Tracking Out?

[Jonff]

Fitted Koni Adjustable dampers to my car today but due to a problem I've had to fit the standard dampers back on the rear.

Now I know the car's handling isn't going to be brilliant with it's current set up but when ever I drive over a bump in the road the steering goes really light and the car wonders all over the place.

Could his down to the tracking being out or will it be down to the different damping rates from front to back?

 

[DrR]

Both

 

[Jamie]

Could it be due to the alignment? I had some issues with my handaling which turned out to be the alignment. Made it feel a bit loose (To say the least).

Or maybe the dampers you've bought are not 100%

I think I'd take it to someone ask them to fit and do a geometry testing to make sure they're alined.

 

[Jonff]

Could it be due to the alignment? I had some issues with my handaling which turned out to be the alignment. Made it feel a bit loose (To say the least).

Or maybe the dampers you've bought are not 100%

I think I'd take it to someone ask them to fit and do a geometry testing to make sure they're alined.

It could possibly be yeah.

Thing is though the car is still at the same height and the bolt spacing in the shocks are identical to the standard shock so really nothing should that far out alignment wise.

Just have to get these rear shocks fitted and see what it's like then.

 

[f0xy]

Steering going light sounds like tracking, its worth getting it checked anyway as most places do free-to-check and only charge if you need it adjusting. When I run my car with more toe out for trackdays my steering is light over bumps in the road. It might look the same height, but if you think about it the damping rate is different, so cornering and over bumps the cars height/geo will differ...

 

[Jamie]

Yeah no worries. I only said alignment as it caused me quite some hassle. I thought dampers were going to need to be rebuilt but it turned out the alignment was so far out when I turned into a corner it tried to counter steer and the back end felt really loose. I'm not sure how it all works but it made a huge difference.

 

[Jonff]

Yeah no worries. I only said alignment as it caused me quite some hassle. I thought dampers were going to need to be rebuilt but it turned out the alignment was so far out when I turned into a corner it tried to counter steer and the back end felt really loose. I'm not sure how it all works but it made a huge difference.

I remember reading your thread I think actually. Lads at Birchdown had a go at it didn't they?

At the moment mine's impossible to drive quickly, when I drive over a bump in the road the steering feels like I've pressed the "city button" on one of those mk2 Puntos lol.

 

[Jamie]

Lol, I know what you mean as my wife has a Punto!

Tbh, mine didn't feel like that. The weight felt the same, just quite tail happy.

I'm not very good with cars but if you're saying the steering is going light etc would that not be something to do with transition of weight and the rear taking weight somehow from the front? Have you jumped up and down on those Koni's? Both similar "sprungness"?

 

[Jonff]

I know what mean, like I'm carrying a heavy load in the boot and lifting the front end up.

Yep done the shock test and it does seem pretty equal on every corner on the car and I did the same with the Konis on every setting as well.

 

[Jonff]

Fitted the rear Koni shocks today and it seems to have sorted everything out, can ride bumps now without the steering wheel going from side to side violently.

 

[Jamie]

In that case.... Djd you do something wrong the other day? Maybe, fit them upside down or something

 

[Jonff]

In that case.... Djd you do something wrong the other day? Maybe, fit them upside down or something

Yep lol.

Spoke to Jord (Foxy) Last night and he showed me where I was going wrong.

I had a washer in the wrong place, so one of the rubber gromits was pushing past the circlip thus letting the shock travel to far up through the turret and in to the boot.

 

[f0xy]

Cool, id stil go and get the tracking checked so you are 100% sure and dont get any uneven wear on the fronts, dosent cost anything to just check!

 

[Jonff]

Cool, id stil go and get the tracking checked so you are 100% sure and dont get any uneven wear on the fronts, dosent cost anything to just check!

Yeahhh, I'm definitely going to, was planning on going today but everywhere had shut today near me by the time I'd got home from work and fitted the shocks.

The rears have abit of camber on them as well now, not entirely sure how the rear shocks have done that lol. Aslong as the car handles well, then all is good.