Dealer tech clueless on GT4 alignment...need help.
10-12-2015 | 03:20 AM
#16
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From: Vancouver, WA
Thanks Carl but mine looks the same as yours I believe....unless the entire strut is supposed to be rotated? (don't know if that is even possible I didn't measure)
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On the sales side most of my transaction was with the GM who gave me a $2000 discount and I've bought over 20 Audi's and Porsche's from in the last 15 years. The final part(including the alignment) was through a sales manager who may have been looking to make up that discount. I was stunned at the cost considering I had just paid half that at the same dealership for an Audi and had good results. It was late on Saturday, service was closed and I was eager to be on my way(possibly all things they were counting on...)
Yes Matttheboatman I DO expect for $320 they know WTF they are doing. I don't care if it is their first. It's still a car with normal suspension at the end of the day and by now the techs certainly have no excuse for not having been trained. They know I've tracked every Porsche I've bought from them and have never had an issue. I do want to know if I am justified in complaining about the service performed vs the price I paid and it seems that I am.
Horrible paint arrow:
On the sales side most of my transaction was with the GM who gave me a $2000 discount and I've bought over 20 Audi's and Porsche's from in the last 15 years. The final part(including the alignment) was through a sales manager who may have been looking to make up that discount. I was stunned at the cost considering I had just paid half that at the same dealership for an Audi and had good results. It was late on Saturday, service was closed and I was eager to be on my way(possibly all things they were counting on...)
Yes Matttheboatman I DO expect for $320 they know WTF they are doing. I don't care if it is their first. It's still a car with normal suspension at the end of the day and by now the techs certainly have no excuse for not having been trained. They know I've tracked every Porsche I've bought from them and have never had an issue. I do want to know if I am justified in complaining about the service performed vs the price I paid and it seems that I am.
10-12-2015 | 08:20 AM
#17
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From: Florida
I like the thoughtful discussions on the real world alignment challenges with the GT4, but the conspiracy that they intend to fleece you out of a couple of hundred bucks is just wrong IMO. No flame - you asked the question when you were upset and consider my comments the balance to everyone who is more then willing to pile on a service tech that is just trying to do his job.
10-12-2015 | 09:53 AM
#18
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: 1 hour from Lime Rock Park
I like the thoughtful discussions on the real world alignment challenges with the GT4, but the conspiracy that they intend to fleece you out of a couple of hundred bucks is just wrong IMO. No flame - you asked the question when you were upset and consider my comments the balance to everyone who is more then willing to pile on a service tech that is just trying to do his job.
This is a quote from the GMs email to me (before the sales manager was involved the bold is mine of course):
"I will set the car up that way and charge you cost."
and for the record it's not just the tech I am upset with it's the overall crappy alignment vs incredible price. I don't understand how an Audi alignment to my spec costs $140 and the GT4 can be 2.5 times more expensive and not even do a good alignment.
10-12-2015 | 04:20 PM
#19
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From: USA
This whole saga confirms my practice of getting my alignments at a local shop that is used to alignments that require shims. $115.
I am disappointed with the Andreas & the GT boys that parts are required to get to a track alignment setting.
I am disappointed with the Andreas & the GT boys that parts are required to get to a track alignment setting.
12-22-2015 | 12:43 PM
#20
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: 1 hour from Lime Rock Park
So just to bring closure to this thread the dealer took the car back in and got it to -2.1 front -1.6 rear. They didn't do anything magic or admit their mistake, they just took the easy way out and stuck shims in it.
The end result is the alignment is good enough(with the shims) for me to take it to the track before tweaking more. I over paid and wasted a ton of time on the phone and email and going back to get it corrected. Less learned...will take it to the pros next time.
The end result is the alignment is good enough(with the shims) for me to take it to the track before tweaking more. I over paid and wasted a ton of time on the phone and email and going back to get it corrected. Less learned...will take it to the pros next time.
