Wheel alignment at tire shop vs dealership?
 

Ok, so I read a couple of posts where people were asking if they can take their car (in my case a 2011 Q7) for wheel alignment to a tire shop, instead of the stealership.

Most of the people say go to the stealership, but they don't explain why? Isn't wheel alignment a usual process based on some standard devices and numbers?

Why would only the stealership do a great job at it?

In my case they have long waiting periods, it's 40%-60% more expensive and it's 30 minutes away compared to the 3 minute drive to Town Fair Tire in my neighborhood.

Looking forward to your point of views and reasons why!

Thanks.

I had the same question so bumping to the top. I'm in NYC so if anyone has a recommendation on a shop to do a wheel alignment, I'm all ears.

Stealership informed me that the Q7 suspension setting for alignment is unique and requires a computer setting (assuming pneumatic suspension). The only shops that should do alignment are the Audi certified shops.

I know in one city near me where the Audi stealership contracts out alignement to a specialist shop with the needed equipment and training.

Of course, Stealerships have been know to be "economical with the truth".

:-/

Took my '10 TDI to the local tire shop for the wheel alignment. Works fine for me.

I see at Audi dealership they have like an Audi-branded alignment setup. Got all the Audi logos on it, so I'm not sure who the OE vendor is on the equipment. Maybe it is Audi-specific, I'm not sure.

But the tire shop route works fine for me. I don't have the air-suspension thought.

-ThinkMac-

So I took the Q7 to a tireshop for alignment and then I took it to the stealership. The stealership gave me a printout from the computer that my alignments were off. So the tire shop din't do it based on audi standards.

I don't know what to think anymore ...

Unless your Audi has Lane change departure and/or adaptive cruise control system, you don't need Audi dealer to do alignment. Q7 alignment is a little bit tricky. Alignment of Q7 front Caster, Camber angles job is not for rookie tech.

I took my Q7 to a tireshop where I got my tires (tirerack recommended) to get the alignment and balancing. The tireshop adjusted the cambers and toe but told me that they couldnt get the casters to adjust to spec. They are 7.4 and 7.5 so I'm not worried since they are close enough that my tires won't wear.

Your local dealer probably outsources anything relating to alignment/tires to the local tire 'specialist' anyways. Although, from experience at my local 'specialist', a special tool is needed to adjust the Q7 in someway (I dont remember details).

Since then, I would recommend 'performance' specialists for tires and if need be, alignment.

Having said that, I've run well over 100,000km and only changed/rotated tires with no alignment since delivery. The only issue i get with tires relates to the rear set, wearing more on the 'inside' of each tire. I put this down to the fact that I have adapative suspension and I spend a long time at 'highway' speeds, so the rear end is sitting rather low (similar to 'loading' position).

In short, change/rotate tires and alignment if its critical!