steering tracking

[clivvy]

still being fairly new to 4x4's, hows the steering in yours? i always find mine pointing to the right a bit to go straight, but i've been told that with 4x4's you get a certain amount of play due to the tyres etc, is this true, or should I just go get my steering tracked?

 

[felixthelogchopper]

Always worth getting it done for the sake of your tyres, especially if you go off-road much. Had mine done when I bought it and it was a long way out, meaning new front tyres :doh

 

[lacroupade]

still being fairly new to 4x4's, hows the steering in yours? i always find mine pointing to the right a bit to go straight, but i've been told that with 4x4's you get a certain amount of play due to the tyres etc, is this true, or should I just go get my steering tracked?

NO its complete BOLLOX clivvy - unless you drive some wallowing barge with shite suspension like a Disco. Should drive in a nice straight line hands off - anyone who tells you otherwise is talking nonsense - I've had three of these things and all have been fine in this respect; No.3 once I'd sorted the sticking caliper piston.

It could be a number of things; tracking, buckled wheel, sticking caliper, loose wheel bearing, blah blah blah....I'd start with tracking first though, then brakes (just jack both sides up and see if theres any resistance to rotation, and while you're there, grab the wheel top and bottom and see if theres any play when you try and rock it at rght angles to the car - that would be a bearing problem)....

PS the only exception I'd make is if you have serious mud tyres fitted, in which case you'll get all sorts of wobbling and steering issues.

 

[lacroupade]

The other thing to check Clivvy is that the front is sitting dead level both sides, i.e. torsion bars are equally adjusted, cos if it doesn't, the differential in suspension levels would alter the geometry a bit and probably cause it to wander off to one side.

Need to sit it on as near to dead level a surface as you can find.... and measure road to wheel arch height accurately....

 

[macabethiel]

steering palm test

Is the steering wheel straight when its going dead straight ?
If its slightly off centre for straight on with no steering pull to the left or right then it may have been tracked at some time unequally on the track rod ends if you get my meaning.

In my experience a good indicator of steering geometry is to do a simple test that my late Father taught me.

If the tyres have been on the same axle etc for the last 100 miles use the flat palm test!

With the palm of your hand flat on the tyre width and with your fingers pointing towards the inner wing panel push your hand accross the tyre and then pull it back towards you.

You should not feel a file or grain effect it should be smooth in both directions - if it is your tracking is fine.

If there is a definite difference and it is rough in one direction and smooth in the other the tracking is out. The more marked the difference is the greater the tracking error. I cant remeber which way round it is but if the grain runs one way its excessive toe-in If and the opposite direction its excessive toe-out

If you repeat this test moving your hand up and down following the wheel rotation you will feel some file effect if its very pronounced this is an indication of how heavy footed your driving is !

If you have a file handy just try pushing your palm over it and then reverse it and you will feel the grain of the file - that the effect I am trying to explain

 

[rustic]

With the palm of your hand flat on the tyre width and with your fingers pointing towards the inner wing panel push your hand accross the tyre and then pull it back towards you.

You should not feel a file or grain effect it should be smooth in both directions - if it is your tracking is fine.

If there is a definite difference and it is rough in one direction and smooth in the other the tracking is out. The more marked the difference is the greater the tracking error. I cant remeber which way round it is but if the grain runs one way its excessive toe-in If and the opposite direction its excessive toe-out

If you repeat this test moving your hand up and down following the wheel rotation you will feel some file effect if its very pronounced this is an indication of how heavy footed your driving is !

If you have a file handy just try pushing your palm over it and then reverse it and you will feel the grain of the file - that the effect I am trying to explain

What an excellent description, I'll check mine tonight.:clap
We forget the old simple checks. This is an easy one to try. :clap:clap
Thanks for spending the time to describe it.
Best regards, Rustic

 

[clivvy]

well, i have something like 50/50 or 60/40 tyres, so quite chunky, but breaking seems ok , i'll re check because im not sure if itspulling under breaking or not but when i am driving with steering wheel DEAD centre, it goes off to the left.

i'll have the tracking checked first, its just the last car i had this on, a Fourtrak, did the same, and garage said tracking was fine...

