steering geometry f430 problem...

[tuscaneer]

quick question if i may for the chaps who are of a more technical bent than i am........

I noticed a good while back that the car was pulling left so i had them do a full geometry set up....got the car back and it was no different so i was advised to replace unevenly worn tyres. i did this but no better, i was then told that there were a couple of upper ball joints that needed doing which would most likely cure the problem......no better.....i was then told i would need to replace the shims and this (along with yet another geo set up) would cure the problem.............still pulling to the left!!!!

the car has never been in a crash, the only thing that i have had done prior to the problem was to replace one of the rear tie rods. i have been told that i should have replaced the pair even though only one needed doing so the next thing i need to do is replace BOTH of the rear tie rods now even though one of them is only 12 months old...

so far i have spent a fortune to cure the problem to no evail......

can anyone shed any light on this??? thanks in advance

[red_duke]

Presumably the problem began during your ownership which is why you know the car doesn't have chassis damage?

Are the front wheels spinning freely or is the front left brake calliper binding?

Has the steering wheel ever been removed?

[tuscaneer]

red_duke said:

Presumably the problem began during your ownership which is why you know the car doesn't have chassis damage?

Are the front wheels spinning freely or is the front left brake calliper binding?

Has the steering wheel ever been removed?

thanks for the reply pal....

yes mate, problem started a good 3 years into ownership. prior to this it was pin straight unless on a particularly camber heavy road...but i'd expect a bit of camber hunting with such wide rear tyres!

i certainly haven't noticed any brake binding, or rather i haven't heard or felt anything to make me suspicious anyway

[Trev450]

It sounds as if the place you are using is clutching at straws in an attempt to identify the source of your issue. Give Centre Gravity http://www.centregravity.co.uk/ a call. They tend to have quite long waiting times but that's because they are very good at what they do.

[h0b0]

I had a garage spend 3 hours on my Porsche and declare it impossible to set up straight. I left there with my steering 10 degrees out and went to another place. The second garage had everything perfect in less than 10 minutes. The first garage had mess up the rear wheel settings by a small amount but enough to cause the steering to be off.

The point being, try somewhere else.

Edited by h0b0 on Friday 14th July 01:19

[Cerberaherts]

Did you put a hill engineering track arm on it? There are two available rod end lengths. Check them side to side, there's a big enough difference to make it drive like crap.........

[tuscaneer]

thanks for all the replies chaps...........

i think cerberaherts you may have hit the nail on the head. the single rod i replaced was indeed a hill engineering one! i can't remember exact dates but it was around this time it started playing up.

what's the answer pal?....put another hill rod on the other side or replace both with ferrari parts?

cheers