thanks,
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2018
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It’s recommended to get an alignment when you get new tire’s. Of course the ones making that recommendation are the ones selling the rubber. Personally I only get an alignment if the old tires were showing alignment problems. Consequently in the last 20 years I have only had to have 2 cars aligned. On my current and last 2 cars I have logged 416,000 miles between the 3 so about 7 sets of tires and zero alignments. My last car was a Chevy and when I took it to them for an oil change they would put it on the rack and check the alignment. That car went 190,000 miles with all but 1 parameter within spec. The out of spec parameter was 0.1% out but I never did anything about it as it would log 80,000 miles on a set of tires with zero alignment wear patterns.
if the old tires you are taking off are showing alignment problems then yeah get it aligned. Any shop should be able to perform the basic 4 wheel alignment. If the car has ACC then you MIGHT need a very expensive ACC alignment afterwards but only if the ACC faults and says it’s out of spec. If the car has air ride then there are special alignment procedures that I think need to be done that might warrant that higher price.
if the old tires you are taking off are showing alignment problems then yeah get it aligned. Any shop should be able to perform the basic 4 wheel alignment. If the car has ACC then you MIGHT need a very expensive ACC alignment afterwards but only if the ACC faults and says it’s out of spec. If the car has air ride then there are special alignment procedures that I think need to be done that might warrant that higher price.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Mar 2019
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From: Upper Left USA
I don't think you need all that ACC, Lane Assist calibrations if you don't have any issues. Otherwise, since you replaced all the tires, it is better to get just alignment which should cost around 100-200 ($160 in my area)...When I saw the readings before and after the alignment, I felt good I went with the alignment.
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2019
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So my Audi dealer appllied some sort of device on my wheels when I come in for service that measures the alignment. Can this approach be accurate given it is quickly attached to the wheel right there in the service bay?
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,206
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From: Toronto, Canada
Yes, it is a very good indicator of the alignment status.
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