Alignment Equipment Buyers Advice GuideBuying wheel alignment is a major investment for any business, but buying the right one isessential.Here are some pointers designed to give any potential buyer some backgroundinformation , plus the sort of questions one should ask and what to look out for.

Alignment Equipment Jargon – unscrambled!Tracking Gauges – there tend to be two styles:i) 1950’s style - with 2 pins resting against the wheel rim edge with cross viewing scope.ii) Hang-on style - The basic frame design which is hung over the wheel and tyre assembly and front pins justrest on the wheel/rim. Derived from the above tracking gauges, but with the addition of a pair of rear centre lineflags. Available either with a halogen or laser light, shining a beam onto scales. Can be considered crude, inthat they do not allow for varying wheel sizes or vehicle track width. Often wrongly described as ‘4 wheelaligners’, these units with two gauges and two flags are ‘centre line’ aligners, capable of measuring 4 wheelsonly when done in two separate operations. This method requires the first set of results to berecorded/memorised to assist in getting the second measurement done! Generally used in UK for front trackingonly, due to above limitations. Both tracking gauges and hang-on gauges make the assumption that the wheelrims are perfect, ie have no wheel rim run-out and hence no run-out compensation is performed or allowed for.Computerised Wheel Alignment – This encompasses a wide variety of wheel aligners on the market.Essentially these aligners are driven by PC/computer and have specific software which interprets the alignmentreadings from the 4 measuring heads. These heads would simultaneously measure the readings from all 4wheels.i) Conventional Sensors – These are the electronic heads that have the circuitry to detect the orientation ofthe wheel and report back to the Computer console, via cables or wirelessly (Bluetooth or radio). Damage andmaintenance can be an issue, hence good service support is vital.ii) Imaging Sensors/Imaging Alignment – These systems have digital cameras mounted in an assemblyahead of the vehicle on the ramp, sometimes referred to as 3D alignment. These cameras photograph theposition and orientation of reflective target constantly. The computer software is then able to interpret the all thealignment readings simultaneously. As there are no electronics on the wheel, maintenance costs tend to belower. Different models use a different number of cameras to view the wheel mounted targets types.

What you should consider when purchasing alignment equipment?1) What do I want to achieve from purchasing wheel alignment equipment?: Is it just tooccasionally measure a difficult vehicle or is it to offer a full four wheel alignment service to your customers andgenerate good revenue for your business?2) What space do I have for a wheel alignment bay? The space you have is the space you have towork with. It is well worth spending a few minutes summing up your options; as if you have insufficient space youmay be restricted on the aligner that will fit. However, with a bit of foresight and planned reorganisation, it couldmean your revenue potential for alignment could be greater.3) Before taking a close look at Alignment Equipment, look at your lift. Look at the lift youare intending to use for alignments. 80% of the potential customers we visit do not have a ramp that is suitablefor immediate high volume alignment use. In theses cases modifications either have to be made or most elect fora new alignment specific ramp, as this makes alignment servicing so much quicker and hence more profitable.4) What should I look for when selecting a wheel aligner? It is vital to do your research andagain it depends on what level of service you want to deliver If you want to provide a quality four wheelalignment service that has the potential to generate a significant income, consider;

a.Will the aligner measure all 14 alignment anglesb. Does it have the capability to gain latest up-to-date vehicle data ie onlinc. Does it provide the essential customer printout? Ideally a customer friendly, easy to interpretprintout.

d.What is the level of accuracy and repeatability of alignment measurement? – Is the alignercapable of undertaking run-out compensation (making adjustments for errors in the rim).

e. Build quality, heritage and originf. Look at the pedigree of the supplier - level of guidance, service and support the supplier offers- i.e. Levels of training, additional guidance given after the sale and not just the breakdowncover!.

h. Remember – referrals and recommendations!5) Don’t just buy on cost alone? It is excellent to have an idea of a budget, but it is important that yourealise that the cheapest machine, on the day of order, may not prove to be the one with the lower cost ofownership or the one that helps generate your required levels of revenue.Look at the full picture so you are not disappointed.

Alignment Equipment Buyers Advice Guide