Wheel tracking "computer says no"

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aerodynamica
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1993 Xantia 1.9 TD VSX Mk1 Sinker A.K.A Slugmobile 13'
'Old Katy'
previous convictions: totaling 52litres of LHM in one go:
1968 ID19B 'Old Polly' Stellar white
1993 Xantia 1.9 TD SX Mk1 Sinker Silver
1992 XM 2.0 SEi Turbo Manual Anthracite Grey
1982 CX 20 Pallas 'Old Goldy'
1993 XM 2.1 SD Auto Light blue
1993 Xantia 1.9 TD SX Mk1 Sinker light Blue
1982 BX 16 TRS 'Cyril' Vallelunga Red
1995 Xantia 1.9 D SX Auto Dark green
1977 CX 2400 Pallas C-Matic 'Aphrodite' Regatta Blue
1982 GSA Pallas SE Silver Pearl
1980 CX 2000 Reflex Vallelunga Red
1978 CX 2400 Pallas C-Matic 'Prometheus' Midnight blue
1984 BX 14E 'Cecil the slugmobile' Maroon
1987 Fiat Panda 'the mighty panda'
x 97

Wheel tracking "computer says no"

Post by aerodynamica »

I think the tracking is off on the Xantia ever since I changed the strut tops and lower arm bushes a month or so back.

I called into National tyres and after asking what car it was, said they couldn't do the tracking on them because they're too old!

It's only tracking!

It seems that they have to put in the computer system what make and model it is and it does it for them but if the info isn't in the database it can't be done..

I only wanted to know if it was out because the car feels really wayward despite new bushes, strut tops, ball joints, tyes and the rear arm bearings less than 2 years ago.
Graeme M
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Re: Wheel tracking "computer says no"

Post by white exec »

Sounds like another bit of skill lost, Graeme, along with balancing centreless wheels!

Apart from another tyre fitter, you could try your Citroen dealer - those here have a tyre service bay, and don't charge much more than competitor tyre fitters.

Tracking data should be in the Private Cars 2001 book, if you need it.
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Re: Wheel tracking "computer says no"

Post by GiveMeABreak »

I would just add, that even ATS with all their new Carlos Fandango, computerised, laser tracking super expensive mega station wrecked my MK II C5 tracking a few years ago! The new set of tyres I had at the same time wore out in a month and were shredded to the wires!

Took it back to complain bitterly and that resulted in them shutting their machine down until the engineers could come out and calibrate it. After that, they had to get the Citroen senior technician out from the dealer next door to tell them how to balance a C5! Apart from the machine being faulty, I expect they did not set the car up properly and also put the wrong model into the system.... Joy
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Re: Wheel tracking "computer says no"

Post by xantia_v6 »

I have the alignment specifications for the mk1 Xantia should you need them.
aerodynamica
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My Cars: 2008 C5 Exclusive Tourer
1993 Xantia 1.9 TD VSX Mk1 Sinker A.K.A Slugmobile 13'
'Old Katy'
previous convictions: totaling 52litres of LHM in one go:
1968 ID19B 'Old Polly' Stellar white
1993 Xantia 1.9 TD SX Mk1 Sinker Silver
1992 XM 2.0 SEi Turbo Manual Anthracite Grey
1982 CX 20 Pallas 'Old Goldy'
1993 XM 2.1 SD Auto Light blue
1993 Xantia 1.9 TD SX Mk1 Sinker light Blue
1982 BX 16 TRS 'Cyril' Vallelunga Red
1995 Xantia 1.9 D SX Auto Dark green
1977 CX 2400 Pallas C-Matic 'Aphrodite' Regatta Blue
1982 GSA Pallas SE Silver Pearl
1980 CX 2000 Reflex Vallelunga Red
1978 CX 2400 Pallas C-Matic 'Prometheus' Midnight blue
1984 BX 14E 'Cecil the slugmobile' Maroon
1987 Fiat Panda 'the mighty panda'
x 97

Re: Wheel tracking "computer says no"

Post by aerodynamica »

xantia_v6 wrote: 18 May 2019, 12:23 I have the alignment specifications for the mk1 Xantia should you need them.

