Castor problems.
Discussion
Took my 3R up to Wheels in Motion for a wheel alignhment today, as ever since I bought the car it's pulled slightly to the right. Turns out the toe settings are fine, the castor on the front offside is way out apparently
.
The operator advised me that it was the top ball joint of that wheel which is slightly out. He said there is no movement there and no damage. He believes it was just the way it was machined.
It's still under warranty so will be calling the garage Monday, but was just wondering if this was a commen problem or mine is a one off thing?
My car is a 2005 still under 10K if that helps.
.The operator advised me that it was the top ball joint of that wheel which is slightly out. He said there is no movement there and no damage. He believes it was just the way it was machined.
It's still under warranty so will be calling the garage Monday, but was just wondering if this was a commen problem or mine is a one off thing?
My car is a 2005 still under 10K if that helps.
Spoke to the garage yesterday and was not completely happy with the responce I had. Although they said to bring it to them and they would have a look, I was told that the ball joints wear quickly and that the car is second hand after all and that it was just down the wear and tear.
Although they have been really good so far, fixing even the most minor of things I asked them to, I have a feeling this time they may argue the point.
I had a search and have seen that the top ball joints do indeed fail, especially on the late 3R.
My questions are:
I bought the car at 6K and noticed the wheel alignment was out then. Is it usual to go that early on?
I had a look myself, but can't see any damage to the blocks etc. Would any wear be noticable?
Were would I stand? I complained about the alignment problem from the begining and was told it was adjusted. It was still out, but didn't bother making a fuss believing it easier to get it set up myself.
Any help or advice would be appreciated.
Although they have been really good so far, fixing even the most minor of things I asked them to, I have a feeling this time they may argue the point.
I had a search and have seen that the top ball joints do indeed fail, especially on the late 3R.
My questions are:
I bought the car at 6K and noticed the wheel alignment was out then. Is it usual to go that early on?
I had a look myself, but can't see any damage to the blocks etc. Would any wear be noticable?
Were would I stand? I complained about the alignment problem from the begining and was told it was adjusted. It was still out, but didn't bother making a fuss believing it easier to get it set up myself.
Any help or advice would be appreciated.
Fett said:
Spoke to the garage yesterday and was not completely happy with the responce I had. Although they said to bring it to them and they would have a look, I was told that the ball joints wear quickly and that the car is second hand after all and that it was just down the wear and tear.
Although they have been really good so far, fixing even the most minor of things I asked them to, I have a feeling this time they may argue the point.
I had a search and have seen that the top ball joints do indeed fail, especially on the late 3R.
My questions are:
I bought the car at 6K and noticed the wheel alignment was out then. Is it usual to go that early on?
I had a look myself, but can't see any damage to the blocks etc. Would any wear be noticable?
Were would I stand? I complained about the alignment problem from the begining and was told it was adjusted. It was still out, but didn't bother making a fuss believing it easier to get it set up myself.
Any help or advice would be appreciated.
Although they have been really good so far, fixing even the most minor of things I asked them to, I have a feeling this time they may argue the point.
I had a search and have seen that the top ball joints do indeed fail, especially on the late 3R.
My questions are:
I bought the car at 6K and noticed the wheel alignment was out then. Is it usual to go that early on?
I had a look myself, but can't see any damage to the blocks etc. Would any wear be noticable?
Were would I stand? I complained about the alignment problem from the begining and was told it was adjusted. It was still out, but didn't bother making a fuss believing it easier to get it set up myself.
Any help or advice would be appreciated.
The blocks dont wear they crack (and as one of mine did last week)fall in pieces.
The balljoint would have to be massively worn to affect the castor buy much, as for the block to move forward or backwards in relation to the top wishbone would take a failure almost IMO.
HTH
peterguk M500 said:
Gut feeling... Either your garage are wrong or has had damage. As stated above, caster is back/forward position of top ball joint and is fixed position.
My thoughts exactly.... get the car on a Hunter jig and get the geo rechecked before you jump to any conclusions,if it is out, by how much are we talking,minutes or degrees ?
Fett said:
This was my worry, that it has had some sort of damage.
Reading straight off the print out: Caster - Front Axle - right 9°02' Target 10°30'
Means very little to me, but the tech guy said it was a fair bit and what was causing my car pull to the right.
Reading straight off the print out: Caster - Front Axle - right 9°02' Target 10°30'
Means very little to me, but the tech guy said it was a fair bit and what was causing my car pull to the right.
The guys talking crap IMHO as in a straight line castor has no effect on the way a car drives.
one and a half degs castor is not alot anyway
Fett said:
This was my worry, that it has had some sort of damage.
Reading straight off the print out: Caster - Front Axle - right 9°02' Target 10°30'
Means very little to me, but the tech guy said it was a fair bit and what was causing my car pull to the right.
