Wheel Mis-alignment

[Lithius]

Hey there, just got a car I'm looking at buying inspected and although there were a fair few other things wrong with it, the one i'm majorly concerned with is one listed as requiring early attention and described as. Front wheels, one side is 20mm further forward than other. It says that it will require specialist attention to acertain the reason for it. I rang a few places and they all seemed to think the most likely reason for it would have been an accident at some stage. Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with a similar problem or knows how likely it is that this could be a serious problem? I don't want to buy the car only to find out that it has been crashed and has some serious chasis damage.

Thanks.

[GoldZilla]

Stuffed chassis or suspension is the most likely cause of this...

Probably best to avoid it.

[Sydneykid]

Hey there, just got a car I'm looking at buying inspected and although there were a fair few other things wrong with it, the one i'm majorly concerned with is one listed as requiring early attention and described as. Front wheels, one side is 20mm further forward than other. It says that it will require specialist attention to acertain the reason for it. I rang a few places and they all seemed to think the most likely reason for it would have been an accident at some stage. Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with a similar problem or knows how likely it is that this could be a serious problem? I don't want to buy the car only to find out that it has been crashed and has some serious chasis damage.

Thanks.

It could be something as simple asa worn radius rod bush, or something as bad as a bent chassis rail. Any decent suspension shop should be able to do a complete wheel alignment check and point you in the right direction.

Cheers

[DaFuca]

I work for a joint what does Wheels Tyres and Alignments, and the front wheel on the left side of the car should be set forward a little more than the right side, cos of the "australian road conditions" we run a higher road camber here, so the left wheel is set forward a little bit to allow for the car to drive straight on the road.

[Lithius]

Hmm, if it's chasis damage (worst case scenario) then it could very well be irrepairable right? I've never heard of one wheel being set forward a little more than the other... would it be set forward as much as 20mm?

What would be my best course of action to get the problem diagnosed? Someone mentioned maybe take it to a wreckers and they have a machine there to check the body alignment using the datum points etc.

[Sydneykid]

Hmm, if it's chasis damage (worst case scenario) then it could very well be irrepairable right? I've never heard of one wheel being set forward a little more than the other... would it be set forward as much as 20mm?

What would be my best course of action to get the problem diagnosed? Someone mentioned maybe take it to a wreckers and they have a machine there to check the body alignment using the datum points etc.

That would be a panel beater, make sure they have the data for a Skyline

Yep more caster on the LHS front to stop the drift into the gutter caused by the camber of the round.

But 20 mm is a bit too much

cheers

[noise]

Hey guys,

This is actually my skyline he is talking about.

Here are two wheel alignment read-outs one (bobjane) before the white line gear was put in and one (wilkinsons) after the white line one was put in.

They were done less then a month apart.

The bob jane shows castor left +6'33" right +6'48"

The wilkinsons shows castor left +7'38" right +5'38"

Isnt this proof that all that has happened is that wilkinsons has set the whiteline adjustable caster up for aussie roads? also wilkinsons never mentioned any problems what so ever so I really think eveyrthings ok.

I will be ringing on monday to confirm, as this sale is hinging on this car being straight or not.

EDIT: the bobjane readout was from one of those crappy ribbon printers so it didnt scan well but you guys can make out the numbers yeah? its much easier to read from the original.

Edited June 10, 2006 by noise

[BHDave]

If it is the castor setting an easy check would be to climb under and measure from the centre of the front castor rod bolt to the first of the 2 on the lower control arm.

If one's shorter than the other then i'd say that it's all in the adjustment.

[noise]

If it is the castor setting an easy check would be to climb under and measure from the centre of the front castor rod bolt to the first of the 2 on the lower control arm.

If one's shorter than the other then i'd say that it's all in the adjustment.

I just got down and had a look, you can see more yellow on the right one I think it was and less on the left. Considering the angle they are sitting on is how you adjust them and one is sitting out further I would say the mystery has been solved, will confirm with the suspension guys on Monday.

RAC is getting a letter of complaint next week for sending out a mechanic who wrote a false and misleading statements about my car which resulted in the sale of the car being stalled and possibly called off.

Not happy

Edited June 10, 2006 by noise

[R DIRTY 3]

Dude if there was a mojor problem Wilkinson would have told you. I really doubt there is an issue. Sounds like alignment settings to me. The RAC job is to pick faults. They are normally mechanics, not alignment experts so i would take on board the oil leaks etc they point out, but probably not the alignment.

Regards

R Dirty 3

[DaFuca]

Sorry you mentioned bob jane... I zoned out after that..

Yes 20 mm is a bit much for castor, but was the RAC telling you the truth. got the same problem in Adelaide with RAA car inspectors, tell ya lies and dont know what they are on about.

Bob Janes here in Adelaide are prolly the worst people in the world to let near your car. I dont know what they are like anywhere else in the country, but here in Adelaide, they will tell you that your car needs half the front end rebuilt just to get the work... and here in adelaide a few of my mates own the old classic holdens and chevs, and every bob janes they have gone to, dont know how to wheel align there cars, so if you need your car to be wheel aligned to specs or to match Aust road conditions, I would honestly look for someone in a small local business, cos they have to do it right, else no one would goback to them.

Just my 2 cents worth on wheel alignments from bob janes.

Sorry if it seems like i am havinga cry over businesses, but i just offer my advice.

[noise]

WARNING to anyone buying or selling your car, make sure you tell the mechanic to ignore anything after market on the car otherwise they will list aftermarket parts as problems that need fixing.

exhaust, pedals, airpod etc.

The mechanic could have just looked under the wheel arch and seen the BRIGHT YELLOW adjustable caster rod thing and measured it to make sure it was all ok.

Dodgy as f#*$

Edited June 12, 2006 by noise