Front wheel alignment vs. 4 wheel alignment

**falcindor** · 10-15-2009 10:57 AM

Im buying tires at tristate chain tire store Town Fait Tires. The tires im buying (all 4) come with a free front wheel aligment. They say for $50 more I can get 4 wheel alignment to factory specs. Since the back to wheels are fixed do they really need alignment???

**MikeWire** · 10-15-2009 11:01 AM

IMHO if you haven't had anything done to the suspension, you don't need an alignment. Since (if?) your car is Quattro a proper alignment would be a 4-wheel alignment. If you are just buying tires, skip it.

**FORCE_FED_DUB** · 10-15-2009 11:03 AM

they aren't "fixed". the rears are actually more adjustable than the fronts. if you had a solid beam rear axle car like a FWD B5 A4/passat or VW mk1/2/3/4 then the rear isn't adjustable so it can't be aligned (except for replacing bent/broken parts)

get all wheels aligned

**AudiA4Turbo22** · 10-15-2009 11:14 AM

im lost just by reading ur first sentence. however a 4 wheel alignment is recommended every year whether or not it feels off. So do it if u havent done it before. but 50 more? the average chain like Big O charges 70 for all 4 with a 6 month warranty so ur not really getting a deal. I say go elsewhere especially since the name of the shop is as long as a city block.

**falcindor** · 10-15-2009 11:18 AM

Town Fair Tire

I have an 02' Audi A4 1.8t Quattro.

I know my alignment is off. My friend driving in Providence a month back went speeding on a hill and threw it off. My steering wheel is very jittery.

**FORCE_FED_DUB** · 10-15-2009 11:23 AM

just do all four

**MikeWire** · 10-15-2009 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by falcindor

Town Fair Tire

I have an 02' Audi A4 1.8t Quattro.

I know my alignment is off. My friend driving in Providence a month back went speeding on a hill and threw it off. My steering wheel is very jittery.

Sounds like you need the AWD 4 wheel alignment then!

**minigee** · 10-15-2009 12:03 PM

I would def do all 4

**A4p** · 10-15-2009 12:15 PM

Doing the alignment correct you have to loosen something under the car (A nut i think) and then align the car, when the alignment is done you can tight the nut. Also if the Alignment should be perfect there should be one person in the car when doing alignment (depends on the machine) should steer the steering in the correct position.

Also 4 wheel alignment is best of cause.

**pkny** · 10-15-2009 03:15 PM

Does this 4-wheel alignment also apply to fwd a4 b6?

**mattiouti** · 10-15-2009 04:53 PM

I would get a four wheel alignment everytime reguardless of fwd or awd. Reguardless of drivetrain the front and rear both can be out of spec and just because it is unnoticable doesnt mean that it isnt a bad alignment. A bad alignment will chew through brand new tires like no ones business

**FORCE_FED_DUB** · 10-15-2009 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by mattiouti

I would get a four wheel alignment everytime reguardless of fwd or awd. Reguardless of drivetrain the front and rear both can be out of spec and just because it is unnoticable doesnt mean that it isnt a bad alignment. A bad alignment will chew through brand new tires like no ones business

truth

. if it's adjustable, it needs adjustment.