18 replies to this topic

[mars red mike]

OK here is what the front camber was like last year


Drove perfect. No pulling, tyre wear (excessive or uneven), steering self centred fine. Then a couple of months back before its MOT we replaced both track rod ends, all ball joints, and the bottom arm bushes.
I noticed after a couple of weeks the tyres moreso the n/s one was wearing funny on the very edge.To it done to my dads work and checked the tracking and sure enough it was a little too much toe in on the n/s so this was adjusted. No when i took it back outside i took a picture of the front and noticed it seems to have loads more positive camber than it did before. I have no idea what could of caused this as the suspension is all standard stuff bar the adjustable tie rods which are set to standard length. . It doesnt self centre as well as it used to either but i think this may be to the camber needing adjusting. If you compare the pic below to the one above you will see what i mean



Anyone got any ideas what has gone awry here as i am at a loss.

[1984mini25]

minis are meant to have positive camber and toe out on the front as standard. the self centring is done by the castor and the adjustment of the tie bars.

[Dan]

Were the springs relatively new in the top photo? It looks like it's settled by over 1" to me. The camber increases as the suspension travels.

Edited by Dan, 21 April 2013 - 08:23 PM.

[mars red mike]

No springs are the orginal ones theres about 8 months between the two photos. Could the springs be starting to collapse?

[Dan]

Could be yes. There is nothing adjustable in the system that could have slipped unless you have fitted adjustable parts.

[mars red mike]

The only adjustable part in the system is the tie rods but these havent been messed with at all. Suppose twenty years old isnt bad if the cones are starting to go.

[Broomer]

Were the springs relatively new in the top photo? It looks like it's settled by over 1" to me. The camber increases as the suspension travels.

Dont you gain negative camber the lower the ride height of the car?

[freshairmini]

Were the springs relatively new in the top photo? It looks like it's settled by over 1" to me. The camber increases as the suspension travels.

Dont you gain negative camber the lower the ride height of the car?

yes, the springs settling or collapsing would cause negative camber. maybe the combination of bushes, track rod ends and ball joints made it back to how it was factory, and that is positive camber.

[Dan]

Oh you've got me wondering now! You're right of course, I've been confusing myself. Sorry.

Edited by Dan, 21 April 2013 - 08:46 PM.

[mars red mike]

To be honest the only part that was 'knackered' were the bottom arm bushes, which were as soft as play doh.

[tiger99]

It rather seems that your new bottom bushes may be failing. There are three possible causes, oil contamination, faulty parts (sadly all too common these days) or incorrect fitting.

When fitting almost any rubber suspension bush on any car, you need to leave the bolt sufficiently loose until the car is set at the mid point of its suspension's working range that the rubber is pivoting freely on the pin, not deforming. Sometimes you measure something and jack the wheel accordingly before torquing up, but on the Mini it is usual to just set the ride height (if adjustable) and bounce it on its wheels a few times, on a flat surface of course, before torquing up. If you have done that, I guess that you have been supplied with faulty or incorrect bushes.

If it is not the bushes, please check the upper arm pivots, and then the subframe and the hub castings thoroughly for signs of structural distress such as cracking. Mini front subframes don't fail very often, and the original cast steel hubs almost never (except for loose bearings), but it is hard to see what else could cause a camber change.

[mars red mike]

Could it be the way the car is parked in the photo that is exagerrating the camber. Where it is parked runs downhill in two different directions, it is not flat at all.

[Earwax]

I had one side decide to swap from just negative to positive camber. Lower arm bushes were squished and had moved completely so dropped a couple of mm. ( old age and oil broke it down) New bushes and tie rod ends(both sides) and all good

[Dan]

Could it be the way the car is parked in the photo that is exagerrating the camber.

No I'd say there is definitely a change there. Although if you have all standard parts it should be a little positive to start with which is odd because the top photo definitely looks negative. It is hard to say anything for definite without measurements and just looking at photos though.

[Stevie W]

Was the tracking adjusted at your Dads works done with the car on a lift and the front wheels "dangling" down?

If so it can take a while for the front wheel camber to settle (a short drive).

What happens is the wheels hang down when off the ground but when the car is lowered to the ground, the grip of the tyres prevents the wheel angle settling back to where it should be.....hope this makes sense!!!
If your car wasn't adjusted like this then I'm not sure what's happened!!

Cheers, Steve.