GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: M on 01 August 2003, 07:51
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I've just had new lowered springs fitted to my 1990 16v and wanted to know if I need a VW garage to check and adjust the suspension setup as the steering now feels quite light.
Cheers
M
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It would be wise to get your tracking and camber checked.
Regards.
Dean.
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Agreed, tracking and camber may need adjusting.
There is only 1 garage capable of doing the job in our area and it cost 55 quid.
You could visually see how bad my wheels were. It felt like power assisted steering when going right, and an armwrestling nightmare when going left.
Your suspension probably won't need checking. Its a nut and bolt job.
Regards,
Tin
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how do you adjust the camber?
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Cant imagine you wanting to change the camber yourself. The change is easy to make but its measuring the change thats the problem.
Its really a specialist job, and for 50quid its going to save you alot of fiddling about guestimating the correct camber and tracking of both wheels.
Regards,
Tin
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Any place that does lazer alignment tracking can set your trcking and camber, ie the likes of Kwik fit and any othertyre and exhaust place.
Cost me ?25.
You adjust the tracking by lossening the twon nuts that fasten your strut to your bearing casing.
Regards.
Dean.
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Please dont go to a VW garage, they cost a forune, get yourself down to a back alley tyre garage, I always fond their cheep and get the job done as its supossed to be done, always find Kwik fit and ATS are too expensive... Good luck... ;D
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Adjusting camber is easy to do if you have a spirit level. Put the spirit level on the front panel with a jack under the side to be adjusted, lower the jack until it is level(wheel removed) then put the spirit level on the brake disc and adjust the strut/ wishbone until it is level.
?? surely this will leave you with wheels that are at best 90 degrees upright. at worst, you will have absolutely no idea what that the angle will be.
Tinman
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What i'm trying to say is that you do not want the camber at 90 degrees. A spirit level is not an accurate measuring device.
The toe in and camber is as follows:
Total toe: 0degrees +- 10'
Camber (GTI only): -35' +-20'
You could use any simple way of measuring the camber as long as you can measure minutes.
Also, if the camber is -35' +-20', then the camber will never be 0degrees (or 90degrees) which ever way you look at it.
Regards,
Tin
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Handbags at dawn!!!
Think I'll get VW to do it just to be sure.
Many thanks.
M
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But you don't want your wheels bolt upright.
You want your front wheels to camber in very slightly. Thats why there is a position which i quoted in my last posting.
As far as we can tell the camber is designed to create an equal pushing force on both sides of your front wheels.
This force then compensate for any minor inaccuracies in your steering setup. Otherwise, you'll drive down the road continually making minor adjustments to your steering.
I don't doubt that you want a car with front wheels that are bolt upright. Indeed I think you are quite sincere. I just prefer my front to be set up as VW specified.
Regards,
Tin
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I'm sure you'll find VW specifies something closer to 35' +-20'.
If you want a garage to avoid - BMW main dealers charge 250!?!
Regards,
Tinman
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bolt upright is great for motorways etc, angled is great for cornering, the balance for tyrewear and handling is normally cambered in slightly so that when cornering the tyre doesn't go to positive camber, thus promoting slide. I remain unconvinced by spirit level approach (except as a rough setting after a rebuild) as you are gambling on your body work etc being aligned 100%. having the job done on a proper rig usually entails the measurements being taken from the hub centres, guaranteeing a true setting (assuming the adjuster knows what he is doing).