july2022 - 30

SPOTLIGHT ON UNDER VEHICLE
» Aligning the rear
axle is the final step
in what Bee Line
calls a " total vehicle
wheel alignment. "
Photo: Bee Line
on alANGLEignment services
With the right tools,
training, and strategy,
vehicle alignments
can become a moneymaking
machine for
both repair shops and
the fleets they service.
By Gregg Wartgow
V
at Hunter Engineering, a provider of alignment,
wheel and tire, and ADAS calibration equipment.
" Having the right system for your specific operation
makes all the difference. "
Options for setting up service
If a shop plans on performing a lot of alignments,
setting up a dedicated bay or service pit could
make sense. For shops that anticipate doing just
a few alignments a week, a portable alignment
system is a good way to go.
" The alignment system we've put together can
ehicle alignments present an opportunity for
fleets to extend tire life, boost fuel economy, and
improve driver satisfaction. While the upfront
costs can be significant, the long-term payback
can make it a worthwhile investment.
" Alignment equipment can range from a few
thousand dollars to around $50,000, " said Ralph
Bachemin, senior manager of sales development
30 Fleet Maintenance | July 2022
be rolled around our shops, " said Daniel Mustafa,
director of technical service at TravelCenters of
America, which employs nearly 3,000 technicians
at its TA Truck Service Centers across the country.
" Our system includes a stand with a computer
and printer. All of the sensors and remote-control
connections can be stored in the rear of that stand.
There is plenty of mobility. We typically store our
system in a cage when a technician isn't using it.
The price on any computerized alignment system
is rather high, so you definitely want to protect it. "
Also in the interest of mobility, TA Truck
Service refrains from utilizing lifts or platforms.
Alignments are performed with the vehicle parked
on the ground. " You just drive the front wheels
onto turn plates to eliminate any friction from
the scrub of the tire on the ground, " Mustafa
explained. " If you have the brakes released so
the vehicle can roll a bit, the thrust angle can be
adjusted without the need for any other specialized
equipment. "
For a shop going that route, turn plates are a
separate investment. A rack would require additional
investment, too, but the time savings and
other benefits could more than offset it over time-
particularly for a shop performing alignments on
a regular basis.
" Our setup uses an alignment rack that gets the
truck to a height where adjustments can be made
from a standing position, " said Tim Lamoreaux,
truck service manager at North American Trailer in
Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. North American
Trailer is a subsidiary of Blaine Brothers, which
provides parts, service, and towing in Minnesota
and Wisconsin. Lamoreaux has also worked at
Blaine's TruckAline business. " The racks are set
up in two-foot sections so you can remove a section
to gain better access to the suspension. This setup
prevents a lot of the up-and-down work that can
lead to back and leg strains, " he said.
Hunter's Bachemin said he is starting to see
more shops look to some type of rack or lift to help
perform alignments. " I conducted a time study
and found that the time saved while using a rack
is about 25%. Using a rack requires a lot less effort.
Suspension parts are often pretty tight and require
a cheater bar to get them loose. There isn't much
room for leverage when the vehicle is not up in
the air, " he explained.
RIGHT
TAKING THE
july2022

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