Agent Orange

[martynx]

Cool, ta, I'm hoping a "proper " 4 wheel alignment will pick up where any accident damage has affected something, like differing ride height may result in different camber ? will be so nice to solve, annoys the hell out of me

[AndyG]

Check the rear bush of the front nearside wishbone

[martynx]

Check the rear bush of the front nearside wishbone

Cheers Andy but Prior to 2nd tracking session I replaced both complete wishbones and ball joints and put ride height back to stock front and back. Tyre wise it has Michelin Alpin winters which only had 1 winter on from my Mk6. I didn't check wear patterns on them prior to fitting them as they seemed new still but will check that.

[limitedblack]

Have you remembered to take the handbrake off

[martynx]

Have you remembered to take the handbrake off

I got an infrared thermometer this eve to check all that did discs and pads all round too prior to 2nd tracking sesh.

[v8dave]

Is the steering rack correctly centred, are the track arms both the same shape, are the track links the same length?
Does it ony pull when braking or can you feel something when you cross a badly filled repair running the width of the road?
Can you find a truely flat surface to drive on, even the motorway has a fall to the hard shoulder to drain water off.

[martynx]

All hubs 17 degrees after 10 minute drive - No flat roads about no but In comparison to many others I drive on local roads , including ex Rac vans , it pulls. The road camber influences it for sure but overall it behaves ok on undulations cat eyes etc

The last place set it away from
"Correct " "by 4mm " swapped front wheels over and now its a little better at low speeds bur on MWAY starts to pull the other way progressively as speed increases. Spare thread on each track rod end is within 5mm each side , didn't check if both ends were same make though. Gonna let Feltham Tyres check it and go from there , I'd like to get a full set of measurements , & seems like there's loads of differing tools theses days from optical to laser to infra-red

More interestingly though -

[belly]

I've got high hopes your going to be the man that conquers that conversion
I call it............. "Project sex wee"

[limitedblack]

Is there any weigh bridge near you where you can get one tyre at a time on it??? See if something is twisted. I know you changed your springs about on the front, logic says if the spring loading is different from left to right it must alter handling.

[v8dave]

Is there any weigh bridge near you where you can get one tyre at a time on it??? See if something is twisted. I know you changed your springs about on the front, logic says if the spring loading is different from left to right it must alter handling.

If your driving along on a flat road then your not moving the suspension, which is the same as standing still.
Common mistake when adjusting tracking is not moving the vehicle adequately after making an adjustment to settle it into it's new position, I would move at least two vehicle lengths between making a change and measuring it's effect. Gunson Trakrite is the best tool for checking tracking yourself.

[alz4321]

Just a thought .... Did your van pull before you converted it to a 280 ?

[martynx]

Yes it was much the same with 330 suspension also when it was a lowered 260, & now as a stock 260...

[belly]

Have you checked the rear axle alignment ? Rac bounce up kerbs roadside a fair bit, might have worn the spring bushes or knocked the axle ? Maybe one to check it's not rear steering

Anyway any update on that interesting piccie ?

[martynx]

The big project is just a dirty old engine at the mo in the den.

[martynx]

Tracking - not measured anything axle wise, but fitted new leaf spring bushes though when i fitted the stock 260 leaves.This is its 3rd set of leaves now,
As for adjustment, theres a dome on the leaf which effectively self-locates the spring to the axle. may get a millimtere each way but in essence theres no adjustment.. will grind down the dome though if needed.. gonna get a proper measurement of all angles next..but was toying with fitting the 200 lump 1st as the extra weight may influence things