Wheel Alignment

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NewcastleFalcon
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Wheel Alignment

Unread post by NewcastleFalcon »

Simple title, and my personal expertise on such things is also simple, bordering on the non-existent. Happy to learn from others who know more than me.

Zelandeth recently had a "4 Wheel Alignment" on his Volvo at a local specialist and was happy with the service he received as reported in his blog here, producing a nice little before and after diagram.
Alignment is all about toe, camber and caster as far as I can work out, but the question I asked myself was, is "Toe" the only thing that is really adjustable, and are the others not just determined by the designed suspension geometry as the car comes out of the factory :?:

I find out that some cars do allow some adjustments to be made, and with modifications like special replacement strut bolts from the standard factory issue, with other vehicles, you can introduce some sort of adjustment for camber. As far as the rear goes what is there to adjust :?:

Not that I would recommend anyone following my less than precise approach but I have never adjusted or had the camber adjusted knowingly on any vehicle I have ever owned, and caster I can't see how any adjustment at all is possible.

Possibly the standard bolts on the strut to hub carrier allow for some movement as far as camber is concerned, but never considered it in any of the times I have changed front coil springs, just simply pushed the tightly fitting bolts through the standard holes and torqued them up to the correct spec.

Neil
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Gibbo2286
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Re: Wheel Alignment

Unread post by Gibbo2286 »

You missed KPI from your alignment list Neil. :wink:
Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new. (Albert Einstein)
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bobins
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Re: Wheel Alignment

Unread post by bobins »

When I bought my hairdryer a few years ago it had very questionable handling - straight ahead wasn't its stable driving manner. I got the basic kit to set up caster, camber, and tracking to the book and it transformed the handling back to what it should have been. A flat and level surface and a good bit of time is what's needed to DIY. 4 wheel alignment is for the advanced class so I've stayed away from that :-D
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NewcastleFalcon
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Re: Wheel Alignment

Unread post by NewcastleFalcon »

Gibbo2286 wrote: 09 Oct 2024, 11:43 You missed KPI from your alignment list Neil. :wink:
I thought King pins and trunnions had gone forever with Triumphs of old! I know that mine on my GT6 sheared leaving me with three wheels on my wagon and a fourth hanging off :-D

Neil
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NewcastleFalcon
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Re: Wheel Alignment

Unread post by NewcastleFalcon »

bobins wrote: 09 Oct 2024, 11:52 I got the basic kit to set up caster, camber, and tracking to the book and it transformed the handling back to what it should have been. :-D
Was this the sort of Kit you fitted :?:

https://www.mx5parts.co.uk/alignment-bo ... zda-mk1-25

Neil
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bobins
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Re: Wheel Alignment

Unread post by bobins »

Ah no, they come with those already fitted on the cars :)
The various bits of kit was a Trackace tracking gauge and an inclimomometer angle gauge thingy along with a type of brace that slips over the wheel to give you a repeatable reference point. Tracking and camber are easy, caster takes a bit of calculations and swinging the wheel back and forth.