MR2 Roadster Owners Club

hi guys

had my wheel alignment done at a specialist today- £100+vat

while curing all the original issues another has arisen

at motorway speeds the car is unstable at the front, with a yo-yo-ing effect through the steering (left to right)
what have they done? it wasn't doing that before...and it's quite unpleasant

help!!

many thanks

gav

sounds like it's tramlining

check the tyre pressures

What have they set it at on the front, did you get a report with the new figures?

Quote from: "philster_d"check the tyre pressures

good point, probably set as for a front wheel drive scrabble wagon

Also check your tire wear, inside edge.

you my find that if the wheels have been out of alignment, this wasn't affecting the handling, but when the tread wears low, the car tend to have a mind of it's own when going faster.

I must say I was shocked the first time I looked and noticed a nearly slick, but the garage pointed out this was normal!

hope this helps

Cheers

Darren J

ok, it's definitely not tramlining; the car isn't locking into a groove and then following it. it's like you're bouncing a ball thru the steering

tyre wear not an issue, as the tyres are new and have not been driven while out of alignment.
 realignment required after removal of rear suspension during engine transfer

i'm just going to check my tyre pressures, but they didn't touch them and the car has done less than 500 miles since the last check. i'll let you know, but in the meantime here are the printout figures:

rear axle
camber
left      -1.99
right    -1.86

rear axle toe
left   +0.19
right +0.16

castor
left   +3.19
right  +3.06

front axle camber
left  -1.57
right -1.49

front axle toe
left  +0.09
right +0.03

any thoughts??

thanks for your views

gav

Sounds as if something is loose to be honest. You don't have a lot of toe on the front which would make the front end more prone to wandering but the bouncing you speak of doesn't sound right at all.

Quote from: "gavman"ok, it's definitely not tramlining; the car isn't locking into a groove and then following it. it's like you're bouncing a ball through the steering

tyre wear not an issue, as the tyres are new and have not been driven while out of alignment.
 realignment required after removal of rear suspension during engine transfer

i'm just going to check my tyre pressures, but they didn't touch them and the car has done less than 500 miles since the last check. i'll let you know, but in the meantime here are the printout figures:

rear axle
camber
left      -1.99
right    -1.86

rear axle toe
left   +0.19
right +0.16

castor
left   +3.19
right  +3.06

front axle camber
left  -1.57
right -1.49

front axle toe
left  +0.09
right +0.03

any thoughts??

thanks for your views

gav

Gav

I have to say those settings are not so good  s:oops: :oops: s:oops:  , you have fully adjustable suspenion with Tein especially on the front, so what the hell have you paid £100 for.

The back you can do little with except the toe, but the front should be spot on, I'm running -1.25 camber on the front which SP class as aggressive for the road use.

I'm not sure how you get un-equal front toe, I always understood the toe should be equal either side of a centered steering wheel.

Sorry mate I'd take that back

Rob

Check for things undone, if an antiroll bar mount is loose it can cause that kind of reaction.
Presumably it was fine before you had the alignment done?

ok, i've been a complete flapjack

they set my tyre pressures to 20psi all round

i normally run with 28 all round

i honestly didn't think they would touch them

  s:oops: :oops: s:oops:    s:oops: :oops: s:oops:    s:oops: :oops: s:oops:  

sorted now

so, to confirm, what alignment settings should i use?

i tend to drive aggressively, on bumpy b-roads

Quote from: "FGRob"

Quote from: "gavman"ok, it's definitely not tramlining; the car isn't locking into a groove and then following it. it's like you're bouncing a ball through the steering

tyre wear not an issue, as the tyres are new and have not been driven while out of alignment.
 realignment required after removal of rear suspension during engine transfer

i'm just going to check my tyre pressures, but they didn't touch them and the car has done less than 500 miles since the last check. i'll let you know, but in the meantime here are the printout figures:

rear axle
camber
left      -1.99
right    -1.86

rear axle toe
left   +0.19
right +0.16

castor
left   +3.19
right  +3.06

front axle camber
left  -1.57
right -1.49

front axle toe
left  +0.09
right +0.03

any thoughts??

thanks for your views

gav

Gav

I have to say those settings are not so good  s:oops: :oops: s:oops:  , you have fully adjustable suspenion with Tein especially on the front, so what the hell have you paid £100 for.

The back you can do little with except the toe, but the front should be spot on, I'm running -1.25 camber on the front which SP class as aggressive for the road use.

I'm not sure how you get un-equal front toe, I always understood the toe should be equal either side of a centered steering wheel.

Sorry mate I'd take that back

Rob

that's very helpful, bud

i'll be back there tomorrow

big ta's

gav

Try setting your pressures to 30F and 34R, will make the world of difference.

Quote from: "Ekona"Try setting your pressures to 30F and 34R, will make the world of difference.

Me confused - especially since I have just put on 17".

Should the pressures be any different from stock 26/32?

For Toyos, yes. Up them to what I stated above and you'll find them much better, as they are quite a soft compound.

