mistergrumpy
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 posted on 20/9/07 at 11:57 AM |
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My Dirty Little Secret
I almost don't want to ask this as I'm sure its going to turn out bad. I was under the car the other day and for some reason decided to
measure the front track width roughly and I noticed that there seems to be a difference of 5mm from the centre line to a point on one wishbone
compared to the other. I'm really peed off with this, it must have happened when I had to redo the mounts after I bought Locost bones instead
of the Sierra ones. Is this going to be a major problem and am I best to saw them off and redo them
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DIY Si
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| posted on 20/9/07 at 11:59 AM |
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For a road car I wouldn't bother if you're much further down the line. If it's a fairly simple matter to fix, then I might think
about it.
“Let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
My new blog: http://spritecave.blogspot.co.uk/
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RazMan
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| posted on 20/9/07 at 12:00 PM |
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Just pretend you didn't measure it - it'll be fine 
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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mistergrumpy
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| posted on 20/9/07 at 12:05 PM |
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Do you really think it'll be fine, its just for road use. Its really bothering me to carry on any further thinking that it'll be pulled at
SVA for some reason. I've basically got to start with the wiring and put a few panels on which I haven't got yet then that should be the
car all done. To alter it means to chop off and grind the offending mounts hoping not to damage the chassis below then reweld.
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mookaloid
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| posted on 20/9/07 at 12:05 PM |
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Are you sure your centre line is accurate?
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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mistergrumpy
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| posted on 20/9/07 at 12:07 PM |
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^ That's summat that has occurred to me which is why I roughly measured it. I'm to scared to go back and do it properly
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Dangle_kt
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| posted on 20/9/07 at 12:07 PM |
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I'd make sure you go back and delete this old thread if you ever decide to sell your car on here!
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DarrenW
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| posted on 20/9/07 at 12:15 PM |
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i cant imagine it would make a difference. It would be intersting to know what the tolerance is for the same measurement on a std production car. I
bet they are not exactly spot on.
Better way to measure is to start with the track width. Half it. Chalk the line on chassis point and measure each side from there. Might not be much
of a diffreence then
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Bob C
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| posted on 20/9/07 at 12:15 PM |
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only 5mm out - you're trying too hard.
no wonder you've not finished yet........
Bob
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BenB
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| posted on 20/9/07 at 12:19 PM |
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That's not too bad. I read something recently in Practical Classics (? or Classics monthly) about someone who found a similar thing on his
"classic". Got really worried until he measured a few others of the same type and found they were all the same.
I'd say ignorance is bliss 
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JAG
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| posted on 20/9/07 at 12:21 PM |
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As a rough estimate the track width of our cars is about 1500mm or 1.5M.
Then 5mm = (5/1500) x 100 = 0.33%
I really don't think that much will make ANY difference and I would bet most cars are the same or worse, whether they're road or race cars
Justin
Who is this super hero? Sarge? ...No.
Rosemary, the telephone operator? ...No.
Penry, the mild-mannered janitor? ...Could be!
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nick205
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| posted on 20/9/07 at 12:23 PM |
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And don't worry about SVA picking up on it. They won't be measuring it and provided the car is structurally sound then it's not an
issue.
Modern production car tolerances are pretty small these days, but that's after millions of £££££££s of R&D, tooling, manufacturing plant,
testing, measuring etc isn't IMHO a fair comparison.
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James
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| posted on 20/9/07 at 12:30 PM |
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IIRC the Austin Princess was 1" longer down one side than the other.
HTH,
James
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
- Muhammad Ali
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Peteff
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| posted on 20/9/07 at 12:32 PM |
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I was laughing after I read this, my old Mini had one front wheel 3/4" further back than the other when I measured it and it drove perfectly.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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bartonp
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| posted on 20/9/07 at 12:39 PM |
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There's more than 5mm 'compliance' in your tyres....and the assorted bushes etc.
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nitram38
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| posted on 20/9/07 at 12:53 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Peteff
I was laughing after I read this, my old Mini had one front wheel 3/4" further back than the other when I measured it and it drove perfectly.
Some cars have "setback" which is to allow for camber in the road. This is one front wheel slightly further back than the other.
I once had a porsche that used to wander to the left and I had it tracked and they said it had no setback. I drove it on the right hand side of the
road and it wandered to the right!
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Dusty
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| posted on 20/9/07 at 02:54 PM |
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If you re-measure the track, divide by two and mark a new centre line all should be well!
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 20/9/07 at 02:55 PM |
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My Dirty Little Secret
quote:
Originally posted by Dangle_kt
I'd make sure you go back and delete this old thread if you ever decide to sell your car on here!
I thought this thread was about the all american rejects
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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Hellfire
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| posted on 20/9/07 at 03:01 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nitram38
Some cars have "setback" which is to allow for camber in the road. This is one front wheel slightly further back than the
other................
You're having a laugh aren't you?.......... Surely that can't be right.........
Phil
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graememk
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| posted on 20/9/07 at 03:13 PM |
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mistergrumpy, panic not dear friend i have a ditch loving indy and as of yet the rear end hasnt given me any probs so i wouldnt worry amout your
5mm.
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mistergrumpy
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| posted on 20/9/07 at 03:54 PM |
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Well, I've just sorted it. It really was playing on my mind having visions of the steering trying to do wierd things and favouring a clowns car.
I already had the front in bits after trying to sort my side panels so I've just gone and sawed off the bracket and remeasured (4 times!) then
rewelded. All in it wasn't really too bad of a job. I had visions of summat going badly wrong and having to replace the whole chassis section or
summat. I do get worried when summat goes so straight forwardly though, only one grazed knuckle!Thats good going I reckon. I'll sleep better
tonight now I think.
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PeterW
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| posted on 20/9/07 at 04:58 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Modern production car tolerances are pretty small these days, but that's after millions of £££££££s of R&D, tooling, manufacturing plant,
testing, measuring etc isn't IMHO a fair comparison.
Ever seen a modern Landrover....?? The door gaps can be seen from space....
Usually down to the 'brand new' hinges being made of monkey metal...
Cheers
Pete
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mistergrumpy
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| posted on 20/9/07 at 05:32 PM |
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After serving in the forces I'm aware of land rover tolerances too well and the 'monkey metal' they're made of Hmm.
Makes my 5mm seem tiny
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nitram38
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| posted on 21/9/07 at 04:44 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Hellfire
quote:
Originally posted by nitram38
Some cars have "setback" which is to allow for camber in the road. This is one front wheel slightly further back than the
other................
You're having a laugh aren't you?.......... Surely that can't be right.........
Phil
No
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 21/9/07 at 07:14 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by mistergrumpy
Well, I've just sorted it. [...] so I've just gone and sawed off the bracket and remeasured (4 times!) then rewelded.
You're just as bad as me! I don't know how many times I've found something a bit wrong, said to myself 'it won't
matter', then gone and fixed it anyway as I knew that it would bother me if I didn't!
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