am i being had need help ?

Hello right I got a issue basically, I recently done my front and rear coil overs and needed tracking doing so I called up few local garages and asked prices on wheel alignment, the first garage asked about the car and I said golf mk1 he said that be just front wheel alignment and camber caster, and said that it only be fronts that will need adjusting, and said £75-£100 the second garage said £30, and when I said about the adjustable camber bolt they didn't want to know and said a special machine is needed for that and referred me to another place, which I called and they could do it but its £45 and it could go up to £120, and they only make 4 adjustments, I said it will need doing as I know it needs doing,  another garage said £30 again and said they can't do it because of the camber adjustment, all garages have said that only the front will be adjusted and cant do nothing to backs, now I know I got neg camber as I tucked my wheels in my arch but I still need tracking, so why are these garages being put off, and why the high prices its only a adjustable camber bolt with eccentric washer I adjusted it the best I can but the tracking needs doing as the wheel is toe-in I bought a camber gauge, but the tracking needs doing then I can do the camber so my question is why the high prices because they should know its a adjustable camber bolt, and why cant they do my tracking but they saying they cant, and is it true its only the front tracking \adjustment they can do but I thought you could use laser 4 wheel alignment to make sure all 4 are correct, all help appriciated thanks

Avoid amateur guys and kwikfit at all costs. There will be a specialist near you. Rears are shim only adjustment and Unless you've bent something, it'll be ok. 
Fronts do need fully aligned and the camber plus track should be done together. I use a guy in Larbert. Progrip. Look at his website then see if you can find the same thing near you. He charges £58 for camber and tracking adjustment and the results are optimum grip. 
Try other car clubs for advice too, pistonheads, club gti etc. I'd reckon £60 or there about should be the right price. And if it didn't sink in… avoid kwikfit ( they sent me on my way with 1.5 threads on my track rod end, a burst gaitor on a brand new rack and a sheared camber bolt!!!) 
Ask the same questions of all your suppliers and you'll soon get a feeling for the right guy. 

Oh, avoid amateurs, especially if they have a K at the start and end of their branding…

Thanks I thought it didn't seem right, they really didn't have a clue if I'm honest, and the prices was bad enough, I'm in Buckinghamshire, so anyone can recommend someone close by will be ideal, but all my local guys don't have a clue, i called black boots ( had little bit of idea to camber bolt but charging high prices which was mad, had issues before with them about some tyre valves said it was £32.50 for all 4 tyre valves and balancing, turned out to be nearly £80 as they had to clean the edges to reseat the tyre, i was running late for work so just paid and left but i was shocked with no warning to the exceeding cost, so don't really trust them after That ) sts tyre pros, just tyres, Halfords auto centre ( said they need a special machine only merrit tyres have) national tyres, merrit tyres ( the guys with a special machine) sts have said to bring it in and they will have a look but to be honest i rather not i think i had to explain the camber bolt to them, but if anyone has a good recommendation in Buckinghamshire or close by would be great

pretty much all tyre places can only do the tracking, the kit required to do camber is expensive and 99.9% of there customers dont need it ever adjusting, you could do camber yourself first (camber done first before tracking, tracking dosent affect camber but camber affects tracking) if you do it your self dont forget to run car back and forward a few feet in between measuring /adjustment. or try looking for any company that preps race cars/high performance cars  they will either have the kit or will use someone who knows what they are doing,

BAZ-GTI said

Thanks I thought it didn't seem right, they really didn't have a clue if I'm honest, and the prices was bad enough, I'm in Buckinghamshire, so anyone can recommend someone close by will be ideal, but all my local guys don't have a clue, i called black boots ( had little bit of idea to camber bolt but charging high prices which was mad, had issues before with them about some tyre valves said it was £32.50 for all 4 tyre valves and balancing, turned out to be nearly £80 as they had to clean the edges to reseat the tyre, i was running late for work so just paid and left but i was shocked with no warning to the exceeding cost, so don't really trust them after That ) sts tyre pros, just tyres, Halfords auto centre ( said they need a special machine only merrit tyres have) national tyres, merrit tyres ( the guys with a special machine) sts have said to bring it in and they will have a look but to be honest i rather not i think i had to explain the camber bolt to them, but if anyone has a good recommendation in Buckinghamshire or close by would be great

I take my Golf to Euro lane in Buckingham, The guys in there seem to really like MK1s.
http://www.eurolane.co.uk/

Thanks guys Il give them a shout, also would I need 4 wheel alignment or just the fronts as when i was asking the guys about 4 wheel alignment all they said was only the can be adjusted so it only need fronts just a bit confused thanks again for the help

I had my tracking and camber done a few weeks ago and I was quoted £66 to do both. Only fronts need doing as rear is not adjustable. They ended up charging me £46 as they couldn't centralise the steering wheel because it only has one adjustable track rod. The steering wheel was off centre because I fitted it wrong when I'd removed it to repair the wiper stalk! The first place I went to couldn't do camber as the computer said no🤔!?!?! I was a bit disappointed with them as they used to be good but seem to have a load of kids working there now! As said before, avoid Kwikfit and anyone who says they don't have the kit to do camber! Local independent places should be your best bet, even if they charge a little bit more. Good luck.

They ended up charging me £46 as they couldn't centralise the steering wheel because it only has one adjustable track rod.

You can replace that with the two piece rod from the Cabriolet, it gives them more adjustment.  I did that on my original 81 Diesel years ago….

The steering wheel was off centre because I fitted it wrong when I'd removed it to repair the wiper stalk!

I hate that when that happens….  

The first place I went to couldn't do camber as the computer said no🤔!?!?! I was a bit disappointed with them as they used to be good but seem to have a load of kids working there now! As said before, avoid Kwikfit and anyone who says they don't have the kit to do camber! Local independent places should be your best bet, even if they charge a little bit more. Good luck.

I have heard that many times over the years, then I show them how to adjust it…. Most shops want to blame bad struts….or inexperience or stand by their computer…..


For the rears there are shim kits over here that you can use but they are a real pain in the posterior as you have to unbolt the axle ie: remove the drum, unbolt or loosen axle, shim to what they say, then return drum/wheel and recheck.  

Does make a heck of a difference.