The why won't our MK1's go in a straight line thread. (Tramlining issues.)

[weegaz22]

***EDIT, post's moved from Adam's "loose nuts" as it's a separate issue. We're talking tramlining here and what we can do about it... Owen.***

sorry i couldnt talk for long last night david, was in work and waiting to get a job signed off so we could leave, the konis were only 1 away from lowest setting on the back and fronts were on lowest so not much adjustment i could do cept back the rears onto lowest.

if anything id say its that the TRD settings are just too aggresive for our crappy roads, absolutley nothing wrong with the car when its going round a corner but it when driving in a straight line its pulling and wiggling the car due to surface imperfections, best way i can describe it is its like being hit by a strong on/off cross wind, certainly keeps you awake! lol

[lodgeman]

are the wheels 17" as they do tend to tramline a bit!

[weegaz22]

are the wheels 17" as they do tend to tramline a bit!

aye lodge they are 17", could also be a little excess play in the rack but havent had a chance to check it, too busy fannying around putting 3" zorst on and finishing off the head light surrounds....priorities you know!lol

[Marksman]

Sorry for the tread hijack Adam but I'm interested in this tramlining issue too. Lyn's car has just had pollybushes, fensport springs and MK3 staggered wheels with some rear wheels with a very odd tread and a re-alignment. Her car also exhibits this "unexpected crosswind" feeling on anything other than a perfectly smooth road, however as we've changed so many things at once guessing at the problem seemed pointless. First up will be a check of every bolt as we've got a knocking noise at slow speeds. If there's nothing there then we'll swap to non staggered wheels and see if that helps. If no joy at that point then maybe we'll have to admit that a stiffer lower suspension set-up is just less tolerant of poor road surfaces and either look at softer springs or different geometry.

Anyone care to jump in with some advice or an opinion or two?

Ta,

Owen.

[weegaz22]

what alignment settings did you have setup on lyn's car owen?

knocking from the front? back?

i know the wheels on mines arent staggered but they are 17"

[weegaz22]

anyone else experience this?

if so could you list your mods?

like wheels/tyre combo, poly bushes, spirings dampers etc,

might be able to narrow it down

[Marksman]

Howdy, I'll ask Lyn to dig out the print-out and post that up as future info for TB was one reason that we insisted on one.

The knocking if I thought from the rear of the car. Sounds exactly like a work out arb link arm, the kind of clunk you get as a wheel trickles over a pot hole or down a bumpy road. The only problem is he rear arb is in our spare bedroom so it can't be that.

Paff has 17's on his car and is very happy with them despite being told repeatedly that they shouldn't work on a MK1 :D It certainly feels fine on smooth roads but I've not talked to him about grooved motorways and the like.

Cheers,

Owen.

[jasper]

I'm running 225 18"s on the SLK and experience it a little, especially on the inside lane of the motorways. just the wider tyres gripping the tracks in my case.

Sam had a similar issue a while ago, I think it was a wheel bearing in his case.

[weegaz22]

The knocking if I thought from the rear of the car. Sounds exactly like a work out arb link arm, the kind of clunk you get as a wheel trickles over a pot hole or down a bumpy road. The only problem is he rear arb is in our spare bedroom so it can't be that.

lowered springs loose in the cups when shocks are extending?

[adamh]

i get no tramlining with 245's rear / 215 front. koni's, and standard toe in on the rear/front. camber 1 on front 1.5 on rear, standard castor. rev 3 Arb ..20mm (v stiff !) poly-bushed. and the full prothane bushed suspension etc. i found... when softer it was more prone to diving around on gear change although.. when planting it did go straight. i found.. the TRD settings were too extreme for the car with wider than standard rear wheels it didnt need the extra help only made it worse. best setting for me was standard toe in front and rear, camber as above, and suspension wound upto 1 or 1.5 turns. it plants straight and does not tramline, i got a strut brace over the front but that sholdnt really count for that much.