APRIL 2023 AFTERMARKET 41 experiences using the Hunter Elite TD four-wheel alignment system, owner of Leadgate Tyre Centre in County Durham David Holmes said: “We’ve had the Elite TD for about a year now and it's incredibly accurate. There’s a lot more information at your fingertips, such as secondary angles, suspension codes, caster sweeps, ride heights – all making for a much more accurate reading and job. In comparison to other alignment systems we’ve used in the past, the Elite TD doesn’t rely on gauges so there's no fluctuation in the alignment results, meaning there’s less chance for inaccuracy. The Elite TD has helped us improve the services we offer our customers, and the visual on-screen information allows for complete transparency and trust between us and them.” For more information, visit: www.pro-align.co.uk Professional, conscientious hands Also on the equipment side, shock absorbers specialists Nitron recently installed a pair of MAHA lifts ideally suited to alignment jobs at its facility in Witney, Oxfordshire. Nitron Vehicle Applications Engineer Curtis Woodman said: “The MAHA DUO CM 4.2 U is fully flat and flush against the floor, so any low vehicles, such as a McLaren or Ferrari, can drive onto the lift with ease. What’s more, when the lift is up in the air, our engineers can move underneath the vehicle freely, which makes their lives easier. The other positive is that this lift is an alignment ramp with internal scissor lift, which means the guys can raise the vehicle wheels-free. It’s got the recesses set into the ramp, which means we can complete a full geometry check-up and corner weighting afterwards – we can guarantee the vehicle is level.” Left: Hunter Elite TD at Leadgate Tyre Centre Curtis continued: “When customers arrive, they want to know the key to their vehicle is being left in professional, conscientious hands, rather than seeing our guys on the floor, working on an old two-post lamp with stands, like the old days.” Nitron also bought a ZS Square II 3.5, which lifts vehicles by jacking points and is capable of lifting vehicles up to 3,500kg. “It really met our needs,” Curtis explained. “The beauty of this particular lift is that it goes fully flush into the ground in just a few seconds, which means we’re able to store vehicles behind it or on top of it.” Commenting on the support given by MAHA UK’s Louis Tunmore, Curtis added: “Essentially, Louis project-managed the whole thing; after the consultation, we told him what we wanted, and he got on with it! Professionalism, punctuality, accuracy and quality of the work: it was there in abundance. With the ZS Square lift, especially, the volume of groundwork was incredible – there was a ginormous hole– but the team made it look effortless. There was never anything that was too much to ask.” For more information, visit: www.maha.co.uk MacPherson struts Not all alignments take place in such a manner however. When dealing with crash repairs, the situation can be a little different, and a check will be required after most collisions according to Tri-Sphere Director Jim Masterson: “After a collision of any kind, the position of the MacPherson struts in relation to the vehicle body must always be checked. These move much more easily than you might expect. “MacPherson strut assemblies are designed to save weight and space, while delivering more comfortable rides and increased levels of safety. They provide both structural support for the vehicle’s suspension and help to control vibration. As well as supporting the springs, they hold the vehicle’s wheels in the correct alignment according to the manufacturer’s OE specifications. Tri-Sphere supplies bodyshops in UK and Ireland with the Globaljig range of bodywork pulling and straightening systems, as well as the Chief Automotive range of electronic vehicle measuring equipment. Jim continued: “It’s wrong to assume that the MacPherson struts will return to the correct position once the bodywork has been realigned. It’s a common bodyshop error, but one that may have severe consequences for drivers and other road users. The mistake is easily avoided with the help of a piece of equipment called a MacPherson Bridge, as well as a policy that requires panel beaters to run a Macpherson strut check on every vehicle that goes on the jig. It’s a jig accessory that should be used to check the position of the struts after any impact. It can take less than 15 minutes to set up. Each check adds just a few more minutes to the job but each one adds an extra level of security and peace of mind for the bodyshop.” Jim also recommended that workshops should also ensure that after every front-end impact, the ADAS sensors are correctly aligned in relation to the OE specifications: “They can’t always be realigned just by replacing the OE panels with new OE panels. Whether the sensors are located on a bracket, or hidden inside the bodywork, this is a procedure that requires an electronic measuring system. The ADAS still has to be recalibrated, but that’s a relatively easy task if the actual alignment is correct.” For our ADAS feature, please turn to pages 42-45.
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