geometry settings anyone?
Discussion
Hello all,
the S has beed gradually getting worse to drive over last few years - more edgy than it should be.
so, i havnt had the tracking checked since putting the Avo's on 5 years ago (i know, i know) so thought it may be time to do a 4 wheel alaignment?!
not checked the bible yet, but does anyone have the camber / geometry settings scribbled down to hand at all?
many thanks,
Richard
the S has beed gradually getting worse to drive over last few years - more edgy than it should be.
so, i havnt had the tracking checked since putting the Avo's on 5 years ago (i know, i know) so thought it may be time to do a 4 wheel alaignment?!
not checked the bible yet, but does anyone have the camber / geometry settings scribbled down to hand at all?
many thanks,
Richard
cheers Tim, forgot the data sheet stuff was on there.
Tom - i think a normal laser alaignment is around £30, not sure if thats just does the fronts though? I will try to find out how much the 4 wheel one is, i have been given a contact name / number in Leicester that i will call tomorrow morning.
Richard
Tom - i think a normal laser alaignment is around £30, not sure if thats just does the fronts though? I will try to find out how much the 4 wheel one is, i have been given a contact name / number in Leicester that i will call tomorrow morning.
Richard
orange_dodo said:
Thanks Rich.
It's not as much as I thought it was so will go get it sorted at some point. Fronts need doing but if the price isn't too much then rears will be done too for some peace of mind.
Is this a job any garage can do or is it time to find a TVR specialist?
I would say that any competant garage with the laser kit could do your front wheel settings but adjusting the rears is a bit more complicated involving shimming the joint of the trailing arm rear section - shims are available but even most TVR dealerships will not have S shims now...It's not as much as I thought it was so will go get it sorted at some point. Fronts need doing but if the price isn't too much then rears will be done too for some peace of mind.
Is this a job any garage can do or is it time to find a TVR specialist?
K
ps: I know kwik-fart and others have laser stuff but I wouldnt allow them within 100 yards of my Tiv
ketvrin said:
I would say that any competant garage with the laser kit could do your front wheel settings but adjusting the rears is a bit more complicated involving shimming the joint of the trailing arm rear section - shims are available but even most TVR dealerships will not have S shims now...
K
ps: I know kwik-fart and others have laser stuff but I wouldnt allow them within 100 yards of my Tiv
I live about 100m from a Kwik-**** but after having them try to sell me all kinds of things I didn't need for the Volvo when I took it in for a couple of new tyres I won't be going there. I was really pissed off when I discovered they had charged me £1 for nitrogen filling, I was almost tempted to go back and tell them to take it out and contaminate it with some other gasses.K
ps: I know kwik-fart and others have laser stuff but I wouldnt allow them within 100 yards of my Tiv
Was only a quid so I didn't bother but it was the principle of the thing.Anyway not a K-F bashing thread, so does anyone know of any TiV friendly garages near Southampton? I'll have to look through the history and see where previous owners have gone.
I seem to remember someone with more knowledge than me say that its not a straightforward laser jig, quick adjust and thats it.
There's a bit of smoke and mirrors involved as its a hand built chassis that has variations etc etc, it needs someone with expertise that understands this, it ain't a Toyota!
There's a bit of smoke and mirrors involved as its a hand built chassis that has variations etc etc, it needs someone with expertise that understands this, it ain't a Toyota!
As far as I understand it, any competant garage/tyre fitters should be able to check/adjust front wheel alignment. this isn't rocket science and basically same as "any old car".But make sure they know what setting should be !
Possibly same equipment can be used for rear alignment but if out is fairly major job to adjust ( having said that there's no way it should have "moved" unless something is very worn, bent or corroded ). Could, of course, have been wrong from new but that doesn't tie up with handling "going off".
Front wheel camber can also be adjusted to a degree (top ball joint is on slots allowing a little movement) Replacement of ball joints or wishbone bushes could upset this but not shock absorbers, they are not a "structural" part of the suspension, however if they are adjustable perhaps they want tweeking up a click or two ?
Finally, maybe most influential on handling, tyre wear and pressures ?
Independant tyre place that fitted me set of tyres while ago clamped all these clever dickie laser things on and tried to tell me car would drive along like a crab if front alignment was out,I didn't bother try to explain that rear axle would have to be out of square to chassis to do that ( like an old Mini with rotten sub frame and mountings).
HTH
Mike.
Possibly same equipment can be used for rear alignment but if out is fairly major job to adjust ( having said that there's no way it should have "moved" unless something is very worn, bent or corroded ). Could, of course, have been wrong from new but that doesn't tie up with handling "going off".
Front wheel camber can also be adjusted to a degree (top ball joint is on slots allowing a little movement) Replacement of ball joints or wishbone bushes could upset this but not shock absorbers, they are not a "structural" part of the suspension, however if they are adjustable perhaps they want tweeking up a click or two ?
Finally, maybe most influential on handling, tyre wear and pressures ?
Independant tyre place that fitted me set of tyres while ago clamped all these clever dickie laser things on and tried to tell me car would drive along like a crab if front alignment was out,I didn't bother try to explain that rear axle would have to be out of square to chassis to do that ( like an old Mini with rotten sub frame and mountings).
HTH
Mike.
philpot - yes agree that unless something is seriously adrift then the rear setttings should be as original, my small handling problem is more than likeley to do with me messing with the suspension settings every five minutes - raising & lowering the ride height, cranking up & down the stiffness - the front avo's are set by click but the rears are allen key so with me tweaking for years the rears are probably a mile different. also i have had odd rear tyres for last 4 years so should probably shell out a hundred quid or so for some new so2's.
BTW i have been quoted £85 for 4 wheel alaighnment in case anyone was still interested, & thats a decent family run small chain of garages in leics not kwik cr*p!!!
Richard
BTW i have been quoted £85 for 4 wheel alaighnment in case anyone was still interested, & thats a decent family run small chain of garages in leics not kwik cr*p!!!
Richard
Andrew - yes another S in Leicester, i have been ripping up the mean streets of this town for the best part of 6 years in mine!
Have you been to Ashby Folville this year? I made the last one, just. Need to get servo changed on the S in next few days but if you fancy meetin up some time to coo over one anothers cars i'm down with that. Are you north south or central?
Richard
Have you been to Ashby Folville this year? I made the last one, just. Need to get servo changed on the S in next few days but if you fancy meetin up some time to coo over one anothers cars i'm down with that. Are you north south or central?
Richard
If you follow the instructions on my website you'll be able to get an approximation of where your car is with standard DIY equipment (tape measure, spirit level, screws, string and a piece of wood). I did it and got the car in spec (although not totally even) after a suspension rebuild just to take it to a professional for a full setup.
I used protyre and when they checked it (free) and it was in spec they offered to do no work, but I got them to even up all the settings on each side of the car (and it was the right choice) total for adjustment of front camber and wheel alignment (£35) - back didn't need doing but due to the shim arrangement this would have been around £70 (1 hours labour)
IIRC the settings I used were 1 degree negative camber, 0.5 degree toe in - recommended by Derek at Abshocks. Note the bible ad Haynes have a typo on the camber stating positive camber when it should be negative
HTH
Mark
I used protyre and when they checked it (free) and it was in spec they offered to do no work, but I got them to even up all the settings on each side of the car (and it was the right choice) total for adjustment of front camber and wheel alignment (£35) - back didn't need doing but due to the shim arrangement this would have been around £70 (1 hours labour)
IIRC the settings I used were 1 degree negative camber, 0.5 degree toe in - recommended by Derek at Abshocks. Note the bible ad Haynes have a typo on the camber stating positive camber when it should be negative
HTH
Mark
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