drifting to the right

[Daveluck]

Hi everyone,

when we purchased out Terrano thre was a noticeable drift to the right when I let go of the wheel. I ended up with uneven tread on the tyres so finally ( after 2 years or so ) visited the tyr shop, xplaind the issue the guy said no problem should be able to sort it come back in an hour.

When we got back, ther was much sucking of teeth and chin rubbing. So the problem of drifting had been sorted however he said ( as best as my spanish will allow me ) that the car had ben in an accident and that he had adjusted whatevr to the maximum he could go but there will continue to be uneven wear and that I needed to come back every 2-3 months and he'll change the wheels around to even it out.

So, after another 2 years without ever going back and changing the wheels around I now unsurprisingly need new tyres. They have both worn on the inside.

I know, I know...it should have been sorted but there is always other things going on and I've got the other Terrano...

Now I'vve got more time to actually look at the problem. I've had a good shufty under the car but can see no obvious damage, no scuffs, dings or whatever. Wings all look original as does the beam along the rad. Steering rack and stuff all looks undamagd too.

So anyone got any suggestions of what could be the problem and / or where else I should be looking or even what should I be looking for?

Cheers

Dave

 

[solarman216]

Hi Dave, if they have both worn on the inside then it usually indicates that you have too much toe out, but this is not something you can adjust with out the right kit, and if as has been stated the car has had a bang then I would be having the whole steering geometry checked. it only wants say a top wishbone to be a little bent (not something you would be able to see) and it can throw other dimensions out as well, Rick

 

[Daveluck]

Thanks for the quick response.

Does that mean a trip to a main dealer?

Cheers

Dave

 

[don simon]

Uff! I thought this was going to be a thread about Mariano Rajoy!! :duno:
I would have thought that any reasonable bodyshop would be able to look at body alignment.
Where in Spain? I know a superb garage in Madrid that I heartily recommend.

 

[solarman216]

Thanks for the quick response.

Does that mean a trip to a main dealer?

Cheers

Dave

If not the main dealers then a competent alignment centre, Rick

 

[The Patrolman]

You could always go old skool
Although you may have a camber issue with the Terrain not having proper suspension at the front:augie

 

[Daveluck]

I know a superb garage in Madrid that I heartily recommend.

Way too far for me. I'm in Galicia!

 

[Daveluck]

If not the main dealers then a competent alignment centre, Rick

OK - I'll have a crack at trying to get the guy to tll me again what he thinks the problem is then take it from there.

Failing that it'll be a PM to The Patrolman to ask him what he is doing in the photo!

 

[The Patrolman]

It's a mate of mine, refused to pay to get his tracking adjusted.
Jacked up the front end. Strapped two long straight lengths of timber to the wheels.
Measure the distance between the two timbers near the truck and then at the end.
If the gap at the end is bigger than the gap near the truck then the wheels are pointing outwards and the insides of the tyres will wear out faster. If the gap is less then the outsides will ware out and it will handle like a three legged pig.
If to set your steering wheel to dead centre you can also take out the offset in the steering that's way too.
worst case you will cocktail it up completely and have to let a garage sort it out, but you had ago.:clap:clap

 

[solarman216]

sorry to say if it was as easy as that we would all be doing it, but it is nowhere near accurate enough, the only thing you can do like that is get the wheels parallel, but to get the correct toe in or out the figures are given for measurement at the wheel rim, and with this method you cannot measure at the rim, but more than that caster angle, king pin inclination etc all need to be checked if a motor has had any kind of front suspension damage, Rick

 

[The Patrolman]

Granted, but if your motor ain't been bent and you just want the tracking doing a simple bit of maths will get your toes pointing in the right direction.
If you have a proper solid axle at the front there's not too much to be bent:nenau
I'm getting my tracking planks this weekend as my Troll drifts a bit and the steering wheel ain't quite straight either..

 

[Banshee]

My Maverick used to do the same, after I re indexed the torsion bars it made it more noticeable in the steering so I got the car tracked and it was fine ever after :thumb2

 

[The Patrolman]

I had a little trouble with the drifting before I got my traking planks out type
www.google.co.uk/url?sa=the&source=...IYIrfxU_UgHDAW6vQ&sig2=TQ8hm8qCvmW8iAmF3N5FBQ

 

[The Patrolman]

Do the cut n paste thing... This tablet will not comply with my fat fingers...

 

[Daveluck]

Mmmmmm...

Sorry for rekindling this post...but I was watching something on TV about replacing track rod ends and realised that there is quite a bit of leeway with regards to fitting the new ends and as far as I can tell it was good to use the same number of turns on that you used to get off.

If one side was replaced but woefully with the wrong number of turns could that cause "I've adjusted as far as I can go but still it isnt enough" rather than a bent /damaged thingy.

I know I,m kind of second guessing the expert (the man in the tyre shop) but what do you reckon? Is there a rough guide to how many / much thread should be visible?

Be gentle with me, this is all a bit new to me.

 

[solarman216]

Sorry for rekindling this post...but I was watching something on TV about replacing track rod ends and realised that there is quite a bit of leeway with regards to fitting the new ends and as far as I can tell it was good to use the same number of turns on that you used to get off.

If one side was replaced but woefully with the wrong number of turns could that cause "I've adjusted as far as I can go but still it isnt enough" rather than a bent /damaged thingy.

I know I,m kind of second guessing the expert (the man in the tyre shop) but what do you reckon? Is there a rough guide to how many / much thread should be visible?

Be gentle with me, this is all a bit new to me.

sorry mate but no guide at all, fit your new TRE and then take it to a garage that does alignment, you have no choice, even I have to go this route as do not have the required kit, Rick