Hi thanks, that's would be great if thou could send the specs. I haven't checked whether the Haynes book had anything mentioned.
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Re: Wheel tracking "computer says no"

Post by RichardW »

Buy a Trackace tool and DIY. http://www.trackace.co.uk/index.html One of the staff writes on Practical Classics described using it, and getting a good repeatable result.

Can get it from e-bay for <£75 - not much more than a couple of trips to the fast fit place - ATS seemed to want huge amounts of money last time I was there unless I was mis-reading the poster! Trackace from e-bay

In the absence of any figures, I would set 1-2° toe in on a FWD car, this way when the suspension loads up and pushes the wheels back they will tend towards parallel. Pretty sure Haynes gives figures for MK1 Xantia.
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white exec
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and lots of Rovers before that: 1935 Ten, 1947 Sixteen, 1960 P5 3-litre, 1966 P6 2000, 1972 P6 2000TC, and 1975 P6B 3500S
x 1752

Re: Wheel tracking "computer says no"

Post by white exec »

Xantia steering geometry (running height, tracking, etc) data here:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=61218#p590278
"Private Car books, 2001 - Xantia, XM, Synergie"
pp215–217
Graeme's Xantia tracking data.JPG
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Re: Wheel tracking "computer says no"

Post by xantia_v6 »

That agrees with the info that I have, but for completeness, cars manufactured before the 1996 model year had the king pin inclination specified as 13° 20′ ± 30′ and cars without power steering before the 1996 model year had castor angle of of 1° ±30′

That was a good excuse to test the symbols in the post editor.
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white exec
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Location: Sayalonga, Malaga, Spain
My Cars: 1996 XM 2.5TD Exclusive hatch RHD
1992 BX19D Millesime hatch LHD
previously 1989 BX19RD, 1998 ZX 1.9D auto, 2001 Xantia 1.8i auto
and lots of Rovers before that: 1935 Ten, 1947 Sixteen, 1960 P5 3-litre, 1966 P6 2000, 1972 P6 2000TC, and 1975 P6B 3500S
x 1752

Re: Wheel tracking "computer says no"

Post by white exec »

Thanks, Mike - I didn't have that early data.
Chris
aerodynamica
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Posts: 1299
Joined: 26 Dec 2007, 18:10
Location: Glasgow
Lexia Available: Yes
My Cars: 2008 C5 Exclusive Tourer
1993 Xantia 1.9 TD VSX Mk1 Sinker A.K.A Slugmobile 13'
'Old Katy'
previous convictions: totaling 52litres of LHM in one go:
1968 ID19B 'Old Polly' Stellar white
1993 Xantia 1.9 TD SX Mk1 Sinker Silver
1992 XM 2.0 SEi Turbo Manual Anthracite Grey
1982 CX 20 Pallas 'Old Goldy'
1993 XM 2.1 SD Auto Light blue
1993 Xantia 1.9 TD SX Mk1 Sinker light Blue
1982 BX 16 TRS 'Cyril' Vallelunga Red
1995 Xantia 1.9 D SX Auto Dark green
1977 CX 2400 Pallas C-Matic 'Aphrodite' Regatta Blue
1982 GSA Pallas SE Silver Pearl
1980 CX 2000 Reflex Vallelunga Red
1978 CX 2400 Pallas C-Matic 'Prometheus' Midnight blue
1984 BX 14E 'Cecil the slugmobile' Maroon
1987 Fiat Panda 'the mighty panda'
x 97

Re: Wheel tracking "computer says no"

Post by aerodynamica »

