Monaro VXR wheel alignment - again.

Monaro VXR wheel alignment - again.

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FizzysCar

Original Poster:

224 posts

161 months

Saturday 19th October 2019
quotequote all
Hi All,

Had my wheel alignment done a few months back as part of other work. It was driving straight, steering wheel centered etc, although had been set to GTO specs it was still handing ok.

Printout from alignment :-



I changed rear left track rod end about a week ago and didn't get things quite right matching the old one - so steering wheel was slightly off to the left, and car tended to drift a bit to the left.

Took it in to a different garage (who appear to be using same system) and explained the rear left will be out due to the work. They ended up adjusting the front too...



This time the didn't put anything down regarding model, and I brought along the older sheet for their reference. It's interesting to see how different the "before" reading today differ in places to the "after" on the previous one...? Confirmed rear left was way out.

Anyhow, set off home - and wheel was now off to the right, and car drifted quite a lot to the left when no hands on the wheel. Centering the wheel it went left a lot. frown

I took it back, Started saying probably tyres... so I asked if front and rear wheels could be swapped to test. Lo and behold it still did it. Back on the system and was informed it was all fine?

Fair play to the mechanic, he thought about things and decided to adjust manually. So he adjusted the toe in on the front right, let me test it, (wheel was to the right now, and centred wheel had car drifting right). A bit more tweaking and wheel was centred. He then put it back on the system and made sure everything else lined up to suit. Now wheel straight and driving straight, although no idea how near to spec it is since wasn't given a fresh printout.

A couple of things in all this - are monaros just a pain to get wheel alignments right generally? Also seems like readings (supposedly) changed a lot in about 2 months. Have done a lot of suspension work over last few months so possibly everything settling in?

edit : Or could it be simply steering wasn't centered properly during the first try?



Edited by FizzysCar on Saturday 19th October 17:01

Lincsls1

3,327 posts

139 months

Saturday 19th October 2019
quotequote all
I personally haven't had any problems with wheel alignment with either Monaro I've owned, and I have had alignment checks done and minor adjustments made.
I think the steering wheel was probably not set straight correctly or moved when making adjustments. Crap when that happens, which it has to me too, but not on a Ro.

monarodom

1,247 posts

145 months

Saturday 19th October 2019
quotequote all
Mine is also a bit of a pain. Getting it looked at again next week as I have the same issues. Going dead straight I have the steering wheel off centre a fair way turned towards the right! I might just grab the old MF alignment print outs and get it adjusted to that.

FizzysCar

Original Poster:

224 posts

161 months

Saturday 19th October 2019
quotequote all
Thanks. It's a bit odd that when they double checked it with the alignment gear after swapping the wheels they still said it was ok. Play in the rack maybe?

Guess will see how it goes.

vxr2010

2,554 posts

158 months

Saturday 19th October 2019
quotequote all
from the post on here recently , fitting a rack to an ls2 , i think some play in the rack and suspension is normal ie top mounts , the road response pack by pedders helps , tyres are an added factor , i had kuhmos that would tram line quite a bit , vredestines fitted now , not only much better grip but no tram lining

FizzysCar

Original Poster:

224 posts

161 months

Saturday 19th October 2019
quotequote all
Recently built complete new front struts with pedders uprated topmounts. Fitted the front road response pack a while ago. New pedders front lower arms and rack ends. Poly ab and drop link bushes. Should be pretty solid up front, and did feel more precise.

Using conti sport contact 6's XL

Got the tracking done a few months ago because of all the suspension work - recall them having to do it a second time. In fact thought they hadn't done it in the first place, but maybe they did going by todays efforts at a different garage. Having said that I was supplied with a printout of the 2nd attempt and the "before" values were way out, so appeared that wasn't right before 2nd attempt.

Will have to check it all over again just to make sure something isn't amiss.

Edited by FizzysCar on Thursday 12th December 18:16

THUNDER STORM

1,251 posts

168 months

Saturday 19th October 2019
quotequote all
Just let me get this right, car drove perfect until you fitted new part,correct, well it is obviouse you have no problem with rack.
It is that the place you had it tracked at are not doing job right.

I have in the past had good tyres ruined by these computer trackers.

I now do my own with a simple trackig device called Gunson TRACKRITE/

Tyres now wear even and car drives true

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gunson-Tools-Trakrite-W...

link above and I bet you payed more for the incorrect tracking.

Good Luck, its easy

Adebyebye

Edited by THUNDER STORM on Saturday 19th October 20:48

vxr2010

2,554 posts

158 months

Saturday 19th October 2019
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Hi Ade , the tracker thing looks interesting how does it work please ?

FizzysCar

Original Poster:

224 posts

161 months

Saturday 19th October 2019
quotequote all
Interesting - may pick one up.

Few videos on you tube on how to use it. e.g. https://youtu.be/X0ytDJ0mJoQ

Aitch H

170 posts

71 months

Sunday 20th October 2019
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There’s camber, castor and toe details in the FAQ’s at the top of the page.

FizzysCar

Original Poster:

224 posts

161 months

Sunday 20th October 2019
quotequote all
Aitch H said:
There’s camber, castor and toe details in the FAQ’s at the top of the page.
Yup, got those - although it's a little confusing as some comments in threads say that VXR different to CV8 alignment, and even different for '04 VXR. A good baseline though.

