Not driving straight...

Author
Discussion

NiceCupOfTea

Original Poster:

25,305 posts

257 months

Saturday 5th December 2009
quotequote all
Had a full alignment at Wheels In Motion a couple of years ago which made a huge difference to the car.

Running Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 on 15" wheels with no odd wear.

However, the steering can behave very strangely from time to time. Most of the time it's quite neutral apart from a sligh pull to the left from (I assume) the camber of the road. But then on occasion it pulls very very heavily to one side. Was driving just now and felt it - loosed the wheel and it nearly took me into the kerb! Seemed fine afterwards...

Any suggestions? It's not been banged up or down any kerbs. Really can't face taking a day out to go back to WIM and spend another £100...

BCA

8,647 posts

263 months

Saturday 5th December 2009
quotequote all
I'd want to be sure everything was mechanically 100% first of all.. get it up in the air and check it over corner by corner - look out for worn bushes particularily.. does sound like an odd occurrance.

For alignment, you've got a print out of the settings and if you havent I'll give you the settings roddison put on my car before I bought it... just take it to an alignment specialist or do it yourself using string (not as innacurate as it sounds) - I can put up a guide if you want?

Alignment is basic geometry - it is very very basic stuff, no matter what WIM bangs on about on nutz, hell even from the settings I've seen posted up, they're even pretty cautious and minor in most cases. Your average 13 year old Forza 3 player will have a vague idea of works, yet it seems sometimes people have to woffle on about irrelevent aspects of suspension dynamics in an attempt to presumeably drum up business. It makes me utterly sick, im tired of it, and thankfully so far on here we've been spared of it.

Yes, alignment makes a difference - but it is not a black art, it is a very subjective thing that can be done DIY or by any alignment specialist out there, it is simple geometry. £100 saved, hurrah! smile

skinny

5,269 posts

241 months

Monday 7th December 2009
quotequote all
maybe worn track rod ends or suspension ball joints?

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

225 months

Monday 7th December 2009
quotequote all
Could it just be tram-lining? What offset are your wheels?

Another hot-suspect would be a sticking front calliper...

Edited by MX-5 Lazza on Monday 7th December 10:33

snotrag

14,829 posts

217 months

Monday 7th December 2009
quotequote all
I'd go with a sticky brake caliper as a good bet, it could easilybe sticking/unsticking itself as your driving along causing the problems you describe.

bluetone

2,047 posts

225 months

Monday 7th December 2009
quotequote all
Also worth checking that neither of your front dampers are leaking any oil.

NiceCupOfTea

Original Poster:

25,305 posts

257 months

Monday 7th December 2009
quotequote all
Thanks guys - had a pre-MOT checkover recently with an MX5 specialist and passed the MOT with no problem in August...

Is there any way I can check for an intermittently sticking caliper? I know that the pads are on the way out and have undoubtedly been on for a long time as it sat idle for a while...

bluetone

2,047 posts

225 months

Monday 7th December 2009
quotequote all
NiceCupOfTea said:
Thanks guys - had a pre-MOT checkover recently with an MX5 specialist and passed the MOT with no problem in August...

Is there any way I can check for an intermittently sticking caliper? I know that the pads are on the way out and have undoubtedly been on for a long time as it sat idle for a while...
Check comparative heat of the disks (carefully!) after each run = if one is hot, you have a sticky caliper.

NiceCupOfTea

Original Poster:

25,305 posts

257 months

Monday 7th December 2009
quotequote all
I've done that before and not really noticed it - if it's sticking intermittently it would be cooler when I stop...

wheels-inmotion

58 posts

213 months

Tuesday 8th December 2009
quotequote all
BCA said:
I'd want to be sure everything was mechanically 100% first of all.. get it up in the air and check it over corner by corner - look out for worn bushes particularily.. does sound like an odd occurrance.

For alignment, you've got a print out of the settings and if you havent I'll give you the settings roddison put on my car before I bought it... just take it to an alignment specialist or do it yourself using string (not as innacurate as it sounds) - I can put up a guide if you want?

