370Ad Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 (edited) Hello, My car is still meandering to the right slight if i hold the steering wheel straight. I had the compression bushes changed, then had the car tracked. Drove round for a week and it wasn't right. Went back to the garage and they double checked it. Still a problem.... Today i went to another garage and the guy actually showed me all the measurements on the machine and it was dead on perfect. Any ideas what is causing my car to be as straight as Alan Carr? Thanks! Edited January 31, 2013 by 350Ad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK350Z Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Sound's like you need a proper 4-wheel alignment rather than just the tracking checked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
370Ad Posted January 31, 2013 Author Share Posted January 31, 2013 Sound's like you need a proper 4-wheel alignment rather than just the tracking checked. Both garages used the laser aligners on each wheel or are you talking about camber? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 (edited) Providing that the bushes have been fitted properly and the geometry is within OEM recommended tolerences then I would be looking at tyres. If the bushes have not been fitted incorrectly then your castor will be out. Alex. Edited January 31, 2013 by ZMANALEX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Thank you Colin: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
370Ad Posted January 31, 2013 Author Share Posted January 31, 2013 (edited) Providing that the bushes have been fitted properly and the geometry is within OEM recommended tolerences then I would be looking at tyres. If the bushes have not been fitted incorrectly then your castor will be out. Alex. Thanks for the reply. I can rule tyres out as i have changed my wheels since the bushes were fitted. The second garage checked over the bushes and said it was fitted correctly. I even checked it over myself on the drive and it looks spot on. Like the tracking isnt massively out but just annoying if you have paid for something and its not quite right. Edited January 31, 2013 by 350Ad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 If it was OEM bushes that you fitted how are you able to tell if they are fitted correctly or not by a visual inspection? Remember that they are not concentric so must be pressed into the arm in the correct position or your castor will be out. Alex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
350Chris Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Are your tyres directional and are they all going the right way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
370Ad Posted January 31, 2013 Author Share Posted January 31, 2013 Are your tyres directional and are they all going the right way? Tyres are definitely the right way! Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
370Ad Posted January 31, 2013 Author Share Posted January 31, 2013 If it was OEM bushes that you fitted how are you able to tell if they are fitted correctly or not by a visual inspection? Remember that they are not concentric so must be pressed into the arm in the correct position or your castor will be out. Alex. They were pressed into the arm by the garage. Said they had done it before and was reputable Jap place. Not sure what I can do if I am honest, can castor be checked through camber alignment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 If it was OEM bushes that you fitted how are you able to tell if they are fitted correctly or not by a visual inspection? Remember that they are not concentric so must be pressed into the arm in the correct position or your castor will be out. Alex. They were pressed into the arm by the garage. Said they had done it before and was reputable Jap place. Not sure what I can do if I am honest, can castor be checked through camber alignment? Given what else you have checked and Alex has seen I would be asking thge garage if they did fit the new bushes correctly as Alex has asked. Maybe asking in a way that teases out what they did in the fitting as although you say it was reputable Jap place they may not have had a 350 in before for that work? Only a suggestion.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sly@Kaizer Motor Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 What you need is a proper place with a Hunter wheel aligner (measuring 14 different angles) and somebody has experience that's for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Zada Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Does the car pull with both sets of wheels on? An alignment machine is only as good as the bloke using it as well im afraid to say. If i were you I would consider taking to somewhere thats been recommended, Tell them what it doing and thy should be able to dial out the pull. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 The camber, castor and toe are the 3 main settings that get checked when you get a proper 4 wheel alignment done. Scan up a copy of the print out of the before and after settings that the alignment garage should have given you and I will soon tell you if your settings are within factory tollerences and indeed if castor may be your issue. Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
370Ad Posted January 31, 2013 Author Share Posted January 31, 2013 The camber, castor and toe are the 3 main settings that get checked when you get a proper 4 wheel alignment done. Scan up a copy of the print out of the before and after settings that the alignment garage should have given you and I will soon tell you if your settings are within factory tollerences and indeed if castor may be your issue. Alex Didn't get a scan unfortunately but I can tell you what the guy showed me at the second garage. The laser on the front wheels showed +2 on the drivers side and -2 on the passengers side. Lasers on the rear wheels both showed 5.8. So not sure exactly what this has checked regarding castor toe and camber. Thank you very much for all your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sly@Kaizer Motor Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 (edited) The laser on the front wheels showed +2 on the drivers side and -2 on the passengers side. Lasers on the rear wheels both showed 5.8. So not sure exactly what this has checked regarding castor toe and camber. Thank you very much for all your help! When you adjust a car all values should be the same (or at least are very close to each other) on both side, if it's not possible by adjustment than you have a problem should be investigated. If (as you said) one side is on +2 and the other side is on -2 than it's clearly an issue. Edited January 31, 2013 by KaizerMotor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 As Kaizer has said something far wrong with those numbers. Best to take the car to a specialist for a proper 4 wheel alignment check and adjust and make sure that you get a proper print out. The garage that fitted the bushes should have reset the geometry after replacing the worn parts. Expect to pay up to £100.00 for a proper 4 wheel alignment check and adjust, however if the bushes have been fitted wrong then they will not be able to correct the front castor it the numbers are out with the manufacturers specifications, so it would mean a trip back to the guys that fitted the bushes. Alex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
370Ad Posted January 31, 2013 Author Share Posted January 31, 2013 Thanks for everyone's input. Looks like a bit of googling to find a decent wheel alignment place in Berkshire! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
370Ad Posted February 1, 2013 Author Share Posted February 1, 2013 http://www.elitewheels.co.uk/Alignment.aspx This place has a hunter system so I could be onto a winner! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblock Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 http://www.elitewhee.../Alignment.aspx This place has a hunter system so I could be onto a winner! A hunter machine is no good if monkeys are using it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
370Ad Posted February 1, 2013 Author Share Posted February 1, 2013 http://www.elitewhee.../Alignment.aspx This place has a hunter system so I could be onto a winner! A hunter machine is no good if monkeys are using it. Haha true. Can't exactly give them an IQ test before letting them loose on my car. I have been on reputation before and that seems to have got me into this mess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 Thanks for everyone's input. Looks like a bit of googling to find a decent wheel alignment place in Berkshire! As you are in Berkshire, you are far better off to get Jez at Horsham Developments to check your car out and do any alignment. http://www.h-dev.co.uk/index2.php?page=home Just anxious for you, having followed this thread, you don't go and waste money with somewhere that dosen't know what it is doing and what the likely issue(s) are to be causing your problem. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aliensurfer Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 This thread has been useful to me too. I've got mine booked in with Lockwood and Greenwood as I'm feeling the steering very light and unstable, nice to be armed with a bit more knowledge before I head in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblock Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 http://www.elitewhee.../Alignment.aspx This place has a hunter system so I could be onto a winner! I agree it's chance sometimes it better to drive an hour or to know your getting it done properly. A hunter machine is no good if monkeys are using it. Haha true. Can't exactly give them an IQ test before letting them loose on my car. I have been on reputation before and that seems to have got me into this mess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
370Ad Posted February 1, 2013 Author Share Posted February 1, 2013 Thanks for everyones help but the problem is now resolved. The main culprit was a rear left toe of 0.16 degrees. Luckily for me there was a hunter agent at Elite wheels today so got two technicians for the price of one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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