April 2019

APRIL 2019 AFTERMARKET 39 www.aftermarketonline.net businesses are missing out without fully considering the overall financial argument. Some have simply looked at the initial investment required rather than the revenues that can be generated and the rapid payback period which can be as short as just a few months. “To help workshops overcome this mindset challenge, we have recently introduced our value Hunter Essentials Range. Within this range are two high-quality Hunter wheel alignment systems which offer some key top range technical features, not available with other comparable aligners in the market. Reassurance also comes with the same high levels of Pro-Align service support as with any system in our range and that all important Hunter-name that workshops aspire to and customers actively seek out.” Paul adds: “If your workshop isn’t yet offering a professional four wheel alignment service, maybe now’s the time to reconsider?” Best practice Wheel alignment’s importance has increased thanks to ADAS, as we have seen. Absolute Alignment champions ADAS best practice, and recommends that four wheel alignment checks should be part of the standard MOT for any ADAS-equipped vehicle. Chris Dear, Absolute Alignment’s Technical Director, comments: “ADAS tech has been fitted on vehicles for some time now. Commonly seen systems include including lane change warnings, adaptive cruise control, autonomous braking and brake control. ADAS sensors rely on correct rear thrust angle; hence four wheel alignment is now an even more important factor in road safety as a millimetric misalignment can result in ADAS errors. “If any part of a vehicle is changed with regards to the suspension, steering, sub-frame, body or windscreen, or even if a slight adjustment is made to the steering using only a front end tracking gauge, it could impact on the ADAS sensor calibration. This would mean four wheel alignment needs to be carried out to ensure ADAS accuracy. “With ADAS-equipped vehicles, in the event of an accident, diligent investigators will be asking awkward questions as to why ADAS has let the driver down. Different manufacturers have varying approaches to checking ADAS sensor alignment, but there are two factors that are common to all – correct tyre pressures and correct Right: Fixing alignment four wheel alignment. Chris Dear adds: “At Absolute Alignment we believe the safety of the driver comes first. There is only one way to be certain that Advanced Driver Assistance Systems function as they should, and as they have been designed to do in order to protect drivers and passengers. The way to do it? Administer a four wheel alignment check as part of any standard MOT carried out on an ADAS-equipped vehicle.” www.aftermarketonline.net