Tracking

boristhespie · Unread post by **boristhespie** » 11 Jan 2010, 08:07

Had the cars tracking and balance done just before Christmas. It was steering to the left before and continued after. The vibration at 70 was gone. Now though it is steering fairly strongly to the left.

Had this problem before and a small garage in France sorted it where no garage in the UK did (Kept going back for tracking)

Now I am not in France. Any clues as to why this is happening. Is this anything to do with tracking or am I getting it wrong?

Chlorate · Unread post by **Chlorate** » 11 Jan 2010, 18:55

Either they didn't get the tracking right, or something else is wrong.
A warped brake disc or stuck brake slider can cause the car to pull to one side.
Any other symptoms to go with it?
One wheel more black from brake dust than the other?
Does it pull more when you're braking?

deian · Unread post by **deian** » 11 Jan 2010, 20:02

It's very hard to find a garage that can get the tracking done perfectly!

Make sure the garages get the basics right, checking the tyre pressures are equal side to side, also check the back tyres are equal side to side too. Are the tyres all the same, especially on the front.

A four wheel tracking like u get in ats should get it sorted...

other than that chlorate is right, it can only be binding brakes (could they be binding in the back too?)

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 11 Jan 2010, 21:46

If the tracking was even significantly toe in or out the opposite wheel would
be pulled into equilibrium when driven and you'd simply wear the outer or
inner edges of the tread. Mind, whilst I see the idea of it being binding brakes,
wouldn't the wheel being dragged be obvious to see being hotter from the
stored energy and easy to spot in 12" of snow and nasty minus ºC temps?

I'd check too for leaning rear trailing arms and worn front wishbone bushes.

Andrew

bonnyman750 · Unread post by **bonnyman750** » 11 Jan 2010, 21:51

Are your strut housings OK...I seem to remember reading a post on here me time ago that mentioned that when they start to go they can show through odd steering behavior!

Cheers

Glyn

Stempy · Unread post by **Stempy** » 11 Jan 2010, 22:33

I had a Maestro once

which pulled badly to the left after it had been for a service. It turned out that the garage had done a 'tyre rotation':? and stuck the brand new spare tyre on one of the front wheels with a fairly well worn tyre on the other. The difference in diameter was enough to make it pull, especially on acceleration. Didn't go back to that garage

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 11 Jan 2010, 22:38

As Andrew says, tracking error will not make the car pull to one side, this is a popular myth, what it will do is wear your tyres quickly and unevenly, if severely out will make the steering unstable. What will make it pull one way is the camber angle being incorrect, either due to worn suspension bushes or damage to the suspension, tyre wear can also cause it, try swapping the front wheels over. The other possibility as already mentioned is brake binding on one side.

Peter

boristhespie · Unread post by **boristhespie** » 12 Jan 2010, 08:52

I got two new rear tyres put on, since the tracking was done, could this affect the pulling?

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 12 Jan 2010, 10:05

I wouldn't think so, unless they were masking an existing fault, but unevenly worn front tyres can, especially if they don't have much tread. You could try swapping them with the rears.

Unread post by **KennyW** » 12 Jan 2010, 10:24

I agree with Peter check for worn suspension bushes or track rod ends.

I had a similar problem on my Xantia and it was down worn suspension bushes.

Kenny

boristhespie · Unread post by **boristhespie** » 12 Jan 2010, 19:59

Hwere would I look? And the remedy for this would be to replace bushed? Cost?

rmunns · Unread post by **rmunns** » 12 Jan 2010, 20:12

Is it to do with which side of the road you drive the car on? In France the tendency to drift left would maybe be neutralised by the road's camber.

boristhespie · Unread post by **boristhespie** » 12 Jan 2010, 21:26

I'm driving in the UK

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 12 Jan 2010, 23:19

Park the car on as flater surface as you can find and put a spirit level flat against the wheel vertically, both wheels should incline slightly inwards at the bottom, the side that is worn will likely incline more. Having established which side it is, probably the side toward which it is pulling, remove the wheel and using a large lever see if you can move the hub toward and away from the the chassis leg. If you can the bushes or lower balljoint may need replacing. Rusted or damaged strut tops can also cause misalignment.

This problem can also be cause by damage to the suspension, you may be able to check for this by measuring the distance from the front to rear wheels on each side with the front wheels set dead straight.

Peter

HDI · Unread post by **HDI** » 13 Jan 2010, 10:40

Find a 4 wheel laser alignment place and they will check everything related to wheel and chassis geometry on the car , including camber and body damage.