I did take a copy with me, as well as the previous readout - but if they can't get it right on the machine it won't really matter what settings I provide.

Didn't monkfish use a Hunter branded system? If needs be I can try tracking down one of those near me somewhere and check whether they have the HSV coupe settings under holden.

What with the brake line replacement issues, the time it took me to get all the bits together for new fronts struts, the rear exhaust hangars on the wortec breaking and now this, ownership is starting to get a little challanging. Probably time to get another runabout and relogate the monaro to a weekend/"fun" car again, or see if somebody fancies a project.

L2VXR

973 posts

212 months

Sunday 20th October 2019
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From 2005 vz hsv monaro factory manual


The tyre life of high performance low-profile tyres fitted to HSV VZ Coupe vehicles is very sensitive to the toe-in setting of
the front suspension. It is crucial therefore, that care is taken to set the toe-in accurately to the correct specification.
The front wheel alignment specification for HSV VZ Coupe Series vehicles is:
TOE-IN
Degrees Total 0°10' ± 0°10'
Degrees Per Wheel 0°05' ± 0°5'
Camber -0°30' ± 0°10'
Caster 7°45' ± 1°15'

Rear suspension geometry should be set within the limits specified:
TOE-IN
Degrees Total 0o20’ ± 0o5’
Degrees Per Wheel 0o10’ ± 0o5’
Camber -1o41’ to -0o25’ (0 o35’
Maximum)
Variation side-to-side 0o10’ maximum.
Positive degrees indicates toe in


FizzysCar

Original Poster:

224 posts

161 months

Sunday 20th October 2019
quotequote all
Thanks, I'll save that for reference later. The readings I have for front are in mm, just to be helpful. Not that I'm certain what they are at the moment anyway.

I think my recent issues have been mainly down to poor garages. I've done an oil change today and while in the engine bay spotted that the front left top boot on my magnacor spark lead has been sliced. Inspecting it and it's cut right through. frown It doesn't look like it's a crack or anything and rest look fine, and thankfully no damage to internals. For now covered it in electrical tape to protect it a bit.

Can only assume it was cut when the previous garage were working on that area for brake line work - but can't say for certain. Still on the hunt for a decent garage it seems.

I haven't got my engine plastic cover on so can't blame that. frown Wonder if they sell individual leads? Not sure if there's been any miss firing or just general Ls1 idle charactertistics.

Front wheels were moved to back yesterday - and checking them out I don't think they'll last much longer on the back. smile

Think a runabout is definitely on the cards.

Lincsls1

3,327 posts

139 months

Sunday 20th October 2019
quotequote all
If its a stock engine then it should tick over nice n smoothly with minimal vibration or harshness.
Yeah, I can't imagine using mine as a daily. Getting a runabout makes these all the more special IMO.

THUNDER STORM

1,251 posts

168 months

Sunday 20th October 2019
quotequote all
vxr2010 said:
Hi Ade , the tracker thing looks interesting how does it work please ?
As another as said its on youtube, so easy its a no brainer.

Just get one guys it will pay for itself by the rubber it saves over the life of the tyre.

And not knocking info given regarding toe in settings, I just did the Trackrite for a perfect 0 and tyres are wearing even and true as I mentioned before.

Adebyebye

bigwheel

1,616 posts

213 months

Sunday 20th October 2019
quotequote all
Get the electrical tape off the spark plug boot. The high temperature around there will melt the sticky and the tape will burn, on the exhaust manifold.
A not too tight cable tidy might be suitable.

FizzysCar

Original Poster:

224 posts

161 months

Sunday 20th October 2019
quotequote all
Took lead off for closer inspection - looks ok at first....



Quick pinch redface



As much as it looks funny having a talking lead cover, not ideal.

Back on the car and this time it's a lot more obvious.



It looks like it had actually torn due to being pushed rather than cut. It was turned a bit to making it not so obvious before. frown I've turned it upside down for now. Would super glue be an option, or would it be best to get a new lead?

bigwheel

1,616 posts

213 months

Sunday 20th October 2019
quotequote all
Just a wee tadge of super glue and turned upside down. Superficial, unless you regularly wash down the engine bay.
Won't need replacing unless moving it has upset the connectivity to the spark plug. The OEM leads are somewhat notorious for not liking moved.

mfp4073

1,940 posts

173 months

Sunday 20th October 2019
quotequote all
I'm far from an expert on ignition systems but I would expect that amount of damage would cause arcing out and eventually misfire especially in damp weather.
There may even be some damage inside the lead that you can't see depending on how carelessly the lead was pulled off the coil pack.
If it was my car I would buy a new quality set of leads and be done with it. At least you would then know you were getting full power to the spark plugs, which at the end of the day is what it's all about.
I also must apologise as has been mentioned on this forum before, I do seem to have a gift of spending other peoples money!!!!!

John

stevieturbo

17,229 posts

246 months

Sunday 20th October 2019
quotequote all
replace it.

At a push if you really like your leads and they're otherwise healthy...just get a new boot

This guy sells a load of parts and would no doubt have something

https://mrretroleads.co.uk/?s=boot&post_type=p...

Edited by stevieturbo on Sunday 20th October 22:43