If my Tracking is straight then why

[Danny DeVito]

Is my tyre still wearing on the outside ? It drives straight and doesn't pull either way. Camber is not adjustable. I dont know why else it is wearing away

 

[renault12ts]

Could be wear in the suspension arm bushes.

 

[Danny DeVito]

You mean the wishbones ?

 

[renault12ts]

Yes.

 

[malcolmsmill]

if the picture is of yours, i.e. mk1 vito, there is a pair of bolts on the bottom of the suspension strut.

one is a nut and bolt, the other an oval adjuster bolt.

these change the camber and can be undone when a shaft or bearing is changed.

 

[malcolmsmill]

Just Checked, New Vito (639) has same adjustment system - 2 bolts, slacken one, adjust other (cam bolt)

Both types (638 & 639) knocked out of alignment and camber by potholes / rocks in road,

 

[wheels-inmotion]

Just Checked, New Vito (639) has same adjustment system - 2 bolts, slacken one, adjust other (cam bolt)

Both types (638 & 639) knocked out of alignment and camber by potholes / rocks in road,

Well said.... Also point to remember the reason it's adjustable is it's expected to change over time.

 

[Danny DeVito]

Thats great i see the oval one, it has an oval head that pushes against the strut. Funny on the other side someone mixed them up but it's still ok. Then I can adjust them later in the week.. Isnt it odd that i asked the service manager in MB to tell me if it was adjustable and both he and his mechanic told me it wasn't

 

[malcolmsmill]

If you look, the bolt head has a "cam" just under the hexagonal bit and there is another "cam" washer under the nut.

OF COURSE mb said you can't do it as it needs specialist equipment, hence THEM and a lot of money.......... a 4 wheel check from MB is quoted as £350 plus vat plus any additional costs (time) if they adjust anything.

NOTE MB don't do it themselves but call in a specialist firm.

However with the angle known (consult WIS with your vin number) you can put an inclinometer on the wheel (or support the wheel hub at road height and attach the inclinometer to the brake disc for better access) slacken the bolt on the bottom of the leg and adjust the cam bolt; when the inclinometer is at the correct reading, tighten the nuts and recheck (in case it moved slightly)

I got an inclinometer (digital spirit level) on ebay for £18 from hong kong (10days delivery) and they are easy to use on a level driveway.

To level the wheel, measure the centre from the ground (accurately) remove the wheel and support the hub on a stand or the like at the same height from the centre to the ground (I used a building block and a couple of bits of wood) although you can do it without removing the wheel, it does make it easier.


Last Beer 16 feb 1989............. if someone tells you when they had their last.... it WASN'T their choice.

 

[malcolmsmill]

One extra thought......

When they introduced more roundabouts in warrington AND they increased the camber on the roundabouts...... everyone suddenly found their nearside wheels wearing out on one side (the inside half)

This was due to the turning around the roundabout and high camber of the roundabouts...... apparently the camber meant you were slopeing outwards on the roundabout forcing people to slow down.

The Cure was simple, people stopped going into warrington if they could go elsewhere to shop.

They never have come to terms with why the number of motorcycle accidents rose so sharply on roundabouts ........... Doh!!!!

 

[2003-c180kcoupe]

my front tyres are also wearing on the outside , would a normal tyre fitter be able to fix this when i get the tyres changed or would i have to take it somewhere else ?

 

[malcolmsmill]

Not a tyre fitters normal job BUT most should be able to do it.

The job if you have adjusters is simple; slacken one bolt, turn the adjuster, measure the angle (degrees off vertical) and tighten.

15mins per wheel. IF they have the gauges (as I said they can be very cheap) and settings.

Get the settings (if they're adjustable) from WIS and take them with you to ask the fitter...... you never know if you don't ask...... be warned, if like a vito they are really easy, most garages will still ask a fortune...... a lot of cars are VERY difficult to adjust, IF they can be adjusted.

