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[Diamond Black Geezer]

Just thought I'd put them up.


As you can see from the 'before' settings the 'good' local place wasn't so good! (before I owned the car, but it went back about 6 times in 2 years, so they couldn't have been much cop!)

Got the impression of a very professional outfit, all the local taxi drivers take their cars there (told that by two Taxi drivers). The company has suggested that I go back later on today, as they had to heat up the back track rod bar to get it shifted, and once its cooled/settled, the settings may be out again a tad. I mentioned I was away at Billing this weekend, so due to the long journey they advised get in today if at all possible, otherwise early next week.

[Marks DTM Calib]

There not very good either! 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

I know, looking at previous posts. So what do I need to be saying? Seem to think it's something like 1.10.

The rear's my biggest worry, that seems like a lot of camber, to me?

[05omegav6]

There not very good either! 

Far too much camber, and the thrust angle is off too...

Absolutely no excuse for not getting the front toe even and the thrust angle to zero. Take it back and get them to try again. For free.

Front camber should be 1°10' or near as dammit too

[05omegav6]

I know, looking at previous posts. So what do I need to be saying? Seem to think it's something like 1.10.

The rear's my biggest worry, that seems like a lot of camber, to me?

Rear camber and toe share an adjustment so are always a compromise... but 1°40' rear camber with 0°05' toe should be achievable   Absolutely no excuse for the thrust angle being anything other than 0°

That said, if they bent the rear track rods, then they will never set correctly...

[Diamond Black Geezer]

One was bent, and they asked that I get it replaced, which I did (off a breaker, on 68k, best short-term option, given this was yesterday morning, I was in the scrapyard at two mins past 9am!  )

So the rear camber should be 1^o40' ? wow, that's a big difference!


So, the only figure I'm missing is the front toe, what should that be?

Ta very much 

[Marks DTM Calib]

So less rear tow will help the rear camber, so some compromise to be had there but does need setting with ideally a full tank of fuel or equivalent.

Front camber as per Taxi Al says, should be -1.10 and be pretty much spot on.

Front toe should be slight toe in 0.05 is reasonable....can only set this AFTER camber.

But again, as Taxi Al has said, there is no excuse for the thrust angle not being 0

What springs do you have on the back, lowered ones?

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Yes. MV6 FL all round - second hand from (I think) a 2001 car, so probably 'settled' by now 

Front suspension = new wishbones, track rods, dampers, droplinks the lot.

Rear suspension all original, but no signs of doughnut bush wear. Old oil leak had preserved threads on both rear track arms, but sadly one arm had been bent (not myself, I add!) so 68k replacement on the NS, which did take a fair it of heat to get free, apparently. (both sides soaked in WD40 for a 24 hrs or so prior)

[05omegav6]

A false economy to fit a second hand track rod without first freeing it Renew both and try again

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Indeed, a complete false economy. However, working with the parameters, one of the parameters being time...

8 am at alignment place havig prior arranged at work if I work through my dinner hour can I be in as late as 10 am

8.50 after discussions etc, the bent rod is found.

9.10 I'm on the other side of the next town picking up my boiler suit, tools and boots from home.

9.30 I'm in the scrappy, underneath a 68k Omega.

10.05 I'm flying in the door of work, slightly late only.

fastforward to 10pm last night and...

It's raining, I'm soaked to the skin, and I'm just packing up the last of my sockets, with a finished car. This includes the 15 minutes I spent inside with 2 soluble paracetamols after smashing my fingers between the track rod end and exhaust. 50/50 whether I've broken a finger or not.

Periodically both rods have been sprayed with WD40 as best I can.

8am this morning I'm at the alignment centre again

9.10 I'm in work late again. I am never late for work. This annoys me.

4pm I'm getting off work early (you can tell how far from the Boss's Good Books I currently am  ) in order to get back to the alignment centre, get it re-checked and hopefully re-aligned to then drive the 3 hrs to Billing and hopefully have my first meal of the day...


I think the word is 'fun' 

[05omegav6]

08:50 Discover bent track rod.
09:00 Order two shiny new ones.
09:10 Get to work ahead of schedule.

Enjoy weekend off, knowing that this time next week, the new track rods will be in place and perfectly adjusted...

If you want to be pedantic, you might have discovered the bent trackrod yesterday, saving you a further trip to the garage...

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Sadly I don't happen to have that magic moneypence lying around to pay for said trackrods, (£100+ for a pair, yes?) my rent comes out on Tuesday, and I have Billing, the fuel there/back, food, plus the alignment to pay for. Literally nothing left in the budget for a suspension component which I had no knowledge of it's damage beforehand. Hindsight and all that.

Bearing in mind the rear trackrods do move (the OS nice and easy, by all accounts, the NS took some persuasion, but does move now) So it's not a case of 'damn my awful old rusted trackrods are seized. Curses, now I shall not be able to go to the Ball... actually it's a case of 'the alignment place needs to re-do the job' which they will do next week 

Really glad I've got the specs I need them to aim for. Appreciated chaps 

[Marks DTM Calib]

I don't see a great deal of issue with second hand rear track rods, they rarely fail and are easy to check

[05omegav6]

I don't see a great deal of issue with second hand rear track rods, they rarely fail and are easy to check

If they're straight and you have the time to strip them and free them off/regrease them that's all well and good... I actually have refurbished second hand ones on mine but the bent one ought to have been spotted whilst prepping them for the set up, so given DBGs timetable, taking a step back and implementing plan B rather than hurriedly botching Plan A might have been a better approach. Especially given the geometry settings he has been left with

Might even have blagged a set at Billing

[chrisgixer]

That's pretty shocking, as said really.

No castor measurement?
Way too excessive camber.
All they've done is tickle the toe setting going by the figures.

Piss poor.