Bringing Wireless, Digital Technology to Wheel Alignment
Posted by Mark’s Automotive
Leading Edge
A Mark’s Automotive technician lowers the front wheels of a customer car onto the lift before making wheel alignment adjustments.
Getting a proper wheel alignment on a vehicle was once a lengthy process involving a lot of big equipment. However, Mark’s Automotive in Lexington Park, Maryland has brought the process into the 21st Century with its brand new Snap On Visualiner system.
Instead of using a huge frame with infrared beams and a clunky, specialized console, the new Visualiner system fits inside a small, rolling cart and uses camera pods that lock onto the rear wheels of the vehicle and communicate wirelessly with a standard Windows computer running state-of-the-art alignment software.
According to Mark’s Automotive technicians, the system allows them to get more accurate camber and toe alignments than the old system. It also allows them to quickly switch out vehicles on its two alignment lifts.
And the new system keeps the customer in the loop as well, providing a printout showing the previous alignment measurements and adjustments made by the technician.
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- The Visualiner camera pod takes more accurate measurements than the old infrared systems.
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- A Mark’s Automotive technician attaches a reflector to the front wheel of a customer’s car to allow the Visualiner system to take wheel alignment measurements.
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- The Visualiner system is ready to take wheel alignment measurements.
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- Technicians get a real-time display of the measurements being taken by the Visualiner’s camera pods.
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- A Mark’s Automotive technician lowers the front wheels of a customer car onto the lift before making wheel alignment adjustments.
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- The Visualiner system produces a customer printout that illustrates the adjustments made to his or her car.
