Wandering under hard braking..............
Wandering under hard braking..............
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Discussion

JMF894

Original Poster:

6,645 posts

186 months

Thursday 23rd June 2011
quotequote all
Hi again,

When I brake hard in the 450 it tends to want to wander from side to side a little (dependant on road surface) at higher speeds. How much of this is typical of a standard wedge and how much would be indicative of the need to check/refurb the bushes?

I appreciate that when I say 'want to wander from side to side a little' is rather vague but as far as I am led to believe wedges are not the most stable of cars as standard.....................hehe

grahamw48

9,944 posts

269 months

Thursday 23rd June 2011
quotequote all
Actually, I found mine to be VERY stable...even on 3 wheels. eek

I would look at tyres, tyre pressures, brake balance/efficiency, springs and shock absorbers, steering joints, suspension bushes and not least... breaks in the chassis and its many mounting points for suspension and steering.

Tram-lining can also be a problem on inside lanes of dual-carriageways heavily worn by trucks, but general wandering or instability is more likely to be something like a worn trackrod end.

Should keep you busy. biggrin

Edited by grahamw48 on Thursday 23 June 14:44

JMF894

Original Poster:

6,645 posts

186 months

Thursday 23rd June 2011
quotequote all
grahamw48 said:
Actually, I found mine to be VERY stable...even on 3 wheels. eek

I would look at tyres, tyre pressures, brake balance/efficiency, springs and shock absorbers, steering joints, suspension bushes and not least... breaks in the chassis and its many mounting points for suspension and steering.

Tram-lining can also be a problem on inside lanes of dual-carriageways heavily worn by trucks, but general wandering or instability is more likely to be something like a worn trackrod end.

Should keep you busy. biggrin

Edited by grahamw48 on Thursday 23 June 14:44
The chassis has had the thumbs up at Schole Engineering already. There are no knocks other than the exhaust on the chassis when cold. Only went through MOT last month so I would hope nothing is 'severely' worn. It does have nasty tyres on the rear at present however and the fronts (Pirelli P Zero's) look old. Stable under hard acceleration. scratchchin

JMF894

Original Poster:

6,645 posts

186 months

Thursday 23rd June 2011
quotequote all
Would track rod ends for mine be Mk 4 Cortina/Granada Mk 2?

grahamw48

9,944 posts

269 months

Thursday 23rd June 2011
quotequote all
Yes...Cortina 3/4/5.

The stub-axle (that carries the ball joints and trackrod ends) is Cortina.

The hub is Granada Mk2.

dixiebabes

3,111 posts

255 months

Thursday 23rd June 2011
quotequote all
Mine tries to but seen as i have arms like garth i am able to control it, Seriously it does a bit under hard braking mind.

adam quantrill

11,679 posts

273 months

Thursday 23rd June 2011
quotequote all
Start at the front - tracking, track rod ends, upper and lower ball joints, radius arm bushes (compliance bushes), anti-roll bar linkages and bushes and mounts.

Oh and make sure the wheels are bolted on tight!

grahamw48

9,944 posts

269 months

Thursday 23rd June 2011
quotequote all
Talking of tyres, Toyo T1Rs (correct me if I'm wrong folks) seem to be the tyre of choice for the wider-wheeled Wedges....look good too. smile

convert

3,757 posts

249 months

Friday 24th June 2011
quotequote all
I'd check the front wheel bearings as well.

However my money is on ARB links / bushes.

chedder

1,329 posts

238 months

Friday 24th June 2011
quotequote all
May be worthwhile upgrading to Steve Heath ARB droplinks on the front, does away with the squishy rubber bits.
Toyo T1r's.....fab tyre but I find you have to up the tyre preasure by about 4psi on the front and 2-3 on the rear.

Chedder