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4 Wheel Alignment
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 3:59 pm
by tombarrack
Hi, after much debate I've fitted a set of Weitec Hicon GT coilovers. Couldn't be happier with them, thanks to those that recommended them. I've had a 4-wheel alignment carried out after fitting.
I seem to have a bit of a problem though - When driving normally (on or off the gas) my car seems to pull to the left slightly. I'm pretty sure it did this before lowering/alignment. I've checked all tyre pressures, what else could be causing this? I guess the camber of the road could be an issue, but it seems quite a sharp pull.
Also, another question regarding spacers - After lowering I'm fancying a set of spacers to fill the arches. 15mm rear/10mm front seems to be a commonly chosen option. Is this measurement for the spacing of each wheel?
Re: 4 Wheel Alignment
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 4:01 pm
by joe2612
Hows you're front camber looking? i'm surprised if they didnt pick it up on the alingment...
Re: 4 Wheel Alignment
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 4:07 pm
by tombarrack
It looks ok just from eyeballing it. It felt 100 times better after the alignment though...
Re: 4 Wheel Alignment
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 6:13 pm
by Bradley
Great suspension choice dude,same setup im running.
I would take the car to a really level empty retail carpark or something simular just make sure the road has no camber.Give it a drive and if it's still pulling on level ground id take it back to the garage that did the Alignment and explain you've checked tyre pressures and the like.
As for spacers 15mm on the rear is 15mm per side so 30mm in total.
Re: 4 Wheel Alignment
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 6:52 pm
by tombarrack
Thanks man, I'm well impressed with the overall quality of the kit. I've got it sitting quite nice at the moment - how much can I expect it to sink as the springs settle? A bit worried about scraping the splitter going over speedbumps and the like though - I've already heard a sickening scrape going over one at uni!
Cool, I'll give that a try.
Smashing, that's what I thought. Think I'll just go for the FK ones from Venom. I take it I'll need some longer wheel bolts as well...?
Re: 4 Wheel Alignment
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 6:59 pm
by Bradley
Corr i can't remember i think mine settled about 10mm lower if that.I drove it around for a couple of weeks then had a measure up make sure it's sitting all even and adjusted according to that.
Ive got the FK ones from Venom Motorsport,you want to ask for hubcentric ones.They bolt to the hub with flush mounting bolts (supplied with the spacers) and then the wheel bolts to the spacer using your existing wheel nuts.
Re: 4 Wheel Alignment
Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 10:52 pm
by tombarrack
I had a look at the camber today. Driver's side looks a lot more negative than the passenger side (which would explain the pull to the left). I also spoke to the garage and they claim that they only adjust tracking in their '4 wheel allignment', and can't adjust camber
Since then I've taken it home, loosened the strut bolts and pulled the disc as far outwards (positive) as possible. Let it down again to find that it hadn't made much difference. Started trying to take the three bolts off the bottom mount in hope to gain more adjustment, however they are seized and I decide to call it a night!
My question is - how much adjustment is there in the bottom mount? Also, why would one side have such negative camber in comparison to the other side?
Cheers
Re: 4 Wheel Alignment
Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 11:27 pm
by Endi_GTI
tombarrack wrote:My question is - how much adjustment is there in the bottom mount? Also, why would one side have such negative camber in comparison to the other side?
Hi mate,
I had similar problems with mine. There is very little movement on the bottom mount maybe up half a degree. I also had more camber on one side. i think it was just due to the position that the 2 strut bolts were done up in. Since then i have done what you have done and managed to pull it out as far to the positive as i could. Mine seems ok and the angle is within the original + or - 0.7 degrees. I think i have the drivers wheel on about 0.6 negative and the passenger at 0.5 negative. i thought that was close enough for me
It would be worth you trying to free up the 3 bolts and seeing where abouts it is set at all ready, but the system does seem a bit rubbish. I think with a big jolt the camber will be out again
Negative camber does look quite cool but tires are so expensive
Hope this helps a little,
Matt
Re: 4 Wheel Alignment
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 3:31 pm
by tombarrack
Thanks for the help mate. I don't actually have a camber gauge, so it's difficult to tell if mine is within the range. I've released the three bolts and adjusted as far positive as it will go. Still doesn't seem right though - I've included a picture for reference. I can't seem to understand why one wheel sits fairly negative (despite it being adjusted fully positive) whilst the other wheel seems pretty much at 0 degrees. Could other worn parts be contributing towards this? I'm planning on taking it to a garage to get the camber set properly, but I can't see what they're going to do that I haven't done. Maybe they'll just match the camber on each wheel to avoid the pull to the left. Maybe camber bolts is another option?
Anyway, heres a picture showing my predicament:

N/S wheel - camber seems ok (no adjustments made)

O/S wheel - definitely more negative camber (despite being adjusted fully positive)
At a bit of a loss really, may just have to man up and take some negative camber on both front wheels.
Re: 4 Wheel Alignment
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 5:02 pm
by Endi_GTI
Does look a bit strange mate. I did consider camber bolts for mine as these offer + or - 1.5 degrees i think. Are you trackrod ends/tracking adjustment at the same place (same number of threads each side) I did this before i messed with my camber adjustment, but i would imagine that this could push out your offside camber and pull in your near side. Worth a look. I am at a similar height to you so you should be able to get it set right.
Tried taking a picture of mine but its on a rough road so doesn't really show it well. Will post it anyway though:
