Steering pulling to the left

[Wighty]

I’m in Devon near Exeter. I’ve had a check around and there’s a few places that have a hunter alignment rig! Can anyone recommend one in the east Devon area?

As has been mentioned , Avantgarde automotive actually stock the camber bolts , anywhere else you would have to take them along or explain what they are for .

 

[Larkone]

No I mean Caster.

When WIM did mine tracking, caster and camber were all adjusted to get the car to drive properly.

 

[Paul Goff]

I’m in Devon near Exeter. I’ve had a check around and there’s a few places that have a hunter alignment rig! Can anyone recommend one in the east Devon area?

I live in Rockbeare, East Devon, and have made 4 trips to Clevedon to have work done by Avantegarde, takes just over an hour to amble there from here.

The town is 10 minutes walk from there, but it's not large, I usually have breakfast in a caff and then spend reading time in the library, there isn't a lot else to do! It is seaside though, if the weather is good, amusement would be easier to find

 

[LostKiwi]

When WIM did mine tracking, caster and camber were all adjusted to get the car to drive properly.

When you adjust caster the camber will need adjusting as well. In general when caster increases camber decreases so any increase in caster will mean camber will need correcting back to spec again.

An example:
When I was racing Minis we increased the caster from 3 degrees to 9 degrees.
If we retained the standard lower arms the camber would reduce by 2-3 degrees (not conducive to handling).
We had to fit longer bottom arms to restore the camber to -1 to zero.

 

[John Laidlaw]

^this
And this helps in pictures
http://yospeed.com/wheel-alignment-explained-camber-caster-toe/

 

[oigle]

I

No I mean Caster.

Interesting. Unusual way of looking at the issue.

 

[LostKiwi]

I



Interesting. Unusual way of looking at the issue.

Not really.
Caster is one of the things provideing self centering. The more caster the more self centering effect. By adjusting the self centering effect to provide more force from one side relative to the other removes the pull induced by road camber.

 

[oigle]

Not really.
Caster is one of the things provideing self centering. The more caster the more self centering effect. By adjusting the self centering effect to provide more force from one side relative to the other removes the pull induced by road camber.

Yes, I can see that increasing the self centring would decrease sideways pull. I have maximised the caster on my ML to get better tracking, but that was to get rid of bump steer. I'm still more inclined to think that an increase in neg camber on the passenger side would be more effective to combat camber. It is the more usual way of attacking it, I think.

 

[LostKiwi]

Yes, I can see that increasing the self centring would decrease sideways pull. I have maximised the caster on my ML to get better tracking, but that was to get rid of bump steer. I'm still more inclined to think that an increase in neg camber on the passenger side would be more effective to combat camber. It is the more usual way of attacking it, I think.

Its not about increasing self centering its about creating more self centering on one side relative to the other.
Camber may achieve the same effect but it will do so at the expense of increased tyre wear.

 

[oigle]

Its not about increasing self centering its about creating more self centering on one side relative to the other.
Camber may achieve the same effect but it will do so at the expense of increased tyre wear.

See where you are coming from. Makes sense. I find anything up to about 1.5° neg camber seems to work OK for tyre wear so long as a little more toe-in is used. Perhaps 1° RH versus 1.5°LH might work OK. If there is sufficient caster adjustment available, it would be a good option though.

 

[Botus]

Its not about increasing self centering its about creating more self centering on one side relative to the other.
Camber may achieve the same effect but it will do so at the expense of increased tyre wear.

is that not what WIM call caster stagger ?


its this very setting they claim RHD merc's have all got back to front, hence they follow camber to the left too much

 

[LostKiwi]

is that not what WIM call caster stagger ?


its this very setting they claim RHD merc's have all got back to front, hence they follow camber to the left too much

Correct. Its also called cross-caster.

 

[Avnt]

Sorry to Hijack but can anyone recomend someone in South Yorkshire who can track a c class properly? Ive had mine done a few times over the last 2 yrs and they struggle getting the steering wheel 100% central


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

I took a look at this car on friday afternoon for Mr Willis. The N/S/R toe was out, it was running far too much positive camber on the O/S/F and far too much negative camber on the N/S/F. Remarkably the steer ahead was in spec but no wonder it pulled left.

Installed a camber bolt to the O/S/F which then evened the front camber up completely. I slackened off the bolts on both front torque control arms and then retorqued them. Then adjusted the toe from back to front.

A good result and hopefully the end of its issues.

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

Sorry to Hijack but can anyone recomend someone in South Yorkshire who can track a c class properly? Ive had mine done a few times over the last 2 yrs and they struggle getting the steering wheel 100% central


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It beats me how this happens. Do they not lock the steering wheel in the straight ahead position?

Maybe its worth checking over your suspension and steering to check for worn joints?

I don't know anyone up north who can help with wheel alignment I'm sorry. There was no one reliable in the south west that could do it properly which is why i invested in the Hunter kit.

 

[Avnt]

It beats me how this happens. Do they not lock the steering wheel in the straight ahead position?

Maybe its worth checking over your suspension and steering to check for worn joints?

I don't know anyone up north who can help with wheel alignment I'm sorry. There was no one reliable in the south west that could do it properly which is why i invested in the Hunter kit.

Yeah i watched them lock it off. Its more annoying as my A4 was done by same guy and that was perfect. I checked for play last time i had tyres a few weeks back but it all seemed solid. Cant you move closer north


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LostKiwi]

Sorry to Hijack but can anyone recomend someone in South Yorkshire who can track a c class properly? Ive had mine done a few times over the last 2 yrs and they struggle getting the steering wheel 100% central


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I seem to recall somewhere just over the pennines... maybe @EmilysDad can help as I think he used them?

 

[EmilysDad]

I seem to recall somewhere just over the pennines... maybe @EmilysDad can help as I think he used them?

http://nigellangsgarage.co.uk have a good reputation. daveenty recommended them recently & I believe they have connections with Wheels in Motion

 

[LostKiwi]

http://nigellangsgarage.co.uk have a good reputation. daveenty recommended them recently & I believe they have connections with Wheels in Motion

I knew you'd know

 

[Avnt]

http://nigellangsgarage.co.uk have a good reputation. daveenty recommended them recently & I believe they have connections with Wheels in Motion

Thank you guys


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk