Hi,
I recently changed the nearside front wishbone on my iS. I changed it to get the car through an MOT (balljoints), so I didn't have time to change both.
The car has eccentric powerflex bushes that are about 3 years old, so I left the same bush on there. Once I'd changed the wishbone, the tracking was well off. That didn't supsrise me too much, since I'd disturbed the front suspension.
However, now that the tracking has been re-set, the nearside front wheel (i.e. the one with the new wishbone) scrubsthe 'front' of it's outside edge on right full lock but the offside doesn't. The car has been dropped 40mm at the front and has 16s so it's not surpising it scrubs, but why only one side?
Does fitting a new wishbone change the position of the wheel enough that it will scrub when it didn't before?
What else could be wrong (besides badly done tracking)?
Cheers.
Front wheel scrubbing on one side after wishbone renewall.
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Brianmoooore
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Compare the amount of thread showing on the track rod ends to each other.
Does the steering wheel make the same number of turns from straight ahead until it hits the stops each way?
Does the steering wheel make the same number of turns from straight ahead until it hits the stops each way?
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MrDazzle
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OK....turning left there's exactly 2 turns to full lock, to the right there are just shy of 2 turns...say about 1/8th short of 2 turns (so 1 7/8th then 
)
It's pissing down ATM so I haven't got down on me hands and knees to examine the rod ends. I'm supposed to take the car back to the dealer after a week to make sure the tracking is still OK so I may get under there and make them show me it's correct.
Dunno if it doesn't turn as far to the right because the scrubbing limits how fa r it'll go, or because the rods are set wrong.
)It's pissing down ATM so I haven't got down on me hands and knees to examine the rod ends. I'm supposed to take the car back to the dealer after a week to make sure the tracking is still OK so I may get under there and make them show me it's correct.
Dunno if it doesn't turn as far to the right because the scrubbing limits how fa r it'll go, or because the rods are set wrong.
sounds like they just wound the steering arm out to compensate for incorrectly seated bush. reset the bush into its correct position then get the tracking done
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Bobbydoughnut
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CHeck he has the alignment set correctly, in line with the book spec +/- .5 degrees on each wheel using 4 wheel tracking tool then it should be set up as square as it shld be, as long as the rear bush hasn't moved as suggested 'at all' (check with the other side),
Being lowered like that on 16" rims...what tyres are on it it may be that it is sitting where it shld be now? Tho do check that the eccentric bush hasn't moved.
Is the other side pretty new? Usually replace arms in pairs to keep the front end properly balanced, like replacing springs, you may find the other side is nearing that age too and it may do the same if replaced..
Being lowered like that on 16" rims...what tyres are on it it may be that it is sitting where it shld be now? Tho do check that the eccentric bush hasn't moved.
Is the other side pretty new? Usually replace arms in pairs to keep the front end properly balanced, like replacing springs, you may find the other side is nearing that age too and it may do the same if replaced..
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MrDazzle
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It's on Powerflex purple bushes...
Do they have a mark like the OE M3 ones to show you they're in the right place? TBH I didn't look, I just assumed they wouldn't move in the lollipops simply because it'd be much easier for the wishbone to move in teh bush than for the bush to move in it's housing.
Other side is on the original BM wishbone still. Like I said, I was pressed for time. I guess I should change the other one (bet I could do it inside an hour now I've done it once) and get it re-tracked.
Do they have a mark like the OE M3 ones to show you they're in the right place? TBH I didn't look, I just assumed they wouldn't move in the lollipops simply because it'd be much easier for the wishbone to move in teh bush than for the bush to move in it's housing.
Other side is on the original BM wishbone still. Like I said, I was pressed for time. I guess I should change the other one (bet I could do it inside an hour now I've done it once) and get it re-tracked.
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Bobbydoughnut
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If they've been in 4 3 yrs then probably not but nothing else has changed, the only thing that's new is the arm. if they set the tracking correctly with the steering wheel locked straight, has it ever been off the column? If not then the rack should be centered. So it's down to 2 things, either the old arm wasn't sitting properly cause it was worn and the new one's ball joint is holding the track of the strut correctly now or the bush has moved and moved the arm track slightly.
Good idea to do the other one, then get it aligned to factory spec, check you manual for optimal settings, and get him to show you on the gauges if you're at all worried that it isn't being set to the correct angle. If you can afford to do the front drop links and roll bar bushes at the same time (not expensive), you will notice a massive improvement
Good idea to do the other one, then get it aligned to factory spec, check you manual for optimal settings, and get him to show you on the gauges if you're at all worried that it isn't being set to the correct angle. If you can afford to do the front drop links and roll bar bushes at the same time (not expensive), you will notice a massive improvement
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MrDazzle
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The steering wheel has been off the column yes...
I could get it tracked at somewhere with a rolling road to make sure it's dead centred??? Does anyone offer that service, I know that's how they do it when they build the cars, but do garages do it?
I could get it tracked at somewhere with a rolling road to make sure it's dead centred??? Does anyone offer that service, I know that's how they do it when they build the cars, but do garages do it?
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Bobbydoughnut
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You'd be lucky to find that methinks, a reasonable run onto the ramp should have it straight and if the steering wheel has been replaced centrally then it should be fine once it's set up correctly. So long as the car runs straight with the styeering wheel in the centre then fine.If the steering wheel wasn't straight and the tracking was then set with the steering wheel centered then the adjustment would be at the rod ends and then the rack would then be out of balance. If it didn't do it before though and the tracking was ok it shouldn't do it now by just replacing an arm if it's setup correctly again.