ADAS Calibration

If your car was built in the last five years, it is likely equipped with a suite of “guardian angels” known as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). These include features like Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Blind Spot Monitoring. While these systems have drastically reduced accidents on the Lakes Way and across Australia, they are incredibly sensitive pieces of technology.

At Great Lakes Auto Centre, we have seen a rise in drivers coming to us with “warning lights” or safety features that feel “jittery.” This is often due to a lack of calibration. In a modern vehicle, a mechanical repair is only half the job; the digital calibration is the other.

How ADAS Works (and Why it Fails)

ADAS relies on a network of cameras (usually mounted behind the windscreen), radar sensors (often in the front grille or bumper), and ultrasonic sensors. These “eyes” and “ears” calculate distances and speeds in milliseconds. However, if a camera is misaligned by even half a degree, it could perceive an obstacle in the wrong place. This leads to “phantom braking”—where the car slams on the brakes for a shadow—or a failure to alert you when you drift out of your lane.

When is Calibration Mandatory?

Many Tuncurry drivers are surprised to learn that standard maintenance can knock ADAS out of sync:

• Windscreen Replacement: Because cameras are attached to the glass, a new windscreen requires the camera to be recalibrated to its new focal point.

• Wheel Alignments: If your wheels are pointing in a new direction, the car’s “thrust angle” changes, meaning the sensors are no longer looking straight ahead.

• Suspension Repairs: Lifting a 4×4 or replacing worn shocks changes the ride height, which alters the sensors’ field of view.

• Minor Impacts: Even a small tap in a car park can shift a radar sensor behind the bumper.

The Bosch Technical Standard

At Great Lakes Auto Centre, we don’t guess. We use the Bosch ADAS Calibration system, which involves specialised targets, laser levels, and a perfectly flat workshop floor. We perform both static calibration (in the workshop) and dynamic calibration (on the road) to ensure your vehicle’s safety systems are factory-perfect.

The Great Lakes Difference is our refusal to cut corners. While some workshops might ignore these calibrations to keep costs low, we know that your safety depends on these systems. We provide a full report on your ADAS health, ensuring that when you drive through the streets of Forster, your car’s “eyes” are wide open and perfectly focused.

Book online or call (02) 6590 1375 today for all your ADAS calibration needs.