Happiness for £85.

[Ben-san]

Some of you will know how much I love my ageing car despite it's frequent niggles. I've had the ol' girl for yonks and getting a little tired of keeping it well.

And then we went to the Alps, and I fell in love with it all over again. That trip really realigned my idea of what it was designed to do, instead of crash and bang over potholes and raised iron works around London.

Then recently, I came to notice that the car seems squidgy, exhibits tramlining and is a little unstable/skippy (techy I know) around bumpy bends. The worry here is, that I might be blaming the tyres while something else might be wrong.

I had the regular tuner torque up the subframes, so that's been eliminated as a cause. Other than checking all the suspension components (currently all factory performance option suspension) and going for a proper alignment session, the question was could the tyres be causing these kind of handling issues?

I've read in some places that Avon ZZ1s were a joke - and now wonder if the same faults apply to the ZZ3s.

So yesterday, I thought the easiest (and cheapest) thing to eliminate first was the alignment. Having explained the handling issues with the technician and looking at the readings, we came to the conclusion that it would explain the unstable behaviour when hitting bumps especially when turning right.

A good 45 minutes (nothing was seized) and few adjustments later, and the car is now handling much closer to what I'd expect from a good driving experience. I've also replaced the rears with a fresh set of ZZ3s for sake of the journalist in me - so far, so good.

Note, that the car hasn't been in any arguments with the kerb since I've owned it. So, I thouroughly recommend checking yours with a good geo technitian even if you haven't had any noticeable problems.

Pics for geeks:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e88/bleow/Supra/0a0cc56f.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e88/bleow/Supra/c014863b.jpg

[Dan H]

Cool stuff.

It makes such a difference once it's sorted.

Where did you get it done Ben?

[Ben-san]

Mark @ Wembley Tyres mister. I've also heared good things about another operation called WheelsInMotion, who go as far as measuring tyre temperatures to make sure each corner is getting equal footing.

[chevy-stu]

Alignment is everything, especially if you can find someone that knows what's best for that car.. (I'm suprised you've got virtually no front toe in)... good work Ben...


I had the VR4 done by a reputed good local place couple of months ago when I got the new car, but it's still tramlining and wearing inside of one tyre - yesterday whilst having the oils changed by my 'proper' mitsi specialist he checked and found I had a very slightly worn steering arm, track rod end and lower ball joint, so any alignment done previously is pointless as it won't hold the settings..... Check all suspension & steering components before spending on the alignment.

[Dan H]

I've had mine done by Chris @ Centre Gravity, it makes all the difference.

Chris puts weights in the car to allow for your weight and gets the car feeling brlliant.

I'm due another session soon.

Will get that done and the book another trackday.

Fancy a passenger ride Ben? :D

[Ben-san]

Alignment is everything, especially if you can find someone that knows what's best for that car.. (I'm suprised you've got virtually no front toe in)... good work Ben..

Yes, no front toe, but some at the back - what would this suggest? I'm not clued-up enough to know what affects what. All I know is that in most cases, a little toe-in helps straight line stability. Educate me? :)

I've had mine done by Chris @ Centre Gravity, it makes all the difference.

I've heard very good things about Chris - however I don't have adjustable dampeners, and I've been told that these are prerequisite to the Centre Gravity treatment. I may be mistaken though...

For now, I shall have to settle for the ballast that is the girlfriend.

:D

[chevy-stu]

Yes, no front toe, but some at the back - what would this suggest? I'm not clued-up enough to know what affects what. All I know is that in most cases, a little toe-in helps straight line stability. Educate me? :)


I presume Supras don't need much, if any front toe then .. I was told that helps stability too, and combined with more castor angle (if possible). That's why someone that knows the car is always good, cos every car needs something different.

Have you ever tried other more grippy tyres ? I had Khumos once on the VR4 and it never tracked properly. I've got Goodyear F1's now which seem to be best all round.
Had Yokohama' but now Toyo T1's on the Chevy which were both great.



For now, I shall have to settle for the ballast that is the girlfriend.

:D

He Hee... bet she's pleased to be called Ballast..

[jumplead]

Am i right to be sitting here with a confused look on my face?

Is this why you guys are paying someone to do this? Might have to get the coupe and the tiv looked at. I think i am wearing the inside edge on one of the Astras wheels too

[Harsh]

Ollie,
indeed, thats exactly why i brought Chris on board....

http://www.petrolheadnirvana.com/torque/forumdisplay.php?f=27

worth having a chat with him when he logs on to say hello.

[jumplead]

Have I ever told you I love this place?

Hopefully before long i'll know my caster from my thrust angle.

[Dan H]

I'm sure that would please Mrs Jumplead then :D

[andyc]

When I first brought my Jag and mustered up the courage to drive it, it was all over the place, almost undriveable.It felt very dodgy at 70 mph! On closer inspection the front tyres were probably original and were cracked between the treads so I had them replaced along with a full 4 wheel alignment and geometry adjustment and hey it drives straight as a die.
It is amazing how bad a little misalignment of geometry can make a car so undriveable and dangerous!

[S B - Nigel]

Have I ever told you I love this place?

Hopefully before long i'll know my caster from my thrust angle.

Ollie on a Chim/Griff always look at changing suspension bushes before dampers/springs (unless you have a faulty damper or spring)

And you can have a 4-wheel ajustment on a Chim :D

And careful with roundabouts and your speed :biggrinjester:

[BigShow]

Can recommend corner weighting too if you like spending a bit of time on road and track, or if you're a salad dodger like me it even helps on the road. Also nitrogen in the tyres helps with temps and pressure loss.

[Nick 172 Cup]

This is what i probably need to do to my car, as i have pretty much renewed all of the suspension components. Does anyone know a company that can do this in the surrey area?

Nick

[Harsh]

Nick,

chris is mobile, so can basically come anywhere, it tends to work better if we set up an alignment meet so he can do more than one car in a day.
saves a few pennies as well as his time.

stay tuned we'll be launching a few early next year.

how urgent is your need?

[Nick 172 Cup]

Harsh,

the need isnt so urgent, but on my Clio ill soon to have changed all the bushes, springs, lower arms, balljoints, trackrods, top mounts etc etc. So quite a bits been done, so having it all set up once all the new kit is fitted will probably make the world of difference as everything probably will be out of align (spelling)

Cheers
Nick