I have my alignemnt done twice a year, whether ir needs it or not...and
it is always a bit off when I do get it aligned.  It my experience,
off-road use is the culprit.  Also, the AWD can be a little decieving
when it comes to straight-line driving and alignemnt.  It will drive
straight even when the alignment is off.  You get a feel for when it is
off once you've experienced the difference between a properly aligned
bus and one that' s a little off.

Where you go is important.  For some reason, the cheaper alignemnt shops
NEVER get it right (e.g., $129 for lifetime 4 wheel alignment).  The
dealer in Marin always gets it right.  ($185 per 4 wheel alignment).
The vw dealer tells me that 90% of their time is spent properly setting
the bus up on the rack and taking measurements.
steve

Mark McCulley wrote:

> All the confusion over syncro alignment specifications leads me to
> wonder:
> Under what conditions should you set the alignment?
>
> I ask this because my syncro is 11 years old now and has never had the
>
> aligment set. Yet it still cruises down the highway straight as an
> arrow.
> I'd be afraid to let anyone (including myself) mess with the
> aligment--it
> would probably get screwed up.
>
> So what leads you guys to change the aligment on your syncros? Doesn't
>
> travel straight? Poor tire wear? Routine maintainence?
>
> Mark McCulley
> 87 syncro Westfalia