Front wheel tracking.

[Snowball]

At 27,000 miles, and just over 3 years old, when I had new tyres recently, the tyre depot recommended that the tracking be checked, even though there was no sign of uneven tyre wear. The tracking needed very slight adjustment.

We live close to a primary school, and parents bringing and collecting their children park in our road.
It amazes me just how many of them just thump their cars up and down the pavements on a daily basis.
As I am careful not to do this kind of thing, and yet my tracking still needed adjustment, it makes me wonder what state the tracking of the school-run cars must be in.

[Watcher]

Originally Posted by Snowball

At 27,000 miles, and just over 3 years old, when I had new tyres recently, the tyre depot recommended that the tracking be checked, even though there was no sign of uneven tyre wear. The tracking needed very slight adjustment.

We live close to a primary school, and parents bringing and collecting their children park in our road.
It amazes me just how many of them just thump their cars up and down the pavements on a daily basis.
As I am careful not to do this kind of thing, and yet my tracking still needed adjustment, it makes me wonder what state the tracking of the school-run cars must be in.

Trackered! you asked for that really

[Rolebama]

As it now virtually impossible to drive avoiding all the pot-holes, sunken and raised manhole cover, speed humps of various types and the occasional lump of rubbish in the road, I have my tyre condition and tracking checked every six months. Once with the annual service, and again with the interim service and MOT. Admittedly, this is because I can get it done for nothing, but with the cost of tyres now, I think I probably would pay if I had to.

[Donna V]

Hi,
This is my first time on the forum and I read your thread on front wheel tracking. Does anyone know what to do when your tracking needs adjustng but it has seized??

Cheers!
Newbie

[covkid65]

Originally Posted by Donna V

Hi,
This is my first time on the forum and I read your thread on front wheel tracking. Does anyone know what to do when your tracking needs adjustng but it has seized??

Cheers!
Newbie

Easily overcome by the use of Oxy-acetylene equipment to heat the seized rod to free it off

[Snowball]

Originally Posted by Donna V

Hi,
This is my first time on the forum and I read your thread on front wheel tracking. Does anyone know what to do when your tracking needs adjustng but it has seized??

Cheers!
Newbie

I assume you are asking the question on the basis of a DIY job. I suggest you take the car to a tyre service depot e.g. Kwik-fit, or similar).
At one time I used to do my own tracking, but with the modern technology, this is more reliable than DIY, and tyres are not cheap, so the relatively small cost of tracking can pay back in extended tyre life.

[Rolebama]

I made my own tracking tools when I was an apprentice tool fitter years ago. They work off the hubs, not the tyres, so were far more accurate than any 'laser' gizmos I have seen used in some garages. They also worked well for setting up shims when checking/adjusting camber angle. Gave them to my son-in-law when I became physically incapable of using them.

[Donna V]

Newbie still seeking...
Just back from Kwik fit. 2 hours they spent heating the rod to no avail. Didn't charge me. Told me I need a new tracking rod and steering colomn!!(Gulp) Advice was they would charge too much to do the job and have sent me home with my steering wheel at an angle. Can this be the truth? OR should I take it somewhere else?

[Watcher]

It may well be true, but without seeing the car it would be impossible to say! If they can't shift it with oxy-acetylene though, it must be in a right state, and I can't see how anyone could shift it.

I can only suggest you try somewhere else; it's certainly NOT a DIY job!

[Snowball]

Donna V, you don't say what car you have, or what age it is.
It certainly sounds as though your steering gear now needs urgent specialist attention.
Apart from the safety aspect, and any legality connotations, your tyres will suffer abnormal wear. I would say you need to go to a workshop that specialises in steering geometry, or to the dealership service dept for your particular vehicle.