Thanks all ☀️☀️
Graeme M
2008 C5 Exclusive Tourer 2.0 HDi
aerodynamica
Donor 2023
Posts: 1299
Joined: 26 Dec 2007, 18:10
Location: Glasgow
Lexia Available: Yes
My Cars: 2008 C5 Exclusive Tourer
1993 Xantia 1.9 TD VSX Mk1 Sinker A.K.A Slugmobile 13'
'Old Katy'
previous convictions: totaling 52litres of LHM in one go:
1968 ID19B 'Old Polly' Stellar white
1993 Xantia 1.9 TD SX Mk1 Sinker Silver
1992 XM 2.0 SEi Turbo Manual Anthracite Grey
1982 CX 20 Pallas 'Old Goldy'
1993 XM 2.1 SD Auto Light blue
1993 Xantia 1.9 TD SX Mk1 Sinker light Blue
1982 BX 16 TRS 'Cyril' Vallelunga Red
1995 Xantia 1.9 D SX Auto Dark green
1977 CX 2400 Pallas C-Matic 'Aphrodite' Regatta Blue
1982 GSA Pallas SE Silver Pearl
1980 CX 2000 Reflex Vallelunga Red
1978 CX 2400 Pallas C-Matic 'Prometheus' Midnight blue
1984 BX 14E 'Cecil the slugmobile' Maroon
1987 Fiat Panda 'the mighty panda'
x 97

Re: Wheel tracking "computer says no"

Post by aerodynamica »

I've taken richardW's advice and took a chance on one of those trackace things. It arrived on Tuesday and after a few quick trials that didn't work out I got to grips with it and it actually works very well. It shows that the front end is 1/3 of a degree toed-in. Two seperare measurements confirmed so it is wrong but I didn't think this was by much . I looked at the track rods and the off side one has a full thread more than the n/s one. I adjusted the o/s one in by half a turn (thread pitch is 1.5) refitted everything and rechecked and it's now 1/3 of a degree toed out that's close to what it's meant to be so i took it for a spin and it immediately feels better and the centering of the steering is stronger. Also have a perfectly straight - ahead steering wheel. Im quite surprised at how little it had to be out to have such a large effect.

The trackace thing is actually very good although you must spend time doing everything perfectly...

Im not sponsored by trackace 😁
Graeme M
2008 C5 Exclusive Tourer 2.0 HDi
aerodynamica
Donor 2023
Posts: 1299
Joined: 26 Dec 2007, 18:10
Location: Glasgow
Lexia Available: Yes
My Cars: 2008 C5 Exclusive Tourer
1993 Xantia 1.9 TD VSX Mk1 Sinker A.K.A Slugmobile 13'
'Old Katy'
previous convictions: totaling 52litres of LHM in one go:
1968 ID19B 'Old Polly' Stellar white
1993 Xantia 1.9 TD SX Mk1 Sinker Silver
1992 XM 2.0 SEi Turbo Manual Anthracite Grey
1982 CX 20 Pallas 'Old Goldy'
1993 XM 2.1 SD Auto Light blue
1993 Xantia 1.9 TD SX Mk1 Sinker light Blue
1982 BX 16 TRS 'Cyril' Vallelunga Red
1995 Xantia 1.9 D SX Auto Dark green
1977 CX 2400 Pallas C-Matic 'Aphrodite' Regatta Blue
1982 GSA Pallas SE Silver Pearl
1980 CX 2000 Reflex Vallelunga Red
1978 CX 2400 Pallas C-Matic 'Prometheus' Midnight blue
1984 BX 14E 'Cecil the slugmobile' Maroon
1987 Fiat Panda 'the mighty panda'
x 97

Re: Wheel tracking "computer says no"

Post by aerodynamica »

I'm going to check the DS's tracking now because i felt it was overly 'twitchy' on the road back from Coventry 2 weeks ago...

Probably check all the cars in the street too 😂
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Re: Wheel tracking "computer says no"

Post by Gibbo2286 »

That track ace reminded me of my Dunlop alignment tool back in the sixties. :)
Still available apparently...at a price.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/232442448792

The cheapo Gunsons one worked pretty well
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Re: Wheel tracking "computer says no"

Post by Peter.N. »

My tracking 'computer' consists of a length of threaded inside a metal tube, I adjust the length until it just touches the inside if the tyre at the front and there is a couple of mm gap at the rear, works every time, at least I never have trouble with uneven tyre wear and I have used it for the last 40 years or so. Doesn't work very well with four wheel tracking though. :wink:

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Re: Wheel tracking "computer says no"

Post by Paul-R »

Gibbo2286 wrote: 14 Jun 2019, 09:38That track ace reminded me of my Dunlop alignment tool back in the sixties. :)
I still have one of those! The rubber eyeshield melted years ago but otherwise it's fine.
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