Centreline Suspension

Started by Greenbay, April 14, 2006, 10:11:42 AM

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Greenbay

Experiencing unusual wear of the l/h front tyre of the 100Q. Have had it aligned but it is still wearing. Had a look at recomendations on this forum as to suspension gurus  and went to see Chris at Centreline. What a helpful guy. Did a shock test there and then and printed out the results. Both front shocks stuffed and probably bushes etc. Hardly surprising as still original shocks in place. Suggested I make a booking and take it back and he will go over the whole suspension and then give me an accurate diagnosis. At this point about $550 to replace the front shocks and align.

Chris was happy to chat and has a great knowledge of Euro cars.

Recommend him to any one with suspension probs.

old4130

I was in there on Thursday.. always good work
2005 Audi A4 1.8tq S line
1997 VW Golf GTI 16v
2011 Keeway Matrix
1987 Honda Beat FC 50 ~ 50cc of Fury

2000 SEAT Cordoba SXE ~ Her Car - Sold
2004 Subaru Forester XT 2.5 Limited ~ Her Car

bigbumper

Yep Chris is well known and respected in Italian car circles, he's a big Fiat/Alfa nut.  Did a good job with the suspension in my old Delta HF

dimistyle

Yep, Chris at Centreline knows his stuff. :) :)

The Passat was in there 2 weeks ago, to get rid of the front creak that has been there forever.
Found the front tier rods completely stuffed. :o

He also managed to use the extended warrantee with Autosure that he was not registered with so very happy he was able to pursue them to get the job done. 

The service agent I have been using were unable to sort out the creaking noises :o :o

hartster

Can you describe the wear pattern on the front tyres? Would like to compare to mine. ta.

Greenbay

Wear is on left front tyre only on the outer egde, I will take a pic tomorrow for you to compare.

The shock test machine identified that both front shocks as "bad" with the left front worse than the left right. Readings are LF E%:057 RF E%:059 LR E%:084 RR  E%:084 the machine rated the 2 rear ones as good.

hitmanGTI

can i have some contact details on these guys..

Greenbay

Sure - Chris Rawson is the owner/operator. They are at 387 Great North Road Grey Lynn, Ph 376 8062

Rossi

I agree these guys know their stuff technically, but service is not always so good.

I had one incident where I had them do a wheel alignment and general check of suspension/steering on my alfa GTV.  Immediately after they gave it the OK it failed a warrant on a tie-rod end.  I called them and took it in to get replaced, but they sent me away because they didn't have the part.  A few days later I went back again to get it repaired and realigned, the tie-rod job took them longer than expected and then they wouldn't do the alignment because they had run out of time and had another customer booked in!

When I finally took it elsewhere to get an alignment they also shimmed my steering box to get rid of excessive play which centreline had said was normal...
2001 S4 Avant.
Corrado 16v - BR Motorsport ported KR 1.8l head with 284deg schrick cams, 9A 2.0l block, Milltek headers, K&N filter, 40mm lowered on PI springs/Boge shocks + VR6 strut mounts, front poly bushes, 280mm G60 front discs, 16" Porsche replica mags.

Greenbay


hartster

ok, so this is exactly the same as mine. I had the wheels aligned after replacing the front suspension. Tyre pressures are fine. So what's the outside wear pattern indicative of? Camber adjustment?

orggti

Quote from: Rossi on April 19, 2006, 08:49:32 AM
I agree these guys know their stuff technically, but service is not always so good.

I had one incident where I had them do a wheel alignment and general check of suspension/steering on my alfa GTV.  Immediately after they gave it the OK it failed a warrant on a tie-rod end.  I called them and took it in to get replaced, but they sent me away because they didn't have the part.  A few days later I went back again to get it repaired and realigned, the tie-rod job took them longer than expected and then they wouldn't do the alignment because they had run out of time and had another customer booked in!

When I finally took it elsewhere to get an alignment they also shimmed my steering box to get rid of excessive play which centreline had said was normal...

Ive Known Chris for ages and try to use him but its difficult. I can always get things done and just as well cheaper. I think often with quite well known and sometime very busy garages you join a sliding scale scheme where really no matter who you are and how nice/interesting your car is your just another picky customer who wants the job done at the best possible price. So because he has lots of regulars he just has to put them first as they are the ones that pay the ever increasing bills and this putting first can seem very brutal. Cars are a terrible thing to have to fix because the owners just cant bear to be without them for any reasonable repair time. I truely get people saying to me "but how will i pick up my kids" when they turn up in a car thats overheating with a stuffed radiator and screaming water pump!
It does sound tho that You rossi did get a bit of a bad time. And i wasnt suggesting you being unreasonable at all.
I think basically if you dont mind paying he can be very good, he just dosent like being stressed cause hes working for beans, which is why I cant really use him :-[ And he does work hard and gets tired too. I think with your rack it probibly was normal wear and ok but the other people you got may have been eager to impress and not so busy, good on them tho. Chris is a really good guy tho and would never rip anybody off for parts or anything. He dosent have a huge stock of parts but can get anything in within a day if you ring first. If hes in your area Id give him a go unless you are on the strictest budget like me.Tho im in no way saying hes more expencive than any other specialist wheel aligner or suspension guy. You just can get an alignment cheaper. I get tie rod end boots off him still which is really handy :)

old4130

I had the golf in with Chris on Thursday..  Did parts at cost +, & great deal on the labour

But yea somethimes I think he can be a bit stressed & busy as Jem says, cause I was in a few weeks earlier to set up & discuss what I wanted done, & he seemed too busy to want to know, but then it was just before easter, when everyone needs that 'urgent' work done before heading away somewhere
2005 Audi A4 1.8tq S line
1997 VW Golf GTI 16v
2011 Keeway Matrix
1987 Honda Beat FC 50 ~ 50cc of Fury

2000 SEAT Cordoba SXE ~ Her Car - Sold
2004 Subaru Forester XT 2.5 Limited ~ Her Car

Greenbay

Quote from: hartster on April 29, 2006, 09:24:39 AM
ok, so this is exactly the same as mine. I had the wheels aligned after replacing the front suspension. Tyre pressures are fine. So what's the outside wear pattern indicative of? Camber adjustment?
\

I am taking mine in to Centerline on Wednesday for Chris to give the front end a once over to get to the bottm of the problem, we already know the shocks are shot but don't know what else. He will then tell what has to be done and I will book it in for the next week. I had to book time on the hoist for next Wednesday.

Greenbay

Chris checked it out this morning, on the front suspension both the back bushes (sway bay I think) are shot as are the bump stops. So new shocks to be fitted as well. Clean bill of health on the rear. Chris is to call me with quote but have booked in for next Wednesday to be sorted, can't wait.

old4130

Since I had my car done last week, it feels great again !

He set it up just the way I like it, quick in & out of the bends  ;D
2005 Audi A4 1.8tq S line
1997 VW Golf GTI 16v
2011 Keeway Matrix
1987 Honda Beat FC 50 ~ 50cc of Fury

2000 SEAT Cordoba SXE ~ Her Car - Sold
2004 Subaru Forester XT 2.5 Limited ~ Her Car

Greenbay

Front Suspension all sorted by Centreline yeaterday. The shocks were original and after 210,000k were stuffed, what a difference, the ride is fantastic and there was a whine at low speed that has now gone totally, haven't had the oppurtunity to test how it corners. When they took out the bushes two of them were split and would have fallen out in the not to distant future. Top marks to the crew at Centerline. Now for tyres on the back this afterenoon.