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MG MGF Technical - HANDLING/STEERING

Dear All, Further to my previous thread in December I am still having problems with my handling.

I had a blow out to the rear right hand side tyre. Had a new one fitted, same spec, and it started pulling to the left at high speeds (especially on the motorway), had the tracking done (£90 at a main dealer in Warrington, what a rip off, they said they couldn't change the camber angle as i had lowering kit fitted).

Now the handling is worse than ever, it pulls severely to the left, when you correct slightly it pulls to the right. I doesn't seem to want to go in a straight line. Low speeds is bearable, but travelling on the motorway each day is a bit of a nightmare.......please help!!!!
andreahall

There's nothing that can be done about camber on a normal tracking rig anyway Andrea - it's non-adjustable on an MG.

What were the final figures in the end?

And remind me (sorry Goldfish brain me) - have you got a MGF or TF?
Rob Bell

I have an MGF 2000 VVC, I didn't get a print out! duh huh.

But the actual invoice quotes as follows:-

"Carried out 4 wheel alignment and found K.P.I, Camber and Toe out of adjustment, carried out adjustment to toe only due to unable to to adjust camber and K.P.I due to lowering kit on suspension"

Hope this makes sense!
andreahall

Yes, that makes sense Andrea. Unfortunately, you're still left with the car vearing to one side.

I know we've been through all this before - but assuming that the tyres are okay, the pressures are okay, the brakes aren't binding and that the suspension hasn't been damaged following the blow out, then all you are left with is a tracking issue.

What I'd suggest you do is take your car to a MGF specialist, as you really need to have your car's suspension properly looked over. I'd recommend Techspeed, as they are probably the most experienced company near you with setting up suspension systems (they work with the race cars as well as working on customer road cars).

Roy's still off at the moment, so chat with Marvin - 01926 632066
Rob Bell

>then all you are left with is a tracking issue.

Or worn shocks/bushes - techspeed are the way forward though!
Will Munns

Obviously i replaced the tyre on the one side that blew. I have Goodyear D3's on rear, and D2's on front, obviouly one rear has more tread than the other (being new). Maybe i should swap tyres round D2's on rear and D3's on front? Checked pressures and they are set to 26 on front and 28 on rear!

My service is due shortly (end of March), I was going to book in with Mike Satur, which is only a couple of hours away. I can wait till then, I just hope it hasn't done any damage to the car which is going to get worse in the meantime, as driving to and from work each day!

Thanks for your help Rob!
andreahall

Mike will also be in an excellent position to help you out too Andrea - just let him know in advance what the problems are.

Interesting that you've got GS-D2s on the front, and GS-D3s on the rear... I am sure that you've already come across the many threads that where some people have had genuine problems mixing their tyres - particularly GS-D3s with GS-D2s?

Prompted this: http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/popups/tyres/GS_D3.htm

Usually people just report instability - but what you are suffering just might have something to do with that new tyre.

Unless you've got the same size tyres on the front as on the rear (I have), I wouldn't recommend swapping front to rear - but IF they are the same size, then swapping them will do no harm - and can potentially solve the problem.

When Dave Livingstone last replaced his rear Bridgestone S-02s on his car, he found the handling to be absolutely horrendous. He swapped the new tyres around to the front, and lo and behold, handling woes were solved... So there is a precedent for what you propose.

Let us know how you get on Andrea :o)
Rob Bell

Thanks Rob, they are the same size on front and rear! I will swap them round, do I have to have the tracking done again after I have swapped them? I have had D3's on the rear for about a year, I couldn't get any D2's so opted for D3's, I didn't have that much of a problem up until now. I will give that a go and see how it goes. Grateful for your help!
andreahall

Andrea.
You have Mail.
Mark.L

I wonder if the problem is down to the fact you now have one fairly new rear tyre, and one worn one on the same axle?
How many miles had you done on the rear tyre prior to the blow out? You say there had been on about a year so I suspect thats quite a few miles.
When replacing a rear tyre it is normally advisable to replace both rears at the same time unless the tyre that doesn't need replacing has not been on long i.e. a less then a couple of thousand miles.
Steve White

This thread was discussed on 21/01/2005

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