Tyre balancing and alignment

I always wondering what is tyre balancing and alignment. Then today happen to send my Savvy to tyre service shop for tuning. They dismantle my wheels and keep it roll on a machine. The computer will calculate how much variants and weight to add on. The mechanic stick the weight bar compensate the readings. Each weight bar is 5g. Wondering how the unbalanced wheel would affect the driving safety.

After balancing, they drive my car to a platform and lock up my front wheel. Then they select the computer reading for my car, but Savvy is not in the list (outdated program). We decide for the nearest match which is Renault Clio K4F. Then they based on the reading and adjust the front wheel to be in standard setting.

I feel smooth cornering after the fine tuning. Total cost me RM36. What a good business.

Spin the wheel to get the unbalance weight reading.

The weight bar.

Stick the weight bar on wheel.

The wheel lock for alignment measurement.

Computer showing unbalance alignment (2.2 and -1.9)

Proton open day and factory visit

PROTON or Perusahaan Otomobil Negara is our first national car company. Since Proton Saga launched in 1985, Proton undergoing ups and downs over 20 years. The broke off with their technical partner, Mitsubishi was sent them into a evolution. The first Malaysian designed car is Waja. The short partnership with Renault was not promising. Savvy is the last French-Malaysia breed. The born of Gen.2 which symbolize Generation Two of Proton’s milestone. Then later Satria Neo start to recapture Malaysian attention again but three doors sedan never a local favorite. Proton losing its long reign market lead to Perodua, which Myvi is contemporary all time best seller. The failure in looking new partner didn’t kill the Malaysian Tiger. The launch of Persona and New Saga successfully drive in cash and praises. They found the formula again.

On 3rd August, Proton open its Shah Alam factory to public visit. The tour is well organized and very informative. Although the car manufacturing plant doesn’t look hi-tech, but it still new to public and interesting. Wish all the best for Proton to revive its brand in International and improvement in quality control aspect. Proton car power windows problems has become the ugly trademark for years.

this scene remind me national day is coming soon.

prototaip sketch

ware house of new saga. i missed the production line tour schedule.

test drive track. it’s huge and you can see it from google earth.

participant going to experience test drive track.

the body frame of new mpv. to be launch on march 2009.

the model of new mpv.

msx – the prototaip of malaysia suv.

interior of msx.

new saga pickup. just a prototaip. the previous wira pickup (arena) was not sell good.

hybrid gen.2 with battery at boot space.

purely ngv powered waja with two gas tank installed under car. this car will launch only with wide accessibility of ngv station.

waja wth v6 engine.

satria with turbo engine. this is not new to those car modification ethusiast.

the robot craft the clay into real size model.

digital artist demo how easy they can draft a car model on screen.

various seat under selection and comparison for new car development.