I'm getting the wheels aligned on my tj tomorrow. Do I need to get all 4 of the wheels aligned or just the front?

Get all four aligned.

Ask the car. Got any funny wear patterns on the front or rear tyres?

what should a 4 wheel alignment normally cost?

what should a 4 wheel alignment normally cost?
I've paid between $65 and $120 at a few different specialists. It's generally around 45-60 mins labour.

As a general rule of thumb I would be going to an independent suspension specialist and not a tyre store.

Costs me about $70 for a four wheel alignment from Beaurepairs for my TJ

I will be going to spinning wheel tyres Alexandria I have heard good stuff about them on the Subaru forum.Cost is a bit high at $112, I will see how it goes today.

I do mine at Jax Tyres in Haberfield. The manager is a suspension specialist and will align wheels better than any other tyre shop. Spinning wheels is a good place but overpriced IMO.

Maybe I will check them out as well, the main reason I'm doing the alignment is because the car pulls slowly to the left and because it makes a single click when I turn the steering wheel when it is stationary or moving very slowly.

Jax is about $78 IIRC

Im on the sunny coast atm so I'm going to try Jax - $66 for a 4 wheel alignment. Gonna get them to check out my front end too while its hoisted

Im on the sunny coast atm so I'm going to try Jax - $66 for a 4 wheel alignment. Gonna get them to check out my front end too while its hoisted
Had my car done at Caloundra Suspension before Christmas. $110, but they did a smack bang job at it. If you have any concerns you'd be much better taking it to a specialist.

Yeah i prob should've waited till I got home back to the GC but thought I'd get it done before the drive tomoro.
Prob is I still don't know of a good suspension place to go to back home. I posted a thread asking if anyone had suggestions for the GC but haven't had much luck. Pedders is always an option but I hear they're pricey...

I have a feeling the guy at my Jax tyres does my car including camber settings on the coilovers etc for $65 F&R, pays to shop around, In saying that a Job done right is worth the money!

Ok so did the wheel alignment, the guys said that because the two front tyres were mismatched they could not get it exactly aligned, they did the best they could. Correct me if I am wrong but I thought wheel alignment was more to do with the hub than the tyre itself. Also they did not find anything wrong in the steering or suspension even though it still makes a clicking noise when turning and it still pulls to the kerb even if the gear is in neutral.

Ok so did the wheel alignment, the guys said that because the two front tyres were mismatched they could not get it exactly aligned, they did the best they could. Correct me if I am wrong but I thought wheel alignment was more to do with the hub than the tyre itself. Also they did not find anything wrong in the steering or suspension even though it still makes a clicking noise when turning and it still pulls to the kerb even if the gear is in neutral.

Clicking noise is worn cv joints. Might explain pulling to the kerb.
Also might be wrong, but i thought tyres were ment to be matched on front as well as rear. Thought they could be different brands from each end though??

The CV's are good it makes the clicking noise mostly when the car is not moving or moving very slowly and its only one click. The tyres are the same size. What happened was that I got a set of outlander alloy wheels with Kumho tyres for $80. One of the tyres had a hole through it and I replaced it with a Goodyear with approximately the same tread wear. So I have one Kumho and one Goodyear excellence at the front and two Kumho's with slightly low tread on the back.

How hard does it pull towards the curb? all cars are meant to pull slightly to the curb so if you fall asleep you don't cut across oncoming lanes of traffic.

If tracking is correct I think it should not pull to either side on a level road. I think I may swap the tyres since the rear tyres are more worn and identical.

I get the single click (sounds like a knock to me) too when going slow and turning left, have only noticed it recently though, and it's only when I turn sharp and I hear it from the left wheel arch area. Sound like a worn CV joint?

Your left and right tyre should match at each end, so front should both be the same and rear should both be the same, but front to rear can be different. Could possibly explain the pulling slightly? Not sure about the clicking though, not sure I exactly understand when it is happening?


And yes, even with correct alignment you may still experience slight pull to either side as no road is exactly flat/straight and the camber of the road will contribute to any camber in the suspension causing a pull. Both hands on the wheel at all times sir! :)

The clicking will happen when the steering wheel is turned full lock when the car is stationary or moving very slowly, ie pulling out of a parking space or reversing. It will click once when the steering wheel is turned fully or almost fully to the left or right and the click again when the wheel turns back. Since the alignment it only clicks when turned left.

The steering feel is poor like the old y60 Nissan patrols my dad used to own, it feels loose when being driven but when I shimmy the wheel when the car is parked there is no play.Maybe I should ask another experienced person to drive my car back to back with an identical one

Steering rack possibly shagged?

Strange that the suspension specialist found nothing wrong?

I think so too the symptoms point to a worn steering rack, however this car had the original replaced with a brand new one under warranty. How about tie rod ends?

Someone else on here might have better ideas than me, but there must be something wrong... how long ago was the steering rack done? Perhaps a dodgy unit or install, or it has become damaged somehow? Sorry, I don't know enough about suspension set up to diagnose.....

beaurepaires sunbury

50 - 60 bux cashie all "4" brilliant work too

hush hush but lol

most roads naturally have a camber to the left which means the car will automatically pull the the left anyways?....

Thing is it goes left on carparks as well. I checked the rack again and there seems to be no damage, the rack boots are good and there is no play in the steering wheel.Perhaps it is because of the two different front wheels. My biggest concern now is the clicking

.Perhaps it is because of the two different front wheels...

You wheels should always be matched! Having 2 different treads can be dangerous from what Ive been told many yrs ago. They will most certainly have different level of wear too which will contribute the the pulling. Never compromise with tyres! (or breaks :) )

The different tyres will contribute to the car pulling to the kerb slightly but the clicking and the noise and vibration it makes through the steering column when going over a speed breaker or rough roads is a problem with the steering.That car had the steering rack replaced a couple of years ago, I'm guessing about 100k ago, maybe they did a bad job fitting it? Maybe I should make a video

The different tyres will contribute to the car pulling to the kerb slightly but the clicking and the noise and vibration it makes through the steering column when going over a speed breaker or rough roads is a problem with the steering.That car had the steering rack replaced a couple of years ago, I'm guessing about 100k ago, maybe they did a bad job fitting it?

my comment were only in relation to the alignment & the pulling :)

With the help of a friend I located where the clicking is coming from, it comes from the strut top, the rubbers are cracked and when the wheel is turned the cracks are exposed.Also in the front struts on both sides the rubber boot that covers the piston in the shock seems to have come off the top of the shock leaving it exposed.I think I may have to replace the strut tops and the struts eventually.Also the coupling that connects the steering wheel to the rack seems to make a knocking noise when the wheel is moved right and left when the engine is off. As for the wheel alignment I increased the tire pressure on the left and now it goes straight.