STAGE 1.... give your VIN and get someone to look up if its possible in WIS, get the readings from WIS buy him a prezzie for his trouble.

remember ALL things merc need a VIN to get the info properly

 

[2003-c180kcoupe]

im going to get my tyres checked at the weekend to see how many miles they have left in them and will see what they have to say , i might try a few different places

 

[Danny DeVito]

I think maybe thats more likely to be just tracking is off than camber. I've never out of all my cars had to think about camber adjustments ( lucky maybe ) but good luck Mr Kcoupe

 

[Danny DeVito]

If you look, the bolt head has a "cam" just under the hexagonal bit and there is another "cam" washer under the nut.

OF COURSE mb said you can't do it as it needs specialist equipment, hence THEM and a lot of money.......... a 4 wheel check from MB is quoted as £350 plus vat plus any additional costs (time) if they adjust anything.

NOTE MB don't do it themselves but call in a specialist firm.

However with the angle known (consult WIS with your vin number) you can put an inclinometer on the wheel (or support the wheel hub at road height and attach the inclinometer to the brake disc for better access) slacken the bolt on the bottom of the leg and adjust the cam bolt; when the inclinometer is at the correct reading, tighten the nuts and recheck (in case it moved slightly)

I got an inclinometer (digital spirit level) on ebay for £18 from hong kong (10days delivery) and they are easy to use on a level driveway.

To level the wheel, measure the centre from the ground (accurately) remove the wheel and support the hub on a stand or the like at the same height from the centre to the ground (I used a building block and a couple of bits of wood) although you can do it without removing the wheel, it does make it easier.


Last Beer 16 feb 1989............. if someone tells you when they had their last.... it WASN'T their choice.

I see the bolts thanks !
I should have said that MB told me that there was NO adjustment and made no effort to offer services or anything else ! I was a bit miffed by the whole visit. I went to MB to absolutely make sure i got the codes read properly and get the right info out of them that i need to make the repairs or whatever i needed. I got a report stating that there were no faults in the gearbox. My akse sensor was faulty and quoted 560 euro to replace. Nearly 500 euro might fix my gearbox issue with a flush but maybe not and that i should go to a gearbox specialist. Thanks for your money and we don't know so go elsewhere.
When i posted the question about the camber Malcolm responded promptly and correctly (thanks to him!!)
When i looked at the fault printouts i see a section tells what systems are installed and as i look them up AGN is gearbox and yes it has faults. 1 :- the gearbox fault light doesn't work ! The other faults are all pressure regulator faults. So i phoned them up and the service manager i dealt with is now back in the workshop on mechanic duty ( god help the people he repairs for) i spoke to the new guy, i asked him why the report says no faults and yet the fault list says 5 faults and he wasn't sure. He agreed that procedure wasn't followed so i have to go back next week and get a proper diagnosis done when the good tech is back on duty. So i think he may as well have asked the dinner lady if the camber was adjustable. The new chap was nice enough so i'll wait and see what happens.

 

[malcolmsmill]

I agree with the comment about it being tracking.

It is unusual for camber to change in normal use, mine was due to a mechanic slackening the bolt in error....... why?

Other common reasons are loading and persistant cornering causing the weight of the vehicle to force the wheels into a sideways movement, coupled with road faults such as potholes and broken road edges camber can be knocked out.

This odd effect used to exhibit itself with austin 1100s which would break the cv joint and the wheel snapped off == quite a common sight in the 70s...... same cause and effect but a different outcome, at least the merc wheels don't tend to break off.

 

[Danny DeVito]

Well i'm hoping the wheel doesn't come off !!!

 

[malcolmsmill]

if its really an austin 1100 you need your eyes testing!

AND a good psychiatrist.

 

[Danny DeVito]

I need both anyway but it's still not an Austin at least then it might be worth something

 

[chris846]

Austin Allegros...
Yes it was a very common sight for a while - seeing an Allegro parked up on or just off a roundabout with the owner stood contemplating a collapsed front wheel.