Author Topic: Suspension setup.  (Read 3940 times)

Offline M

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Suspension setup.
« on: 01 August 2003, 07:51 »
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

Offline Dean

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Re:Suspension setup.
« Reply #1 on: 01 August 2003, 09:38 »
It would be wise to get your tracking and camber checked.

Regards.

Dean.
I am just a mere pawn in the great game of LIFE!

Offline tinman

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Re:Suspension setup.
« Reply #2 on: 01 August 2003, 13:02 »
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

Offline karmakanix

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Re:Suspension setup.
« Reply #3 on: 01 August 2003, 17:59 »
how do you adjust the camber?

Offline tinman

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Re:Suspension setup.
« Reply #4 on: 02 August 2003, 19:38 »
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

Offline Dean

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Re:Suspension setup.
« Reply #5 on: 03 August 2003, 09:49 »
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.
« Last Edit: 03 August 2003, 09:51 by Dean »
I am just a mere pawn in the great game of LIFE!

Offline MK1_BOY

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Re:Suspension setup.
« Reply #6 on: 03 August 2003, 18:27 »
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
Race ya...

Offline tinman

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Re:Suspension setup.
« Reply #7 on: 03 August 2003, 21:05 »
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

Offline tinman

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Re:Suspension setup.
« Reply #8 on: 03 August 2003, 21:43 »
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

Offline M

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Re:Suspension setup.
« Reply #9 on: 04 August 2003, 07:52 »
Handbags at dawn!!!

Think I'll get VW to do it just to be sure.

Many thanks.

M