4 wheel alignment.....

[Nabbott]

So sat in my local tyre dealer (replacing mundane everyday driver tyres ) and they've recently invested in a Hunter Pro Align machine.

Has anyone had there car set up on one of these? Having sorted out the engine I'd now like to see if I can dial out some of the bump steer - I've read the threads on the subject BUT before I start monkeying around with the rack position I thought it sensible to check the car was set to the 'factory spec'.....

[Steve_D]

Someone tell me otherwise but I don't believe a wheel alignment machine in a tyre bay will be able to do bump steer.
To do bump steer you need to be able to move the suspension thro its range of travel which probably means the car on stands and the front springs removed.

Steve

[Nabbott]

Steve_D said:

Someone tell me otherwise but I don't believe a wheel alignment machine in a tyre bay will be able to do bump steer.
To do bump steer you need to be able to move the suspension thro its range of travel which probably means the car on stands and the front springs removed.

Steve

You're almost certainly correct however, I'd like to ensure that the basics are correct/optimised first so I know that I'm starting from a 'good point' - make sense?

[F.C.]

I had mine checked on a Hunter 4 wheel rig.
Nothing more to see moving on......................

ETS for the cost of four sessions on the Hunter you could buy this............. think of the hours of fun ahead!

http://www.motorsport-tools.com/motamec-laser-whee...

Edited by F.C. on Tuesday 16th August 17:31

[ROWDYRENAULT]

To the best of my knowledge alignment and bump steer are two separate issues. unless your alignment was way out of wack its not going to effect bump steer. In light of that, I would tackle the bump steer first because once you start moving the rack around you are probably going to need to go back and realign the car. I have had Michelin pilot sports on the car since new and the only time I have had something that looked like bump steer was one of the Intrax shocks went bad. New Konis problem gone. Thats with Michelin tires set at 18 lbs in the front and 22 lbs in the back. But I will say that I was very careful with the placement of the rack when installing it. lee

[Steve_D]

F.C. said:

I had mine checked on a Hunter 4 wheel rig.
Nothing more to see moving on......................

ETS for the cost of four sessions on the Hunter you could buy this............. think of the hours of fun ahead!

http://www.motorsport-tools.com/motamec-laser-whee...

I was using an optical version of that when I was 14 years old.

Steve

[F.C.]

Steve_D said:

I was using an optical version of that when I was 14 years old.

Steve

The one with the big rubber cup for your eyeball?

[UltimaCH]

F.C. said:

The one with the big rubber cup for your eyeball?

I remember using one of those on a Formula Ford and Formula Super VW. If I recall they were manufactured by Dunlop

[Steve_D]

F.C. said:

Steve_D said:

I was using an optical version of that when I was 14 years old.

Steve

The one with the big rubber cup for your eyeball?

Yep, on the top of a chrome tube.
The laser version still uses the same mirror arrangement.

Steve

[V8Dom]

Steve_D said:

Someone tell me otherwise but I don't believe a wheel alignment machine in a tyre bay will be able to do bump steer.
To do bump steer you need to be able to move the suspension thro its range of travel which probably means the car on stands and the front springs removed.

Steve

You should be able to get an indication of bump steer if on a four poster by pulling the supension up and down with gauges in place, it won't however show what happens when you hit a bump or pot hole one side of the car, only if both sides go up or down same amount