12-22-2015 | 01:28 PM
#21
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
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not there mistake is it ?
you told them to give you MAX camber with NO shims (not sure why you would ask for that but that's another Story)
looking at your top mounts they have been moved to the max ! WHAT YOU ASKED FOR
now to get more neg camber they added shims er what's the issue ?
or am I missing something here ?
you told them to give you MAX camber with NO shims (not sure why you would ask for that but that's another Story)
looking at your top mounts they have been moved to the max ! WHAT YOU ASKED FOR
now to get more neg camber they added shims er what's the issue ?
or am I missing something here ?
12-22-2015 | 01:29 PM
#22
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Does anyone know approximately how much toe-out will result from pushing the front strut tops all the way inboard (compared to stock setup)?
And does anyone know the torque spec for those 3 nuts?
Thanks!
And does anyone know the torque spec for those 3 nuts?
Thanks!
12-22-2015 | 01:34 PM
#23
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Burning Brakes
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From: 1 hour from Lime Rock Park
12-22-2015 | 01:35 PM
#24
Nordschleife Master
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From: Bay Area
Originally Posted by Jenner
What you are missing is that others here have posted results showing their alignment with max camber of 2.0-2.1 without shims.
They were unable to figure out how to do this without taking the easy way out and shimming it.
They were unable to figure out how to do this without taking the easy way out and shimming it.
12-22-2015 | 01:38 PM
#25
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
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yes nothing more they could do, they moved the top mounts as you instructed and that's what you got.
I run a Cayman R, Spyder and GT4 and the Spyder only got me -1.2 on the top mounts the R -1.5
So I had to fit RSS arms to my 987.2 Spyder to play.
Not adjusted my Gt4 yet (bar rear sway to full stiff) but I'll have shims at the ready and adjustable Tarret rear toe links.
I run a Cayman R, Spyder and GT4 and the Spyder only got me -1.2 on the top mounts the R -1.5
So I had to fit RSS arms to my 987.2 Spyder to play.
Not adjusted my Gt4 yet (bar rear sway to full stiff) but I'll have shims at the ready and adjustable Tarret rear toe links.
12-22-2015 | 02:14 PM
#27
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From: Bay Area
Originally Posted by Jenner
I guess these two GT4 owners got lucky (or different?) cars since they didn't need any shims to get around -2* in the front?
12-22-2015 | 02:20 PM
#28
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: 1 hour from Lime Rock Park
Any idea why? Seems like they should all be much closer. I understand every car will differ slightly but from -1.3 to -2.0 is a huge difference between two of the same car is it not?
Does this mean their same cars can achieve higher negative camber settings with shims where mine will max out on shims sooner?
The only variable that I can think of that affects camber would be ride height. Other than that (and different size wheels/tires but that's not an issue here) why such a large variance? Where is the play or gap or difference coming from?
Thanks for your edit Joe. I guess I need to spend some time with an alignment tech and watch the whole process. The gap just seems huge I can't wrap my head around it.
Does this mean their same cars can achieve higher negative camber settings with shims where mine will max out on shims sooner?
The only variable that I can think of that affects camber would be ride height. Other than that (and different size wheels/tires but that's not an issue here) why such a large variance? Where is the play or gap or difference coming from?
Thanks for your edit Joe. I guess I need to spend some time with an alignment tech and watch the whole process. The gap just seems huge I can't wrap my head around it.
12-22-2015 | 02:22 PM
#29
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can someone confirm that you can rotate the top mounts to achieve a bit more camber? My shop was not confident it was possible, and asked around without getting any definitive info on the subject, so we went with shims and caster pucks.
12-26-2015 | 06:18 AM
#30
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From: Bellevue, WA
I'm looking for part numbers for GT4 alignment shims. The parts info on the dealer's system does not seem to include these parts.
I assume the front shims are the same as the GT3, but don't know anything about the rear.
I assume the front shims are the same as the GT3, but don't know anything about the rear.