Alignment is basic geometry - it is very very basic stuff, no matter what WIM bangs on about on nutz, hell even from the settings I've seen posted up, they're even pretty cautious and minor in most cases. Your average 13 year old Forza 3 player will have a vague idea of works, yet it seems sometimes people have to woffle on about irrelevent aspects of suspension dynamics in an attempt to presumeably drum up business. It makes me utterly sick, im tired of it, and thankfully so far on here we've been spared of it.

Yes, alignment makes a difference - but it is not a black art, it is a very subjective thing that can be done DIY or by any alignment specialist out there, it is simple geometry. £100 saved, hurrah! smile
Very interesting....

pmanson

13,387 posts

259 months

Tuesday 8th December 2009
quotequote all
BCA said:
I'd want to be sure everything was mechanically 100% first of all.. get it up in the air and check it over corner by corner - look out for worn bushes particularily.. does sound like an odd occurrance.

For alignment, you've got a print out of the settings and if you havent I'll give you the settings roddison put on my car before I bought it... just take it to an alignment specialist or do it yourself using string (not as innacurate as it sounds) - I can put up a guide if you want?

Alignment is basic geometry - it is very very basic stuff, no matter what WIM bangs on about on nutz, hell even from the settings I've seen posted up, they're even pretty cautious and minor in most cases. Your average 13 year old Forza 3 player will have a vague idea of works, yet it seems sometimes people have to woffle on about irrelevent aspects of suspension dynamics in an attempt to presumeably drum up business. It makes me utterly sick, im tired of it, and thankfully so far on here we've been spared of it.

Yes, alignment makes a difference - but it is not a black art, it is a very subjective thing that can be done DIY or by any alignment specialist out there, it is simple geometry. £100 saved, hurrah! smile
BCA,

I don't want to speak out of turn or be rude about an other poster but frankly you are talking utter bcensoredx!

I have met Tony and the team at WIM as he was going to do the geo on my 5 but couldn't due to a failed rear shock.

He was nothing but professional and has invested a lot of time, money and experience in WIM. The sheer amount of happy posters on multiple forums are testament to that.

I don't think you can compare the sort of work Tony does with the likes of the spanner monkey at the local garage. It's leagues apart and still good value for money.

wheels-inmotion

58 posts

213 months

Tuesday 8th December 2009
quotequote all
pmanson said:
BCA said:
I'd want to be sure everything was mechanically 100% first of all.. get it up in the air and check it over corner by corner - look out for worn bushes particularily.. does sound like an odd occurrance.

For alignment, you've got a print out of the settings and if you havent I'll give you the settings roddison put on my car before I bought it... just take it to an alignment specialist or do it yourself using string (not as innacurate as it sounds) - I can put up a guide if you want?

Alignment is basic geometry - it is very very basic stuff, no matter what WIM bangs on about on nutz, hell even from the settings I've seen posted up, they're even pretty cautious and minor in most cases. Your average 13 year old Forza 3 player will have a vague idea of works, yet it seems sometimes people have to woffle on about irrelevent aspects of suspension dynamics in an attempt to presumeably drum up business. It makes me utterly sick, im tired of it, and thankfully so far on here we've been spared of it.

Yes, alignment makes a difference - but it is not a black art, it is a very subjective thing that can be done DIY or by any alignment specialist out there, it is simple geometry. £100 saved, hurrah! smile
BCA,

I don't want to speak out of turn or be rude about an other poster but frankly you are talking utter bcensoredx!

I have met Tony and the team at WIM as he was going to do the geo on my 5 but couldn't due to a failed rear shock.

He was nothing but professional and has invested a lot of time, money and experience in WIM. The sheer amount of happy posters on multiple forums are testament to that.

I don't think you can compare the sort of work Tony does with the likes of the spanner monkey at the local garage. It's leagues apart and still good value for money.
Thank you...

