Tracking and wheel alignment

quattro

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Thread moved from 4 cylinder engine - John Barker

hi help wanted with tracking and wheel alignment
had two people from local garage look at it but unable to do it does anyone know anyone near romford area or any tips how to takle this myself any diagrams or pictures would be a great help


Answer from sdibbers

@john barker Try posting in the suspension section for more answers. For a detailed discussion on setting up alignment check out this thread: Wheel alignment
 
If you dont know, and dont have the manual, get the manual.
Basics - with alignment kit fitted to front wheels, OR set up for stringing- locate the track rod across the bulkhead; get a 24mm or15/16 spanner, loosen the locknuts at each end - one is aLH thread, the other is a RH; Once loosened a few turns, if you can find flats on the rod, get a spanner on them, or just grab the rod with vise grips; turn and watch the effect on toe; when you have desired toe(close to zero, up to1/8") hole throd with vise grips, lock up the nuts. Camber and castor are not adjustable by any conventional means. If the steering wheel is off centre when driving straight on a FLAT road (ie not on a camber), move the wheel on its splines.
 
Most modern vehicles , especially the front wheels, tend to have all setting available to be adjusted independently on each wheel and younger mechanics are only used to doing this. The P6 does not fall into this category and adjustment to track rod length essentially adjusts each side together . The Rover workshop manual advises that at each adjustment the the vehicle needs rolling forward and backwards to allow the wheels to equalise . The steering wheel should not be locked in position when doing this, as with more modern systems. As jp928 says, if the steering wheel is out of position after setting the tracking, align it again on its splines.
I fortunately have access to an old Dunlop gauge ( see pic.) to measure the toe which works perfectly as per the Rover Manual, which assumes this sort of kit is used , On my Land Rover which again has a track rod between the steering arm's, there is enough space to measure the toe used a couple of pieces of wood dowel between the wheels , no special equipment needed at all. Sealey do an equivalent modern version but it does cost about £800
 

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Had a talk at club meeting last night given by a suspension man. Most interesting thing I learned was that UK and US toe settings assume a 28" dia tyre and the toe is measured at that dia, ie 14" from the centre of the wheel. Using the spec 1/8" that works out to a tiny bit over 0.5 degrees. The European std is different, but I missed the detail. If the 28" dia is standard that might be the reason its not stated in the manual?
 
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