 

[lacroupade]

well, i have something like 50/50 or 60/40 tyres, so quite chunky, but breaking seems ok , i'll re check because im not sure if itspulling under breaking or not but when i am driving with steering wheel DEAD centre, it goes off to the left.

i'll have the tracking checked first, its just the last car i had this on, a Fourtrak, did the same, and garage said tracking was fine...

Then it WILL be something Clivvy.....your chunky tyres would make it wobble/wander a little bit but thats all.....a definite pulling just isn't right.

I am assuming you've checked the obvious stuff like tyre pressures etc..? (Although no idea what "etc.." is!! LOL :lol)...

And try rotating the tyres when the trucks jacked up.....see if they rotate in true if you know what I mean, i.e. a tyre hasn't been fitted slightly squiffily....

 

[clivvy]

no, theres no pulling, so if i put my foot down for example, it doesnt pull to one side, its just the steering wheel, probably just needs tracking, hasnt been done since I bought it, and probably not by the previous owner.

 

[lacroupade]

no, theres no pulling, so if i put my foot down for example, it doesnt pull to one side, its just the steering wheel, probably just needs tracking, hasnt been done since I bought it, and probably not by the previous owner.

When I meant pulling, I meant under normal drive, not braking; if it was a sticky caliper piston, its permanently almost stuck on....your braking force will be the same both sides, its just that one side won't be fully disengaging when you take your foot off, hence the pulling to one side.

But from what you say I reckon an alignment check ought to fix it....good luck! :thumb2

 

[eboy]

sounds like steering wheel out of align, tracking maybe ok but could of been adjusted more on one side causing your problem, what needs to be done is adjusting tracking one way, say osf toe out nsf toe in that should straighten you wheel, but make sure you adjust it the right way though thats the best way to describe it, its easier to do than explain but hope this helps in some way.
cheers eboy

 

[lacroupade]

sounds like steering wheel out of align, tracking maybe ok but could of been adjusted more on one side causing your problem, what needs to be done is adjusting tracking one way, say osf toe out nsf toe in that should straighten you wheel, but make sure you adjust it the right way though thats the best way to describe it, its easier to do than explain but hope this helps in some way.
cheers eboy

I thought you'd left the planet mate! Good to see you back! :thumb2

 

[clivvy]

sounds like steering wheel out of align, tracking maybe ok but could of been adjusted more on one side causing your problem, what needs to be done is adjusting tracking one way, say osf toe out nsf toe in that should straighten you wheel, but make sure you adjust it the right way though thats the best way to describe it, its easier to do than explain but hope this helps in some way.
cheers eboy

I understand what you mean Eboy and ill be getting garage to do it as its not something I know hwo to do properly, plus its not megga bucks to have it done properly!

 

[eboy]

I thought you'd left the planet mate! Good to see you back! :thumb2

hi mate, been around but not posting much forgot to renew membership so missed a month, but back now plus been looking after the mrs for the last 7 months as she had a stroke, but well on the mend now and back at work and driving which is a releif.

clivvy, make sure they dont rip you off mate and do it correctly as it can muck up your alignment if done wrong, cos most of the other lads at work dont like doing it but get me to even on there homers.:lol
cheers eboy.

 

[lacroupade]

hi mate, been around but not posting much forgot to renew membership so missed a month, but back now plus been looking after the mrs for the last 7 months as she had a stroke, but well on the mend now and back at work and driving which is a releif.

clivvy, make sure they dont rip you off mate and do it correctly as it can muck up your alignment if done wrong, cos most of the other lads at work dont like doing it but get me to even on there homers.:lol
cheers eboy.

Really sorry to hear that - I hope she makes a decent recovery and you can get out again this summer :thumbs:thumbs:thumbs

All our very best to her.

 

[eboy]

Really sorry to hear that - I hope she makes a decent recovery and you can get out again this summer :thumbs:thumbs:thumbs

All our very best to her.

thanks mate shes made a great recovery slight speech damage but not bad now and a bit forgetfull but on the hole shes great booked to go back to newquay again cant wait
she even used the truck in the snow in 4x4 mode as did i what a truck awsome glad we got it now anyway a bit off topic:doh
cheers eboy