16 replies to this topic

[BiMU]

Well here's my tracking results:

 DSC00618.JPG   248.16K   34 downloads

As you can see the camber and caster is out by quite a b it on the right. I just had new tyres fitted as the mini was drifting alot and the tracking was totally messed up. I remember raising the mini with the front hi-lo's after I got my m.o.t (left suspension almost on bump stop) So I passed the m.o.t after that the mini started acting up.

Now the camber and caster is out. Do I need to buy adjustable tie rods? Will that sort out the caster angle and then would I just adjust the right hi-lo for camber adjustment? Is fitting adjustable tie rods a hard job?

[Dave the Rave]

Looks like you had that done at Elite? Did they offer any advice as to what to do next?

The measurements do look well out! 6 degrees positive camber! Yikes, you must be able to see how bad that is.

As far as i'm aware (maybe someone will correct me) castor can be changed with adjustable tie-rods, camber with adjustable bottom arms, rear camber with adjustable camber brackets and i think the rear toe can be changed with the brackets too. Or maybe by moving the subframe.

[Xiao_Bin]

left suspension almost on bump stop

seems like its time for new cones and/or knuckle joints
I dont think its a good idea to compensate a huge drop with the HILO, and especially only on one side, Adjusting HILO is messing with the geometry also:

[TOMMO0302]

Sorry, slightly OT as cant help with the answers....but where did you get the test done and how much was it?

[Guess-Works.com]

sounds like new bushes and a suspension overhaul... unless you have adjustable items on the car in which case it needs taking to a specialist to get the suspension set..

[fikus01]

if your planning to invest in adjustable rear camber/tracking brackets i can highly recomend the minisport items, minispares ones dodnt have anough adjustment on them to make standard settings let alone what i wanted!!

i know people often slate minisport for customer support but these brackets are second only to kad ones!!

[BiMU]

Sorry, slightly OT as cant help with the answers....but where did you get the test done and how much was it?

I actually go it done at my local! I told them that I was gonna get tracking done somewhere else and they said that they have a new tracking machine that costs a few thousand. I got the some two Yoko's and tracking done for £141, £25 of that was for tracking as I tried to haggle them down! The place is in Hounslow west london called Hounslow Tyres, good people there!

[BiMU]

left suspension almost on bump stop

seems like its time for new cones and/or knuckle joints
I dont think its a good idea to compensate a huge drop with the HILO, and especially only on one side, Adjusting HILO is messing with the geometry also:

I thought as much as before the tracking and camber was fine. Just on such a tight budget and now with new tyres I just do not know what to do. I use the mini as a daily driver so its a essential.

[BiMU]

sounds like new bushes and a suspension overhaul... unless you have adjustable items on the car in which case it needs taking to a specialist to get the suspension set..

I got quoted around £118 for adjustable tie bars, installation and set-up. Any idea how much I should be looking at?

[BiMU]

Anyone?

[fikus01]

thats quite good imo!!!

[Sprocket]

The measurements do look well out! 6 degrees positive camber! Yikes, you must be able to see how bad that is.

I think you read the information incorrectly. Its 6 deg caster, NOT camber. Caster is adjusted with the tie rods. Camber with the bottom arms. Both work in unisen, that is, when you adjust the caster, the camber also alters slightly, or when you adjust the camber, the caster also alters slightly. Ride hight will have a similar effect on these angles as well.







Have you replaced all the suspension and subframe bushes?? no point setting the suspension up with knackered bushes.

Another thing to think about. How does the car sit, ride hight wise. Is it even all round, IE same from side to side, rather than front to back. Use the corners of the sill, at the seam, as a reference point.

Once you have set the hight correctly, replaced all the bushes and it still not right, then its time to think about adjustable components. This is for the front.

The back In my experience always needs the adjustable brackets. Ive never seen a mini thats had the same toe setting side to side nor have anything other than posative camber and again different from side to side.

[BiMU]

Have you replaced all the suspension and subframe bushes?? no point setting the suspension up with knackered bushes.

Another thing to think about. How does the car sit, ride hight wise. Is it even all round, IE same from side to side, rather than front to back. Use the corners of the sill, at the seam, as a reference point.

Once you have set the hight correctly, replaced all the bushes and it still not right, then its time to think about adjustable components. This is for the front.

The back In my experience always needs the adjustable brackets. Ive never seen a mini thats had the same toe setting side to side nor have anything other than posative camber and again different from side to side.

I havent replaced the suspension bushes... are we talking about the knuckle joints... this is turning out to become very expensive... looks like i may have to sell up.

[Sprocket]

No, its all the rubber components where the suspention components attach to the subframes and where the subframes attach to the body.

They are not that expensive if you can do then yourself. The likely trouble some ones are the tei rod bushes(caster) and bottom arm bushes (camber)

What about the ride hight, is that the same side to side??

Dont go and fit these adjustables till you know this lot is right. you might not need them

Edited by Mini Sprocket, 14 December 2006 - 12:33 AM.

[BiMU]

No, its all the rubber components where the suspention components attach to the subframes and where the subframes attach to the body.

They are not that expensive if you can do then yourself. The likely trouble some ones are the tei rod bushes(caster) and bottom arm bushes (camber)

What about the ride hight, is that the same side to side??

Dont go and fit these adjustables till you know this lot is right. you might not need them

I will measure up at first light with a measuring take ground to subframe. The ride height seems the same. Thanks Sprocket...