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MG MGF Technical - Wheel alignment (not again!)

Hi Gang

I've looked through the archives and have confused myself a tiny bit as to the recommended wheel alignment settings. Also, the B&G chap was supprised I said 4 degrees tow in .......

They settings should be ...
A) 4 degrees toe in front and back
/--------/


/--------/

and NOT .....
B) 4 degrees toe in front and 0degrees back
/--------/


--------

and also NOT .....
C) 4 degrees toe in front and 4degrees toe out at the back
/--------/


/--------/

and also NOT as per Rover .....
D) 10 degrees toe out front and no idea back
/--------/


?--------?

Is that right??

Thanks

Stefan
Stefan Gibney

Unfortunately there are no absolutes here Stefan, but there are a few "do's and don't's".

DON'TS

1. Do not alter the standard rear tracking unless you have compliance washers or PU rear tie bar bushes fitted.

2. Do not set the rear geometry to a greater toe-out angle than 5 minutes toe-IN, particularly if you have set the front geometry to toe-IN. The threshold to oversteer is dramatically lowered and can result in a nasty surprise :o(


DO'S

1. Reset the suspension height to around 350 mm.

2. Set the front suspension to toe-IN. Up to 10 minutes is achievable, although I have only ever tried 5 minutes toe-IN.

3. 0 degrees 5 minutes toe-IN all round works very nicely in my experience.

The standard set up BTW is 0 degrees 10 minutes toe-OUT front and 0 degrees 10 minutes toe-IN rear.

HTH

Rob
Rob Bell

Just to add to Rob's statement of 'there are no absolutes'

The first DO NOT i would only mostly agree with, not completly.I have the 5 min toe in all round, and as rob said it does work very nicely. hence i have altered the rear toe angle, but i do not have compliance washers. I wouldn't alter it any further however. But then i don't think i would alter it any further even if i did have the washers. Happy as Larry with Toe in 5 min all round.

Having said that it might make a difference depending on what tyres you are on. I could see that the rear maybe take control if i had NCT3s, but i've only had that set up with S02s so i can't comment.

And all i have done now is add complication to Rob's perfectly good information so infact as you are trying to become unconfused i would ignore me.

Matt

My car:

Height 355mm On Hydragas
Front 0Deg 05Min Toe in
Rear 0Deg 05Min Toe Out
Fitted Compliance Washers
Fitted Poly Bushes
Front Tyres 195x50x15
Rear Tyress 205x50x15

Don't change the rear to my settings without fitting compliance washers and poly bushes. Leaving the rear as standard Rover settings, as far as I know, is not a problem. As always some tolerence is accepted in any of these settings and a lot is down to personal preference. I Like the car to oversteer more than it does normally so my are aimed at my prefered driving style. I would never have dreamed of tailoring my car to my preferences in this way with any other car. This is why I would like to see adjustment for camber, not only would it allow for even setting up for badly jigged cars but would also offer some more personal tuning choice.

Many of the problems with the F I am starting to see as an advantage these days. As long as I keep to the rule of always using superior parts whenever possible. If a part needs replacing always try to find the best quality replacement.

I think my front left shock has busted, it's more bouncy and makes a squelching sound every now and then, Hydragas looks ok, I'll get it done at my service and maybe get some Konis fitted.
Tony Smith

Thanks Guys

B&G are fitting lowering knuckles and compliance washers for me over Xmas, and as a result have to reset my tracking.

If I ask for 0degrees 5mins toe in all around I'll be OK I guess.

Stefan
Stefan Gibney

Stefan, sounds safe enough. Sounds like Santa has decided you have been a good boy this year. Or is it the car's pressie? My poor car is getting a service, new green stuff pads and some decent ignition leads in the new year, so not much of a Christmas for the car. But then again it gets a lot of stuff throughout the year.
Tony Smith

>new green stuff pads

Tony,
see your hotmail account tomorrow.
Rgds
Dieter
Dieter Koennecke

Tony

>> Sounds like Santa has decided you have been a good boy this year. <<

Hmmm, not so sure about that, but I haven't spent much on the car this year - well I hadn't until I got my speakers (350ukp from Xine and they sound fantastic). It kind of went downhill from there <g>. I've got enough speaker wire left (really poor excuse I know) and am looking at fitting rear speakers soon aswell.

I've now also fitted my electric mirrors, lowering knuckles and compliance washers are already ordered, and I might end up with a K&N and phoenix exhaust before the end of the year.

Rob Bell said that I HAD to have an exhaust by the next treffen, so its his fault really <g>.

>> But then again it gets a lot of stuff throughout the year. <<

<bg> Sound more expensive that keeping the lady happy <g>.

Stefan
Stefan Gibney

This thread was discussed between 13/12/2000 and 15/12/2000

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGF Technical BBS is active now.