Handling and geo setup
Discussion
I'm sure that I'm preaching to the converted, but I'd like to pass on my recent experiences after mentioning to the garage that I thought the car was very twitchy.
Beforehand, particularly under braking and / or on bumpy country roads my T350 sometimes felt a little disconnected from the road.
Steering input was difficult: one minute you were turning in just enough, the next moment too much or not enough.
Quite nerve-wracking, but I put it down to the nature of the beast. Getting the tyre pressures right made a little bit of difference but it required 110% concentration on anything but the most billiard table-smooth road.
Anyhow, I mentioned this when I dropped the car off for service a couple of weekends ago and he said that he'd take a look.
The track rod ends were found to be worn, probably resulting in the random steering, and were therefore replaced. As a result of the work the car got a complete 4-wheel geo setup.
The difference is chalk and cheese.Everything about the handling now inspires confidence and it feels much more like the car that I had hoped it would be. Country lanes are infinitely more fun and there's even a noticable difference on the motorway.
To sum up: if you think your car's a handful and you haven't had the geo checked recently, go to someone who knows what they're doing and get it done. You really won't regret it!
Beforehand, particularly under braking and / or on bumpy country roads my T350 sometimes felt a little disconnected from the road.
Steering input was difficult: one minute you were turning in just enough, the next moment too much or not enough.
Quite nerve-wracking, but I put it down to the nature of the beast. Getting the tyre pressures right made a little bit of difference but it required 110% concentration on anything but the most billiard table-smooth road.
Anyhow, I mentioned this when I dropped the car off for service a couple of weekends ago and he said that he'd take a look.
The track rod ends were found to be worn, probably resulting in the random steering, and were therefore replaced. As a result of the work the car got a complete 4-wheel geo setup.
The difference is chalk and cheese.Everything about the handling now inspires confidence and it feels much more like the car that I had hoped it would be. Country lanes are infinitely more fun and there's even a noticable difference on the motorway.
To sum up: if you think your car's a handful and you haven't had the geo checked recently, go to someone who knows what they're doing and get it done. You really won't regret it!
Thanks Mark a useful insight into your experiences. Ive not got a service due until May (pre Le Mans 
) but have been toying with getting a geo setup check done for a while and am definitely gonna pay the extra to have it done now.
I'll let you if the improvements were as noticable for me as they obviously were for you.
In the meantime the OCD part of me is struggling to live with a reverse light that comes on everytime I change into 4th
- not serious but I hate thinking the car isnt perfect. Ive seen what I think is required by way of repairs to correct it in Grahams Sagaris manual but not sure if a novice mechanic like me is up to it - I believe its something to do with a slight movement in the gear stick thats occurred thats now making the electrical connection at the wrong time?
) but have been toying with getting a geo setup check done for a while and am definitely gonna pay the extra to have it done now.I'll let you if the improvements were as noticable for me as they obviously were for you.
In the meantime the OCD part of me is struggling to live with a reverse light that comes on everytime I change into 4th
- not serious but I hate thinking the car isnt perfect. Ive seen what I think is required by way of repairs to correct it in Grahams Sagaris manual but not sure if a novice mechanic like me is up to it - I believe its something to do with a slight movement in the gear stick thats occurred thats now making the electrical connection at the wrong time?I'm no whizz with the spanners either but i'm quite happy to give these things a go.
Much easier if you've got a copy of Graham's manual for sure!
Simple answer is to take your time and think about what you're doing. If you're careful and methodical you shouldn't have too many problems.
Perhaps ask a competent friend to help?
Much easier if you've got a copy of Graham's manual for sure!
Simple answer is to take your time and think about what you're doing. If you're careful and methodical you shouldn't have too many problems.
Perhaps ask a competent friend to help?
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