Wheel Alginment issues and vibration at high speeds.

[lok19]

Hey guys,

The wheel alignment on my sprinter seems to be stuffed. I've had it lowered on King Springs, but no other mods. The Lower control arm bushes, castor rod bushes have been recently replaced with Peddars polyurathane bushes, and the ball joints are also new.

This was done 3 months ago, and the castor settings were set to about +3deg on both sides. After about a month, the car started pulling right and the steering was heavier turning one way. I had the alignment re-done 3 days ago and the told me that the castor was +4deg on one side and +2deg on the other. The steering wheel also shimmeys when under brakes as well.

I haven't hit anything, gutters etc. and apparently there is no damage to the castor rods. I thought that replacing bushes would stop the alignment going out every month or so, but this has not helped. Wheel bearings were replced about a year ago too. The steering rack has also been rebuilt.

What else needs to be done? Anyone else have these problems? Any suggestions/pointer appreciated.


Cheers,


Lok19.

[chapl]

try getting your wheels balanced..... also check tire pressure....

[lok19]

I check my tyre pressure every week or so, and this helps with the vibration at speed, but doesn't seem to do anything for alignment.


Lok 19.

[shortround]

I check my tyre pressure every week or so, and this helps with the vibration at speed, but doesn't seem to do anything for alignment.


Lok 19.[/b]

checked the front brakes?

I had similar symptoms with my daily driver a while ago. it was the result of a a sticky caliper, which warped the disc over time. This made the car pull to one side, and shudder (esp. under braking!)

Andrew.

[mc68]

how much toe out have you got?

[lok19]

Hey guys,

Shortround: No not yet. This will probably be the next step.

mc68: The total toe was -0.2mm and after recent wheel alignment +0.8mm.

Thanks for the help guys.


Lok 19.

[skit]

Might pay to check your wheel bearings are tensioned correctly. Vibration at speed, which is exacerbated under braking is a symptom of loose wheel bearings. You can discount rotor run-out so long as the braking vibration is only through the wheels, not pulsing through the brake pedal aswell.

Bearing adjustment should have been picked up when they did your alignment, but you never know. If they're loose, and you are unsure of how much to tighten them, take them to someone to do for you. Don't overtighten the outer bearings or you will spin them inside the hub and/or machine a groove into the stub axle.

[lok19]

Ok. Thanks. I'll have them checked out asap. Probably check the brakes too, never know for an old car.

Cheers


Lok19.

[Buddy]

i had a similar problem.. wheel bearing where the answer

[lok19]

Hey,

Buddy: So was it the vibration formt he wheel bearings that was causing the castor to be out by so much? Either way, will get them checked out. Hopefully solves the problem.


Lok19.