John Bean V2280 wheel aligner

Published: 19 August, 2020

According to Snap-on, the John Bean V2280 wheel aligner is well suited to independent garages, and is designed to be robust. Alignment can be started from the V2280’s home screen, where the vehicle selection process has been improved with a model search capability. Wheel rims from 11in to 22in can be worked on without adaptors and without removing hubcaps thanks to new lightweight wheel clamps. The height of the beam is set via automatic tracking, and its cameras move automatically up and down following the targets.

www.johnbean.com/en-gb/wheel-aligners/v2280

John Bean V2280 wheel aligner
The new John Bean V2280 is designed to be robust, and features an automatic tracking beam, while its cameras move automatically up and down following the targets. The Compensate, Warn and Alert system detects problems with suspension stress and damage, lift, clamps, environment and more. Wheel rims from 11inches to 22inches can be worked on without adaptors and without removing hubcaps thanks to new lightweight wheel clamps. Work can be quickly started from the home screen, and the vehicle selection process has also been improved with a model search capability. As a result, a vehicle’s alignment history can be easily stored and recovered.

www.johnbean.com
John Bean V1200 Elite Wheel Aligner
The new John Bean V1200 Elite wheel aligner from Snap-on offers advanced yet user-friendly software and a unique space-saving design to workshops. With no moving parts and a robust but compact design, the V1200 Elite takes up minimal room in the workshop, and requires no space at all in front of a lift. It is built to work flexibly with any alignment lift style and enhance performance in any layout. All communication happens wirelessly with no beams or cables taking up valuable space in a working area, while 3D vehicle measurement provides accurate and live adjustment along with full vehicle dimensions. It is cordless, with Wi-Fi both for alignment components and for connection to the internet, and has a mobile control terminal with 22-inch monitor, printer and battery chargers for pod batteries. The new information preview provides critical data before work begins, while the live alignment error checking system notifies the user of errors as they happen without slowing the process. Visual indicators on the pods also guide the technician through the measuring process.
www.johnbean.com/en-gb/v1200-elite
Absolute Alignment – CV wheel aligner
Absolute Alignment has an all-new manufacturer approved Bluetooth commercial vehicle wheel aligner, for use on most vehicles, available now. This is the only Bluetooth wheel alignment equipment currently available, in this country, that can perform four wheel alignment on every car and truck that may enter a workshop. The direct contact charging and calibration system allows the whole alignment package to be cable free to help maintain a safe workshop environment. Extra-long front alignment heads enable its use on both commercial vehicles and passenger cars, with the software allowing for unlimited axles. The unit comes also with the latest graphics programme and lightweight long-life measuring heads with a metal chassis to ensure durability. Fast fitting, easily removable clamps attach the heads securely to each wheel without damaging either the rim or the tyre.
www.absolutealignment.co.uk
Four wheel aligner compatibility
The Bluetooth Pro Wheel Aligner from Absolute Alignment is fully wireless to ensure fast and easy use, and can be used with four and two-post lifts and in-ground wheel-free scissor lifts. The direct contact charging and calibration system means the whole wheel alignment package is 100% cable free for a safe workshop. Absolute Alignment supplies an array of wheel alignment equipment to suit workshops of all sizes, and is the only UK provider with a full range of Bluetooth wheel aligners suitable for cars and commercial vehicles – including those equipped with the latest generation of ADAS.
Wheel alignment: Daytrip to Camber
My last article, which appeared all the way back in the May issue believe it or not (did something happen between then and now? Oh yes…), was a little lesson on wheel alignment. I also covered the issue of minutes and degrees too. This article is about camber angles and setting up wheel alignment.

Camber
The same applies to camber (minutes and degrees) as it did with toe, it’s just a different angle. Now stand up, like you did back in May when I first mentioned toe in and toe out, then asked you to look down at your feet, keep your heels in position, and point your toes inwards so they point towards each other, and then the same with the heels with the toes outwards. This was toe-out, and walking with excessive toe-out, I pointed out, will wear the inner part of your shoes.
   I bet you have been looking back on that fondly. Well, it’s time to do it again. Come on, I’ll do it with you. Feet shoulder width apart, and now, try and make your knees touch, your legs now have negative camber. You can now turn into corners quicker. However, I bet you won’t be able to run very fast in a straight line without falling over.

Negative
You will have seen many boy racers with modified cars on the roads that think it’s great to run massive amounts of negative camber, that’s all well and good if they own a racing car and take it on a race track, but on our public roads and with our speed limits, what’s the point? There’s nothing to gain. Your tyres will wear at an alarming rate on the inside edge, and cost you more money, but it looks cool right? So, that’s ok. I’m sorry, did that sound sarcastic?

Now, if you were to stand with your feet in the same position as before, but now move your knees outwards, it’s difficult I know, your legs will be enduring positive camber. This is more stable than your negative legs were, but you wouldn’t want to turn into corners too fast with these legs. No, you would almost certainly fall over and probably break your leg and I would have a lawsuit on my hands. You won’t see many sports cars at all with a positive camber setup, it just wouldn’t work.

That’s why we leave it to the engineers who design the cars to then give us, the technicians the correct wheel alignment settings. just make sure that the alignment is set within the manufacturer’s spec, that way you can’t go wrong.

ADAS
If the car is fitted with a form of ADAS, that’s when things get a little tricky. The company I work for don’t actually make adjustments on vehicles equipped with any form of ADAS, a VERY wise decision I think. Also, any garage that does make adjustments are playing with the driver’s (and the driver’s family’s) lives. It’s all well and good taking £50-£60 from the customer for the alignment, but without correct kit to calibrate the camera and radar afterwards you’re playing very dangerous games.

A car equipped with ADAS is easily identifiable really. The radar box can’t be missed in a front bumper, unless you’re one of those annoying manufacturers who hide it behind the badge. Some cars have a blind spot detection system built into the wing mirrors, identifiable by the letters BLIS/BSW/BSM. The easiest to spot without a doubt is the forward-facing camera at the top of the windscreen close to the rear-view mirror. This is funnel shaped if you understand what I mean. I don’t think ADAS calibration equipment can be that far from being installed in the majority of workshops up and down the country. As soon as the equipment gets to an affordable price, garages will be snapping it up and capitalising on the chance to rake in the money.

I know it’s not all about the money, but at the end of the day that’s why we all go to work, and we as the techs are the ones keeping the money rolling in, but just make sure the money is earned honestly and faithfully. I’d hate to read one day about a car having an accident due to a garage mindlessly taking the customer’s money. If you aren’t sure if a car is equipped with ADAS when carrying out a wheel alignment check, all you need to do is ask a workmate to take a look. Better safe than sorry.