Tracking issues.....

[nogginthenog]

I have just bought a Fiat Multipla ( I know - I'm so lucky to own such a great looking car! ) It's very low mileage ( 20K ) and all in all a very good motor apart from a persistent pull to the left on straight roads. I guess this is a tracking issue, so I took it to my local tyre & tracking place, and they 'fixed' the tracking. When I took it for a test-drive, the problem was still there, so I went back to the tracking place and asked them to do it again. They suggested it was because the front tyres had different amounts of wear, I doubted this, but asked them to try swapping the back wheels to the front because the back ones are almost identical. They kindly did this, but after another test-drive the problem was no better. When I returned and asked them to try the tracking again, they said it can't be done because the car has just been jacked-up ( to swap the wheels ) and I must drive for at least 20 miles and leave it overnight for the suspension to settle down before they can do the tracking. This is obviously not a problem for me to do, but I do wonder if they are trying to pull the wool over my eyes?

So - can tracking be done straight after the vehicle being jacked-up??

[freenote]

How about a wheel-alignment?

[jon-]

They're being extremely anal. Most places are happy to roll the car backwards and forwards by a few metres to settle the suspension.

[nogginthenog]

freenote said:

How about a wheel-alignment?

.....is that a different thing from tracking?

[nogginthenog]

jon- said:

They're being extremely anal. Most places are happy to roll the car backwards and forwards by a few metres to settle the suspension.

This is what I thought!

[freenote]

nogginthenog said:

freenote said:

How about a wheel-alignment?

.....is that a different thing from tracking?

I always thought it was but I'm far from an expert.

[jon-]

freenote said:

nogginthenog said:

freenote said:

How about a wheel-alignment?

.....is that a different thing from tracking?

I always thought it was but I'm far from an expert.

I think traditionally "tracking" refers to aligning the fronts off the back, where a true "four wheel alignment" aligns all 4 independently (and can check loads of other clever stuff too)

These days the terms seem to be blurred, so it's easiest to check exactly what you're getting.

[bigdods]

Get a full geo setup from somewhere like wheels in motion in chesham (they have other places around the country). Not only will they align everything propery they will also identify any worn components like wishbone bushes that may need to be replaced

[freenote]

If you're around North London I've always found Central Tyre in Colindale pretty good.

[nogginthenog]

bigdods said:

Get a full geo setup from somewhere like wheels in motion in chesham (they have other places around the country). Not only will they align everything propery they will also identify any worn components like wishbone bushes that may need to be replaced

Thanks. They look like they know their stuff

[jon-]

nogginthenog said:

bigdods said:

Get a full geo setup from somewhere like wheels in motion in chesham (they have other places around the country). Not only will they align everything propery they will also identify any worn components like wishbone bushes that may need to be replaced

Thanks. They look like they know their stuff

WIM / Blackboots are awesome. Tony Bones really knows his geo.