Wheels don't allign

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FMH
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Mon Aug 01, 2011 7:34 pm

Had the cab wheels laser alligned (all four) after fitting new tracks.
Still pulls to the left, took it back 2 times and does the same thing.

Any idea what it could be?
turkeysneck
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Mon Aug 01, 2011 8:17 pm

There is a million and one things that can make a car pull one way or another. The problem is with laser alignment is it's only as good as the bloke using it and sadly it seems most people haven't got a clue. If the alignment has been done correctly I'd be checking the tyres because if they are worn uneven only slightly that can cause it to pull. Also cheaper rotational tyres can cause it, due to the way they are moulded but then again this is not going to cause a severe pull. If it has an unusual amount of set back that can also cause it. From experience the biggest culprit is the person who has done the alignment, he hasn't compensated for the amount of uneven toe on the rear, this is really important to make the car drive straight but that is only the case if the rear is non adjustable. If you've changed the rear beam and made it adjustable then I'd be tempted to get a second opinion because when all four wheels are adjustable believe it or not it's a piece of cake to to align and you should get near perfect results.
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Mon Aug 01, 2011 8:27 pm

Who are you using? 8O
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Mon Aug 01, 2011 10:58 pm

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FMH
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Mon Aug 01, 2011 11:47 pm

Rav335uk wrote:Who are you using? 8O
kwik fit
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Mon Aug 01, 2011 11:48 pm

FMH wrote:Had the cab wheels laser alligned (all four) after fitting new tracks.
Still pulls to the left, took it back 2 times and does the same thing.

Any idea what it could be?
FMH wrote: kwik fit
HTH :D
FMH
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Mon Aug 01, 2011 11:49 pm

turkeysneck wrote:There is a million and one things that can make a car pull one way or another. The problem is with laser alignment is it's only as good as the bloke using it and sadly it seems most people haven't got a clue. If the alignment has been done correctly I'd be checking the tyres because if they are worn uneven only slightly that can cause it to pull. Also cheaper rotational tyres can cause it, due to the way they are moulded but then again this is not going to cause a severe pull. If it has an unusual amount of set back that can also cause it. From experience the biggest culprit is the person who has done the alignment, he hasn't compensated for the amount of uneven toe on the rear, this is really important to make the car drive straight but that is only the case if the rear is non adjustable. If you've changed the rear beam and made it adjustable then I'd be tempted to get a second opinion because when all four wheels are adjustable believe it or not it's a piece of cake to to align and you should get near perfect results.
all four tyres are brand new, so no uneven wear. the thing is, i can now clearly see the left wheel is not straight, i decided to allign it myself, will see how it drives tomorrow.
FMH
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Mon Aug 01, 2011 11:50 pm

e30topless wrote:
FMH wrote:Had the cab wheels laser alligned (all four) after fitting new tracks.
Still pulls to the left, took it back 2 times and does the same thing.

Any idea what it could be?
FMH wrote: kwik fit
HTH :D
are they meant to be useless?
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Kos
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Tue Aug 02, 2011 12:59 am

usually yes, occasionally dangerous
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Kos
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Tue Aug 02, 2011 12:59 am

where's the print out they gave you
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Tue Aug 02, 2011 1:13 am

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Tue Aug 02, 2011 9:01 am

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martauto
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Tue Aug 02, 2011 7:42 pm

FMH wrote:
e30topless wrote:
FMH wrote:Had the cab wheels laser alligned (all four) after fitting new tracks.
Still pulls to the left, took it back 2 times and does the same thing.

Any idea what it could be?
FMH wrote: kwik fit
HTH :D
are they meant to be useless?
I dont think they go out of their way to be useless, but they have a bloody good knack for it.

Mart.
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Just got too old.
Rav335uk
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Tue Aug 02, 2011 8:41 pm

I didn't think you could do 4 wheel tracking on the E30?? :?
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turkeysneck
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Tue Aug 02, 2011 8:44 pm

You can't but you have to take measurements from the rear to get correct alignment at the front.
The rears are never equal so you have to compensate for this.
ultralinear
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Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:16 am

Get her on a hunter machine.
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Thu Aug 04, 2011 6:08 pm

ultralinear wrote:Get her on a hunter machine.
http://classic.multimap.com/clients/pla ... lignmycar3
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Davies31
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Thu Aug 04, 2011 8:03 pm

Now I'm intrigued! What's a Hunter machine; how does it differ?
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Thu Aug 04, 2011 9:30 pm

The Hunter system uses camera's connected to a computer and measures much more than the old dunlop guages or the "Supertracker" laser type ones.

Oh, and it's the same system BMW use when the cars are setup at the factory. :D

Further info on the website.


http://www.pro-align.co.uk/amc/wheelalignment.htm
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FMH
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Sat Aug 06, 2011 3:39 pm

just took the car to another place, apparently the passenger side wheel has too much positive camber, drivers side is showing -00.51 and passengers is showing +00.62, he suggests thats the reason, so whats the cure? a shock or wishbone?
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Kos
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Sun Aug 07, 2011 11:46 pm

Top mount, strut ...........
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Mon Aug 08, 2011 12:13 am

FMH wrote:
Rav335uk wrote:Who are you using? 8O
kwik fit
say's it all :mrgreen:
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FMH
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Mon Aug 08, 2011 1:08 am

Kos wrote:Top mount, strut ...........
Will change the top mount first, then the strut, as its a basta*d to find a m3 strut local. Cheers
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