Ellie

Short version-
Had tyres fitted to rear of my mr2 last week because the others were majorly worn on the inner rim. They adjusted the tracking because it was 'out by miles' on the back, and fairly out on the front too.
Since they did this something is really not right. The back end feels so unstable. Slight bumps and ruts make the back end feel like it wants to go in a different direction. It feels like all the weight is being slung side to side in the rear end.
On the motorway at the weekend, got to about 75/80mph and a rut in the road almost killed me!!! I thought a wheel was coming off. The car shook so hard my keys were smashing into the steering column. It was as if someone had taken hold of the steering wheel and was swerving everywhere.

Been back to garage to get tracking check and thats fine. They told me to go back on a better day weather-wise so they can take it for a drive.

Had a few suggestions from the OC- camber, bushes, toe-in, ball joint but thought someone here might be able toshed some light???

please??!!!!

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Has the car been lowered? Excessive camber will wear the inner edges of the tyre, wearing them down. As you have had new tyres fitted, the car will now be running on the inner edge of the tyre which wasn't previously there, which may upset the handling!

Have a look at the back of the car, and see if you can see the back wheels leaning inwards at the top.

pee vee

Have they removed 'toe in' from the rear?

Ellie

no, its not lowered.

Ive no idea.
Why would they do that?

SteveH

Just to bump this thread, I drove Ellies car last week and it didnt feel right, going left to right the car feels unsettled, and if you hit bumps in the road it really gives it some at the back. Also tramlines a bit, though this could be the tyres (eagle F1's iirc)

Had a look round the car, gave the wheels a kick (very technical hey) and no obvious movement, but looking from the rear of the car you can SEE the toe in they have put on!! Its ridiculous!! if you were to strike an imaginary line from 9 o clock through 3 o clock on the rear wheels, and continue the line forward, you'd end up somewhere on the very inner edge of the front wheel, possibly inside even (I know thats not massively tech but the best I could do standing in the street)

Its important to mention I think that the garage didnt do a 4 wheel alignment, they just did the tracking on front and rear of the car. I am honestly quite concerned about Ellies safety and the roadworthiness of the car in this state

Anyone got any ideas please? And anyone know any shit hot garages near chester/wrexham she could take it to?

tabetha

The tramlining is a seperate issue, and F1 do tramline.
They have NOT done the set up correctly, unlikely the rear was out anyway to start with, my best advice, take it to a proper 4 wheel alignment place, that can tell you camber,castor as well as toe, if they can't do this they are not the place to be at.
Failing that it to a toyota garage(main dealer).
The camber and castor are not adjustable but will tell you if something is bent, but as it drove ok before then it is obviously just down to toe.
tabetha

SteveH

I suspected as much on the tramlining issue but wasnt sure. It isnt terrible.
AFAIK the place she took it to was a run of the mill tyre place, who offered to take it out for a test when it wasnt so icy

I advised her she gets printouts of the numbers they have set it to (and still claimed nothing was wrong with it when she returned the first time) not let them drive it, at least not without seeing proof of insurance, and get to a decent garage to get it sorted, then return to the tyre GIMPS with the 4 wheel alignment bill.

The worrying thing is, the problem isnt terribly evident at lower speeds, it doesnt feel right, but it only gets a wobble on around 50mph+, not the sort of speed you want to be sliding off the road at

Thanks for the advice tabetha

cozzfather

iTrader: (1)

there is tracking and alignment services at demon tweeks http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/conten...ategory_id=201

also you could ask the toyota main dealer in queensferry lindop brothers, now before you say they dunno or are too dear, the geezer who owns the toyota dealer is doing motorsport as a sideline and seeing as they are toyota main dealers they are deffo worth a call, they are selling and tuning allsorts even ford escorts mk2's and cosworths.

http://www.lindopmotorsport.com/

i may of seen the car at b&q last week, a geezer was driving it,so is ellie a bloke or was it her boyfreind as i dunno ??.
if it was in the care of the garage i am sorry to report i saw it clobber the high kerb as it was reversing out of a space, that won't do the handling much good

hope you get it sorted

cheeRS Karl

Psycho Warren

iTrader: (5)

sounds like typical cowboy tyre fitters fucking up the tracking. might also be worth checking the balance too as they can fuck that up and they supposed to be professionals

SteveH

Cheers for the reply Karl

As for B&Q: Ellie isnt a bloke that I noticed

SteveH

Up for the evening lot

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Have you had the wheel alignment set up properly yet? If not do you need more people telling you to do so?

SteveH

Not yet, but I was hoping RichardPON or Jim Galbally might see this, as they both owned one (yes I know same car) might be a common problem.

Ellie

No, it wasnt mine at B&Q.


Id rather avoid Demon Tweeks, not heard any good reports of anything theyve done on cars. You used them??

I dont mind going to Toyota dealer but Q'ferry is the only one round here isnt it? Stuck in work mon-fri and 50miles away on a tuesday.

Should i go to a different place for a 4 wheel alignment then? Or make the tyre place do it, if they can?
Is that something im gonna have to get done everytime tyres are changed?

Rich170- no i dont, thank you. But before i go getting that done i was waiting to see, as Steve said, if this is a common prob.

Psycho Warren

iTrader: (5)

You shouldnt have to get a 4 wheel alignment done everytime you change the tyres. Removing the wheels shouldnt fuck up your tracking like that.

It is good to get a check up on tracking when any suspension bits changed/ big bumps in road, buckled a wheel etc

Ellie

thats what i thought.

cozzfather

iTrader: (1)

i have used demon tweeks before ellie and they were ok, i really think if you try lindop motorsport which i gave you the link for and ask them how much to do a alignment check is a good starting point, they are main dealers but i think by contacting lindop motorsport you will be paying a differant price than the dealer rate.


if your stuck i can borrow you a car while yours is left at lindop motorsport or another garage if you want

Ellie

Yeah, i had a look at the link for Lindops, thanks. Very useful to know about because id rather go somewhere like that (now i know its there). Ill give them a ring on wednesday.

Thanks for ya help Karl, muchly appreciated.

Ellie

Been back with it.
Nothing to do with the wheel alignment.

The bolts on the lower arms were loose, and where the tracking was so far out its worn the holes bigger. One side has tightened up, but the other side the bolt is free from the captive nut but seized into the bush. Chances are it needs a lower arm now anyway.

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Thats a bit of a bugger, but at least you know the problem! I would recommend changing both sides at the same time!

James

the tracking was ok but the alignment was out?

atleast your on the road to getting it sorted.

Paul_RS

iTrader: (4)

Least you found it before anything serious happened!!