9 replies to this topic

[simonhershaw]

Hello guys, (1990 rover mini city 1000)

Just bought a mini and had some work done to it (welding under wheel arch) and now I've noticed the front wheels seem to lean in and it's pulling to the left. I think it may tracking but the tie rods look corroded. Are they the problem? And shall I just buy new ones and fit them then take it for it's tracking done?

Need it done asap for ltb

Thanks simon

[cradley-heathen]

when you say "leaning in" i take it you mean at the top? i.e. negative camber?

 

if this is what you mean, then your tracking isnt going to affect this.

 

what does concern me is that you say it wasnt like thsi before you had some welding done? what exactly were they welding?

 

as regards your tie rods, switching them to some heavy duty adjustable ones wouldnt be a bad idea, even if you set them to the length of your old ones and just replace the bushes you will be better off as you can bet your old bushes are perished/soft and the standard tie rods are made of toffee and are quite often bent.

[cradley-heathen]

its quite common with some of the better known places too!

[simonhershaw]

Yes they are leaning it at the top. What causes this? Would this cause the pulling to the left?

Also they only jacked up the passenger side so surely that would have only affected one wheel not both of them?

(They welded a patch in behind the suspension shock mounts)

I was thinking the tracking might be out or something as I've had a new tyre on too as had a flat tyre

[cradley-heathen]

if the only part they repaired was the bit that usually rots out behind the shocker mount then this wont have affected your geometry in any way. i can only assume it was like this before.

 

what you are describing is camber, and as long as its fairly equal on both sides it should not make teh car pull to one side.

 

however, if you have had one new tyre fitted, is it the same as the one on the other side? odd tyres can make it pull to one side.

 

are the pressures on the front the same in both tyres? sometimes tyre fitters blast a load of pressure in to get the tyre to seat on the bead of the wheel and dont drop it back to your required pressure.

 

if your tyres are matched and pressures the same i would take a look at the brakes next to see if one is sticking.

[simonhershaw]

The tyres are different makes :/ I went for the budget one as it was still £60 pound on trade. Didn't replace the other as I'm skint and it has full tread still :/

Ill check pressures next chance I get but now I'm thinking its probly because the tyres are different so is it worth getting the tracking done or replacing the other tyre straight away?

[simonhershaw]

They repaired the bit behind the shocker mount too guys

[Dan]

  You need to buy your tyres somewhere else!  You are paying trade for a budget tyre more than most of us would pay retail for a performance brand.

[Willthewelder]

£60! minisport do decent yoko's for nigh on £50 posted...

[simonhershaw]

I say budget just as it was the cheapest and I actually payed £57 which included delivery and fitting (there 13x7's) too which are more expensive than normal size I think.

Sorry I must be having a off day missing all these things. Ill swap the back tyres round first and check all pressures and see if it's better.

Many thanks guys!! Hopefully see some of you in London and Brighton !