Chassis calibration is what we do, in fact it's all we do, so i'm reasonably clued up on the topic. I pm'd Rodders on Nuts to explain what he does and what we do are miles apart and i kept this out of sight so not to cause embarrassment, so BCA get your facts right and pmansom thank you once again.

NiceCupOfTea

Original Poster:

25,305 posts

257 months

Tuesday 8th December 2009
quotequote all
I have to say that my trip to WIM was a very interesting and enjoyable experience - was really nice to see what was going on and have everything explained to me!

Tony, is it possible that the geo has just wandered again in 18 months or so? No kerbs or big potholes hit... I can't help thinking it would be a more consistent pull to one side... scratchchin

pmanson

13,387 posts

259 months

Wednesday 9th December 2009
quotequote all
MX-5 Lazza said:
Could it just be tram-lining? What offset are your wheels?

Another hot-suspect would be a sticking front calliper...

Edited by MX-5 Lazza on Monday 7th December 10:33
IIRC the sideways on the GSD3 are quite firm.... you could be loosing pressure in a tyre?

NiceCupOfTea

Original Poster:

25,305 posts

257 months

Wednesday 9th December 2009
quotequote all
No idea on the offset - wheels are 15" Mazdaspeed MS-01Rs. Tyres are wearing evenly and the tyre pressures are even all round - 28psi iirc.

wheels-inmotion

58 posts

213 months

Wednesday 9th December 2009
quotequote all
NiceCupOfTea said:
I have to say that my trip to WIM was a very interesting and enjoyable experience - was really nice to see what was going on and have everything explained to me!

Tony, is it possible that the geo has just wandered again in 18 months or so? No kerbs or big potholes hit... I can't help thinking it would be a more consistent pull to one side... scratchchin
Yes very much so.... The chassis is fully adjustable, so in Mazda's opinion it would change..... Book her in and let me look at the problem, 18 months on or not i'm as interested as you , cost £0

NiceCupOfTea

Original Poster:

25,305 posts

257 months

Wednesday 9th December 2009
quotequote all
Cheers Tony, that's my favourite price wink Where are you based these days?

BCA

8,647 posts

263 months

Wednesday 9th December 2009
quotequote all
wheels-inmotion said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
I have to say that my trip to WIM was a very interesting and enjoyable experience - was really nice to see what was going on and have everything explained to me!

Tony, is it possible that the geo has just wandered again in 18 months or so? No kerbs or big potholes hit... I can't help thinking it would be a more consistent pull to one side... scratchchin
Yes very much so.... The chassis is fully adjustable, so in Mazda's opinion it would change..... Book her in and let me look at the problem, 18 months on or not i'm as interested as you , cost £0
Ok, for my harsh and frustrated critism earlier, related to something on another forum entirely, I humbly offer my apology on here and give a nod of respect to your customer service.

pmanson

13,387 posts

259 months

Wednesday 9th December 2009
quotequote all
BCA said:
wheels-inmotion said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
I have to say that my trip to WIM was a very interesting and enjoyable experience - was really nice to see what was going on and have everything explained to me!

Tony, is it possible that the geo has just wandered again in 18 months or so? No kerbs or big potholes hit... I can't help thinking it would be a more consistent pull to one side... scratchchin
Yes very much so.... The chassis is fully adjustable, so in Mazda's opinion it would change..... Book her in and let me look at the problem, 18 months on or not i'm as interested as you , cost £0
Ok, for my harsh and frustrated critism earlier, related to something on another forum entirely, I humbly offer my apology on here and give a nod of respect to your customer service.
Top man!

wheels-inmotion

58 posts

213 months

Thursday 10th December 2009
quotequote all
NiceCupOfTea said:
Cheers Tony, that's my favourite price wink Where are you based these days?
Blackboots and Wheels in-Motion are at:

33 Chess Business Park
Moor Road
Chesham
Buckinghamshire HP5 1SD

Our telephone number is 01494 797820
Email: sales@blackboots.co.uk

For Wheel Alignment and Steering Geometry specialist help, please email enquiries@wheels-inmotion.co.uk