Trailing arm suspension flexing!!

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Peeps..I and others have noticed some serious rear wheel flexing when i lay the power down when driving..Im aware they should move but my camber looks excessive, From a 90 degree they look like they are about an 83-85 degree angle when looking from the rear of the car or what seems like a considerable negative camber..There is some visible Toe in as well..When moving they flex from 83-85 to 90..They move the opposite way when coasting over a speed bump!..I did have the trailing arm pins and mounts changed a while back and the geo was done as well but the rear wheels did still look like they had a negative camber, I also got the bushes on the wishbones and lower suspension checked and they were reportedly ok..Today at the park meet i compared mine with another trailing arm wedge and it had what looked like no negative camber whatsoever..Now im wondering if the suspension is knackered or if there is a more serious issue going on with the set up..How would i tell if i have the seperate hub carrier design..Any info appreciated as im not fitting a supercharger until everything that needs to be checked gets checked!..Cheers..Ziga

[Solitude]

Mark

could be the trailing arm bushes and pins are cattled.

Changed one side of mine already and was horrified by the bend in the pin and the state of the bush.

Bastado to get off mate (needed heat to release the pin).

Camber was still evident so i packed the salisbury diff with shims (from SC parts).

Camber now gone and boy is the back end better too (arm and pin did that)

Now need to do drivers side to complete.

GAV (HARD GEEZER....NO POWER STEERING)

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Mate..Would they be shot after only 8 months?..One side is a little older but not much, When Dan taylor did the N/S the pin was bent and the mount was fugged but it has been replaced...Cheers..Ziga

[adam quantrill]

If the springs are lower (less strong) then the wheels will tend to ride upwards a bit, as they do they tend to swing in hence the camber you see. There is supposed to be some, so if you're comparing against a car with none it might look a bit excessive.

[hallsie]

Mark

It was probably the one you compared it to that was knackered!!!

My silver FHC has got a mad camber since I put the Oz splits on it, and it handles so much better now they are on.

If youve had work on the rear pins and bushes then they should be fine, after all, they lasted 25 years the first time round.

If its not banging and clanking, orgrinding the arches out when you corner then forget about it and stop panicking!

Glad to see its driving well too.

Stu

P.S, Gav is a poof despite having no power steering... however.... I do have a pump and rack on its way to me soon!!!

[Danny Hoffman]

It might be worth checking that the circlips on the drive shaft UJs are still in place correctly. One of mine became dislodged from it's groove "shortening" the shaft slightly which I only noticed as the wheel was at an excessive angle.

Also the bodywork on my car sits slightly differently on the chassis on either side so the angle of the wheels looks different.

Edited by Danny Hoffman on Saturday 12th January 19:27

[mrzigazaga]

Cheers for the replies chaps...I just thought maybe the movement on acceleration was a bit on the excessive side, If you were to measure the outer lower rear tyre edge position stationery to lead foot it would be around 4-5"..There is a tiny amount of feathering on the O/S rear tyre..The tyres are around 6 months old...Im just being thorough as when the blower goes on i dont want to be ripping out driveshafts and having serious rear suspension failure on a runway gunning for england!..

Cheers..Will check the circlips as well..

Edited by mrzigazaga on Saturday 12th January 18:57

[Solitude]

P.S, Gav is a all man in my eyes (despite having no power steering)... however.... I do have a penis pump and anal vibrator on its way to me soon for when i think about him!!!

[/quote]


fixed that for you Stu (loverboy)

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Peeps..I spoke to RT this morning as regards to the negative camber on the rear wheels and he said there shouldnt be any!!..Movement as i described rang alarm bells in his head and he said there is definitely something wrong with the trailing arm..I need to get under there and have a poke about and take some pics to send him..I just hope that its not too serious but knowing delilah it will be!...Cheers..Ziga

[Danny Hoffman]

I'd never ever want to contradict Richard so I've just checked my original owners handbook and it says rear camber should be 1/2 degree (+/- 1/2 degree) and fronts should be 0 degrees (+/- 1/2 degree).

Not sure how visible 1/2 degree is but both of my trailing arm wedges looked like there was some camber the rears. It might appear exaggerated by the inward curve of the body.

[mrzigazaga]

Here is a picture after the geo was done in sept 2011 along with the changing of a bent trailing arm pin and knackered bush..There is still a noticeable negative camber..recently though it looks as if it has become more excessive...I will try to get an up to date pic tomorrow if its not raining..Cheers...Ziga

[Solitude]

Your'e right about them requiring camber (all "sporty cars" are set deliberately to follow the natural road camber)

But mine was at almost three degrees (theres a song in there) and the tyres were beginning to wear badly as a result.

