16 replies to this topic

[Zenob1]

I've just had my tracking checked as the car is pulling slightly to the right. The response I got was - Dont understand that! It seems my steering is so badly toes out its of the gauge. But you cant see it.

A brief history.

1. Beginning of the year had new front tyres and tracking set after new lower suspension bushes fitted. All was well.

2. Car took a bit of a nock when the Mrs reversed into it but nothing apparantly changed. At the same time I changed from drum to disks at the from with what I believe is a Mini disk setup.

3. Pull to the right deveolped to the pont of going in circles if I let it so had the tracking checked. They would not channge it as it was WAY out (but still on the gauge) and advised me to get it checked out.

4. Upon inspection, I found that one nut on the end of the right tie-bar was practically falling off so I changed for heavy duty adjustable ones and new bushes again from our sponsor.

5. All seemed well apart from the very slight pull to the right as mentioned at the beginning of this post.

So where do I go from here? The old tiebars were bent, so is this enought to make a huge change when I put the new ones on? The guy said today that its so toed out that you should be able to see it - but he can't?

Suggetions please

Cheers

Matt

[Big_Adam]

errm...now you got the nut on why not get the tracking done?

or am I missing something here?

[Zenob1]

errm...now you got the nut on why not get the tracking done?

or am I missing something here?

I just did. Points 1 to 5 were there to give an idea of what has happened over the past few months. Sorry if thats not to clear.

Everything is on and tight and seems right - but clearly not? Unless he measured the tracking for a Bini

I'm now thinking if set the length of the tie bars correct!

[Jammy]

You should always get your tracking checked after changing the tie bars, unless you know the tracking was fine before, and the tie-bars you've fitted have been adjusted (if adjustable) to EXACTLY the same length as the ones your replacing.

So am I right in thinking that you've just changed your tie-bars, and then you've had the tracking done, and its still pulling to the right?

[TOMMO0302]

No 3. You took it to get the tracking done, they identified it needed doing and suggested you get it done!? Isn't that why you took it to them in the first place!!?

Bent tie bars would certainly make a difference

Did you measure the number of turns to get the track rod ends off when replacing brakes and hubs? Are they 2 pot calipers or 4 by the way?

Your subframe could have been bent when the Mrs hit it....

As it stands today...is it still sterring to the right?

[Zenob1]

You should always get your tracking checked after changing the tie bars, unless you know the tracking was fine before, and the tie-bars you've fitted have been adjusted (if adjustable) to EXACTLY the same length as the ones your replacing.

So am I right in thinking that you've just changed your tie-bars, and then you've had the tracking done, and its still pulling to the right?

Tracking was fine until the nut on the tieber loosened and mashed a bush. I then fitted new bar and bushes. I did measure the bars when i fitted I fitted them but not against the old ones as they were bent. I am now doubting the accuracy of that measurement.

Sorry I've replied in the qoute......

No 3. You took it to get the tracking done, they identified it needed doing and suggested you get it done!? Isn't that why you took it to them in the first place!!?

The suggestion was that something was VERY wrong as it turned out there was - one of me tiebars was almost falling off (there was more nut off the thread than on).

Bent tie bars would certainly make a difference.

I agree.

Did you measure the number of turns to get the track rod ends off when replacing brakes and hubs? Are they 2 pot calipers or 4 by the way?

Didn't remove track rod ends. They are 2 pots

Your subframe could have been bent when the Mrs hit it....

She didn't hit it hard - more of a nudge. No body damage except for a dented head lamp ring.

As it stands today...is it still sterring to the right?

Very slight pull to the right, and the right front is wearing on the inside edge of the tread.

[Jammy]

I'd say get your tracking done again then.

[paulrockliffe]

You've been told that your tracking is so far out that it's off the gauge and should be clearly visible, yet all looks ok?

Sounds like the Garage has made a mistake somewhere, so maybe take it elsewhere and have it re-measured first.

[biggav]

please tell me you didn't go to Kwickfit????

[Jammy]

You've been told that your tracking is so far out that it's off the gauge and should be clearly visible, yet all looks ok?

Sounds like the Garage has made a mistake somewhere, so maybe take it elsewhere and have it re-measured first.

Possibly, but then he's had a big problem with it pulling to the right, which suggests the tracking needs sorting!

[Guess-Works.com]

As the steering arms for drums are disks are different, there is a strong possibility that yesy the tracking is out, and also the use of adjustable tie bars will not only affect tacking, but also castor... these also need to be checked for trueness of length..

As for the comment of the person who you took the car to be checked by... if it'd had been me I have told them that that's why I've brought it here, if they can't sort the tracking why are they providing the service... DOH !

Also maybe worth checking you do actually have mini hubs, and not metro ones ( the distinguising feature is the balljoints, on metros they are sealed units replaced as a whole )

[Zenob1]

Cheers Guessworks.

I can firmly say they are Mini hubs based on your description. I fully understand the effect that incorrect length of tiebars will have andf for that reason I am going to double chek them agains what our sponsors recommend in the fitting instructions.

So, would a change from drum to disk make any change to the toe of the wheel as long as they are Mini ones? If so then that may be he answer.

Biggav - No not Kwik Fit.

Cheers for your collective help so far.

Matt

[TOMMO0302]

The mini/metro hub was the reason for my 2 pot/4 pot question but even if you were using metro hubs it wont (set up correctly) make it steer right. The ball joints are indeed different, but installed on a car, it isn't neccessarily immediately obvious as the rubber cap covers most of it.....

....where did you get the hubs from, were they definately a matched set?

Edited by TOMMO0302, 04 January 2007 - 04:31 PM.

[Zenob1]

They came from A41 minis in Birkenhead. I saw the mini they came from and fitted them myself so I know that they are not the Metro balljoints. I'll get the tiebars measured tonight or Saturday and then I'll confirm or eliminate one more thing.

Cheers

Matt

[mini93]

did you take it to a place you belive compitent with setting tracking? if theres a mini specialist near would be worth doing that, at college iv set tracking it wouldnt matter if its off the gauge because you should be able to just carry on adjusting till its on the gauge and then finely adjust it to its right values sounds like a bunch of fools, try finding a mini compitent place id say