Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[whiteshadow]

Last year I put one of my wheels down a pot hole and slightly mucked up the tracking.....steering wheel now v.slightly off-centre, but no noticeable tyre wear.

I can't see anything noticeably bent, so what gives to upset the steering?

On the market now there is a cheap self-calibrating tracking alignment system ~£85. As I've got the above problem + tracking to do on my restoration + I don't trust must of the tyre centres = it's looking attractive......anyone used one?

[47Jag]

What car are we talking about? If it has independant front suspension then check the side that hit the pothole. The chances are that the lower control arm has had some sort of damage done to it.

Art

[whiteshadow]

The car that went down the pothole is a 2010 Polo.

[MVPeters]

On a car that recent I'd get a professional 4-wheel laser alignment if you think you need one at all. "Moderns" need far more sophisticated equipment than classics. Their alignment can be 'off' without anything being 'bent' - it's just tolerance in all the various bushes.
_________________
Mike - MVPeters at comcast.net
2002 MINI Cooper 'S'

[MikeEdwards]

There's a description in the latest 'Practical Classics' showing how to make your own tracking gauge out of a few bits of wood and possibly a bit of sticky-backed plastic, but it looks along similar lines to the one my mate has had lurking in his workshop for 30+ years.

[whiteshadow]

I've done a few things, where I've ended up with water levels and bits of string...

My experience is that it takes ages and is very prone to error. String always seems to sag or bend when a measurement is taken. Then you kick one of the datums and have to start from scratch.

Sorry .....Yes I know! the latest way PC showed how to do it was with a wooden frame.

I just can't decide if I should get a sensible bit of kit, or to play about with laser pointers, wood & rulers?

Still don't really see why the tracking is knocked off by moderate impacts, what is deforming?

[Kelsham]

I use a Gunsons Trakrite, you need a flat area of floor and slowly drive over it. Any deflection is shown by a pointer at the side of the gauge.

The advantage is that you are testing the tracking with running loads applied to the steering mechanism.

I have used mine over several years it is a great tool.

I am not sure why you think your tracking is out? it sounds as if you may have bent something?

Regards Kels.

[Julian]

[whiteshadow]

I must admit, I have never really considered the trackrite as it always seemed a bit wobbly.......does it give consistant readings?
Also I'm a bit short on level ground, the only bit that isn't mud is in the garage...and that's small with two cars in it.

I do worry that the laser thingy only gives the composite reading for the front wheels, when sometimes I want to know if all the error is from one wheel.

[Julian]

[Churchill Johnson]

Ref removing and refitting the steering wheel in a different position this may seem the logical thing to do but it is not stop and think about it if you ajust only one side of a trackrod so the tracking is ok it will put out the amount of turning circle towards the side that has been adjusted and as a former car mechanic i have seen this done loads of times so always adjust both sides the same amount i always used white paint or tip-ex to mark the rod and ball joint before its moved and always hold the ball-joint with a spanner if it has two flats or mole-grips if not this stops putting a strain on the joint as again i have had the rods seize in the joint,from my experience i liked the run on type of tracking tool tool as this do's give a more true reading but always run on them in a normal driving direction and not reverse as this will show a wrong reading.

[Julian]

[Kelsham]

As I suggested earlier the Trakrite is the way to go, finding a suitable flat surface is the only problem.

It gives repeatable readings, it has an area on the scale where it shows within acceptable error, I have used this to slightly increase toe in when experimenting with handling on my BSA Three wheeler.

You can also check rear wheels with it.

One strange thing, in the instructions it advises that the Trakrite should be placed against the front wheel being tested absolutely square.

I used to take a great deal of trouble with this. until on one occasion when my wife was helping me by driving the car while I did the adjustments. She drove over before I had finally set the gauge up.

It was completely out and to my amazement the reading still was correct.

Obviously the wheels were correctly set at this point so did not deflect the gauge.

regards Kels.

[Julian]

[Bitumen Boy]

This is a pretty interesting thread. I used to know a guy who reckoned he had tried the Trakrite and swore it was no good - he recommended a tyre place a few miles away who mucked it right up as always with the steering wheel canted right over, luckily it's an easy thing to put right on a Herald. I can't help thinking this guy maybe had an interest in that tyre place, and will probably look again at the Trakrite - tyre fitting and tracking are about the only things I farm out these days, and I object to paying £20+ for a botched tracking job that I invariably have to correct later.

Incidentally, has anyone seen that Practical Classics have a bit of a feature on wheel alignment in this month's issue? (Still available for us tightwads to read standing or leaning on a trolley in Tescos!) They have a few photos of a homemade tracking gauge made mostly of 2"x2" timber... I imagine it's possible to make something sufficiently accurate at home, but I'd want to use a more stable material - Lego, old coathangers, wet newspapers, anything really...