So made it up with shims (which is a really easy job actually !!)

[mrzigazaga]

Thing is mine look like the pic when staionery but as soon as i accelerate the bottom of the tyre move's inward's levelling the line of the camber to a 90 degree..Is that normal??..I cant feel any sloppy tail end or excessive movement when driving..Hard cornering is very gripperlicious..I wonder why.....

Actually i just remembered there was a heavy clunk or knock at the N/S rear when i went over a speed bump one afternoon..I was going 5mph and it felt like 30.......Maybe i should check the rear springs..What if its a corroded rear suspension top mount..That looks a proper nightmare....Or a diff mount........Or BOTH ....

[Danny Hoffman]

How do you know the camber changes as you accelerate?

[mrzigazaga]

Danny Hoffman said:

How do you know the camber changes as you accelerate?

Hi Mate..Me and a few other wedgers have a meet on a saturday and it was a friend following behind who first noticed it..I have adjusted my O/S mirror to see the wheel and i have seen it doing it for myself, I can see the other side doing it as well...Cheers..Ziga

[Danny Hoffman]

Have you checked for play in your rear wheel bearings? That's the only thing I can think that would allow the wheels to become more upright under accerleration

[mrzigazaga]

Its like the weight of the car is making it bow..Its making me think that the springs could be knackered and its putting stress elsewhere?..I had the inner and outer UJs done on the driveshafts about the same time and have kept them greased..Last year a good few times..The rear wheel bearings were checked for play around six months ago but will check them again..Bit of a headfuken..

[adam quantrill]

Strange behaviour that - if the trailing arms are both moving so that the camber is straightening up then the saving grace is that the tyre wear will be more even.

If the springs are a bit saggy then it won't put more stress on anything else though - don't worry about that.

I wonder if it could be something to do with the diff - if the diff bearings are a bit shagged will they move much (thereby allowing the driveshafts to move in/out slightly) or if the diff it a bit loose and moves as a whole. Under acceleration the diff or output shafts might be moving outwards slightly - which would straighen the wheels up. Maybe a long shot.

Or else it could be the bottom links or rather the bushes in them.

If you can hang on till the fest maybe we can take a look on the rolling road - maybe with a cheap webcam under the car (rather than sticking your head under there!)

[mrzigazaga]

adam quantrill said:

I wonder if it could be something to do with the diff - if the diff bearings are a bit shagged will they move much (thereby allowing the driveshafts to move in/out slightly) or if the diff it a bit loose and moves as a whole. Under acceleration the diff or output shafts might be moving outwards slightly - which would straighen the wheels up. Maybe a long shot.

Or else it could be the bottom links or rather the bushes in them.

If you can hang on till the fest maybe we can take a look on the rolling road - maybe with a cheap webcam under the car (rather than sticking your head under there!)

Hi Adam..I hope its not the diff...It does leak oil and im not sure how much is left in there..I meant to get it filled /topped up when i had the mounts and pins changed but it slipped past me..Will i be able to move it easily by hand if its loose?..Not sure if it can wait till the fest..I dont like leaving things once i know about them..Especially if leaving them can become costly..I have an endoscope but im waiting for a second hand laptop from a mate so i can have a look about under the car, If the bearings are knackered in the diff would it make any noise..i:e grinding/Vibration..Whinning/knocking?..Cheers..Ziga

[ralph350i]

mrzigazaga said:

Hi Adam..I hope its not the diff...It does leak oil and im not sure how much is left in there..I meant to get it filled /topped up when i had the mounts and pins changed but it slipped past me..Will i be able to move it easily by hand if its loose?..Not sure if it can wait till the fest..I dont like leaving things once i know about them..Especially if leaving them can become costly..I have an endoscope but im waiting for a second hand laptop from a mate so i can have a look about under the car, If the bearings are knackered in the diff would it make any noise..i:e grinding/Vibration..Whinning/knocking?..Cheers..Ziga

Morning Zig
Yes if the bearings are gone in the diff it will whine, but you probably can't hear it due to your exhaust, if i was you i would jack up the rear end and spin the wheel by hand, that way you will be able to feel any grinding though the wheel bearings or diff, also check the springs and dampers for any play, good luck, ralph