Quote from: "Ekona"For Toyos, yes. Up them to what I stated above and you'll find them much better, as they are quite a soft compound.

Thanks Dan, I'll give it a go.

No worries mate.  s8) 8) s8)

That answered my question about what pressures they should be at! Cheers guys

I always run my Toyos at 28 34. 30 seems a little high at the front to me

Each to their own, really. For some my levels would be too high, and for some too low. Experimentation's what you need.  s:wink: :wink: s:wink:


Definitely pump them up over stock levels, though.

I got in touch with Toyo's technical department who took the details of the stock wheels and tyres and my new wheels and tyres and told me to go with 29 front 36 rear.

Deacon

Quote from: "Ekona"For Toyos, yes. Up them to what I stated above and you'll find them much better, as they are quite a soft compound.

I run mine 2Psig above stock  s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

Quote from: "Ekona"Try setting your pressures to 30F and 34R, will make the world of difference.

off to try that now

i previously found higher pressures made the car a bit skittish
but i don't think i've tried that combo

here goes

-1.5 camber front might be the reason as well.

I set it on -1.3 now and it's better still sharp.

I used to have it -2.00 and I had the problems you described.

Quote from: "xdesign"-1.5 camber front might be the reason as well.

I set it on -1.3 now and it's better still sharp.

I used to have it -2.00 and I had the problems you described.

  s:D :D s:D    s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

Quote from: "xdesign"-1.5 camber front might be the reason as well.

I set it on -1.3 now and it's better still sharp.

I used to have it -2.00 and I had the problems you described.

Try this link to the US instruction manual for the MRS, tells you the exact measurement

 m http://www.tein.com/ti/inst/2l22u.pdf (http://www.tein.com/ti/inst/2l22u.pdf) m

Thanks
Rob

And here are the stock settings (http://dutch.northwestmr2.com/Toyota/mr2%20spyder/Repair%20Information/Repair%20Manual/04%20-%20Service%20Specifications/25%20-%20Suspension%20and%20Axle%20-%20Service%20Data.pdf) for camber etc

Slight thread drift, but are the SP12 wheels nitrogen inflated? Don't suppose it will matter much  with a couple of psi of air, its 70% nitrogen anyway.

I don't think so. Mark posted somewhere that the nitrogen equipment didn't come across to the new place. Some time ago Matt told me that it was only "being looked after" for somebody else.

Could be wrong, of course

No worries, they are superb whatever they're filled with!  s:) :) s:)

Quote from: "gavman"so, to confirm, what alignment settings should i use?

Well, just to compare, I've had mine checked and adjusted today.  It's something i've been meaning to to since lowering, and especially since the SP day check..  Here are the settings: bold for settings marked red and needing adjustment

Before:
Left Front / Right Front Camber
-1.09 / -1.01

Left Front / Right Front Caster
3.22 / 3.27

Left Front Toe / Right Front Toe / Total Toe / Steer Ahead
-0.05 / -0.06 / -0.10 / 0.00

Left Rear / Right Rear Camber
-1.32 / -1.29

Left Rear Toe / Right Rear Toe / Total Toe / Thrust Angle
0.15 / 0.06 / 0.21 / 0.04

After:
Left Front / Right Front Camber
-1.09 / -1.02

Left Front / Right Front Caster
3.22 / 3.27

Left Front Toe / Right Front Toe / Total Toe / Steer Ahead
0.05 / 0.04 / 0.09 / 0.00

Left Rear / Right Rear Camber
-1.31 / -1.31

Left Rear Toe / Right Rear Toe / Total Toe / Thrust Angle
0.10 / 0.09 / 0.19 / 0.01

This was done at Elite in Rainham in about half hour for £60..

most helpful

i found the tyre settings to be a revelation too

my thanks to all

gav

chris that must've taken you bloody ages to type

top man

Quote from: "Deacon"I got in touch with Toyo's technical department who took the details of the stock wheels and tyres and my new wheels and tyres and told me to go with 29 front 36 rear.

Deacon

After seeing this, I did the same (though it is for 17" all round with SP tyres) and they said 29 front 32 rear.

Ah well...I'll go for 29/34   s:wink: :wink: s:wink:  which isn't too far off Dan's 30/34   s:wink: :wink: s:wink:    s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

Quote from: "gavman"chris that must've taken you bloody ages to type

top man

yeah it did take a few minutes - but was able to cut/paste for after section so not too bad...   s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

Quote from: "roger"Ah well...I'll go for 29/34   s:wink: :wink: s:wink:  which isn't too far off Dan's 30/34   s:wink: :wink: s:wink:    s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

 s8) 8) s8)

ok, my thanks to all who contributed-

grip and handling transformed

the car is now awesome- i wouldn't have believed it possible to be this good

i strongly urge you all to have your wheels laser aligned!

tyre pressures also a revelation; i now run 29 front 33 rear on my 17 t1s

 i really can't believe that it could handle and grip any better on 16's??

my thanks again

gav