From the build manual:Reading straight off the print out: Caster - Front Axle - right 9°02' Target 10°30'
Means very little to me, but the tech guy said it was a fair bit and what was causing my car pull to the right.
Front Caster: aprox. +10.5 (+ or - 1 degree) non-adjustable
So range is 9.5 - 11.5
Nip down to Plans motorsport and ask them for an opinion, it will cost but perhaps your garage may like to pay once you have proven fault or otherwise.
Does your garage have a name similar to small blind vermin between two hills?
If so I'm not surprised by the response.
I would ask them with Whom is the warranty underwritten? If they don't give you a straight answer you can bet it isn't underwritten and they have to pay costs themselves.
Does your garage have a name similar to small blind vermin between two hills?
If so I'm not surprised by the response.
I would ask them with Whom is the warranty underwritten? If they don't give you a straight answer you can bet it isn't underwritten and they have to pay costs themselves.
F.C. said:
Does your garage have a name similar to small blind vermin between two hills?
On the mark. Warranty is not under written, but I new this when I bought. Thought this would be better as I've had a few friends buy cars with an outside warranty, that turned out to be not worth the paper it was written on.To be honest they have been pretty good so far, think I will give them their fair chance to sort it out and go from there. Plans may be an option if I need a second opinion as thier not far from me.
mrdemon said:
Yes plans will test it with there bit of string.
I would book in at Centry gravity if you want to know about your geo.
I put plans forward as the OP lives in Surrey and and Centre gravity are in Warwickshire which is a long tyre destroying poke with any geo problem.I would book in at Centry gravity if you want to know about your geo.
Anyway nowt wrong with string and know how, I've seen too many people get complacent with newer technology, after all what can go wrong with a piece of string?
Plans support plenty of race cars (including Noble) using their stone-age practice.
A few thoughts...
a)Is there any unusual wear on the tyres suggesting an alignment problem?
b)Is the handbrake dragging on one side?
c)I don`t know the answer to this but are front uprights different NS/OS? Could be one might have been fitted incorrectly.....Can`t think of any other reason other than a suspension pick up point is wrongly positioned or the car has had a bump that would put the castor out - if indeed it is....
a)Is there any unusual wear on the tyres suggesting an alignment problem?
b)Is the handbrake dragging on one side?
c)I don`t know the answer to this but are front uprights different NS/OS? Could be one might have been fitted incorrectly.....Can`t think of any other reason other than a suspension pick up point is wrongly positioned or the car has had a bump that would put the castor out - if indeed it is....
Adrian W said:
What has castor angle got to do with your car pulling to the right?
I assume you must have told the garage it is under breaking?
I would start with tyre pressures, then ball joints and then rear toe, probably on the opposite side.
No idea, was just told that by the place I took it for alignment. The guy seemed to know what he was talking about, they use a Hunter Hawkeye 811 Pro Wheel Aligner, if that means any thing to anyone.I assume you must have told the garage it is under breaking?
I would start with tyre pressures, then ball joints and then rear toe, probably on the opposite side.
No not under braking, let go of wheel and it drifts off to the right.
Tyre pressures are fine. He suggested the top front offside ball joint was out. They measured the rear toe. My scaner isn't working at the mo, but here is the brief list of the print out they gave.
rear axle Before Target
camber left -1°39' -1°30'
right -1°09'
cross -0°30' 0°00'
Toe left 0°14' 0°19'
right 0°17'
Total 0°32' 0°38'
Front axle
camber left -1°06' -1°00'
right -0°38'
cross -0°28' 0°00'
Castor left 11°06 10°30'
right 9°02'
cross 2°04' 0°00'
Toe left -0°04' 0°08'
right -0°11'
Total -0°15'
BobE said:
A few thoughts...
a)Is there any unusual wear on the tyres suggesting an alignment problem?
b)Is the handbrake dragging on one side?
c)I don`t know the answer to this but are front uprights different NS/OS? Could be one might have been fitted incorrectly.....Can`t think of any other reason other than a suspension pick up point is wrongly positioned or the car has had a bump that would put the castor out - if indeed it is....
a)No unusual tyre wear that I can see and have done quite a few miles with it like this.a)Is there any unusual wear on the tyres suggesting an alignment problem?
b)Is the handbrake dragging on one side?
c)I don`t know the answer to this but are front uprights different NS/OS? Could be one might have been fitted incorrectly.....Can`t think of any other reason other than a suspension pick up point is wrongly positioned or the car has had a bump that would put the castor out - if indeed it is....
b) Car rolls easily and to be honest I never really use it, stays off in the garage.
c) How would I tell? I took a look yesterday at both when looking for damage, but the only thing I noticed was the cap on the near side was chipped as if damaged when taken off the top of the ball joint. Maybe changed previosly?
I gotta admitt it's worrying me a bit now. The car is other wise immaculate.
Excuse the table didn't quite work out how I typed it.
Edited by Fett on Monday 19th October 16:46
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