Laser Four Wheel Alignment

[Rustee]

I have an F reg 240GLT Estate and in my first year's ownership have been very pleased with it but there has been on only three occasions severe vibration in the steering when cruising along similar to when a supermarket trolley's wheels get in a frenzy. Other times there has been no problem and on talking to friends in the local group it was suggested the castor angle might be out.

My thoughts were to get a Hunter four wheel alignment check done, researched on the net and there aren't too many garages with this kit but found one out in the sticks. They checked the car over and advised that the rear top trailing arm bushes had wear and the front discs were warped (which confirmed by the slight judder on braking.

Four bushes and front discs replaced, wheels balanced, all four wheel alignments checked and adjusted as required with before an after individual readings for camber, caster, toe, total toe, thrust angle and steer ahead measurements given.

Now on driving the car it's so different, the steering can be done with one finger, much lighter than before and the handling down the lanes much improved. Cruising on the A14 she purred along a real treat to drive. The alignment part at £49.50 before VAT was the best improvement to driveability I have ever spent on a car, recommend it as it made such a difference.

[stephend]

Interesting that it makes so much difference on a 240.

When I got my V40 (full main dealer history) it had some very odd reactions over bumps. I got a full 4-wheel alignment done, and it transformed it.

[minesa240x3]

Well done,I'm sure I read on here wayback that volvo's especially the 240's are wasy to set up wrong as most garages don't even recognise the unique way the front has to be set.I think it has wierd settings due to having an amazing turning circle.
Please let me know if yours now tries to scrub the front tyres when pulling away on full lock?
Mine does and all my others did!They kind of try to jump ahead instead of turning?
BUT if set properly then apparently they stop doing this.
Kind regards Brian.

[SonyVaio]

I know I always harp on about getting vehicles done with the Hunter Alignment Kit on here in various posts, but I couldn't have summed the results of it better myself.

It really does make a massive difference as it is not just wheel alignment that gets done, it is a full geometry setup.

Anyone interested can have a look here - LINKY! - you can find your local centre with the Hunter Kit.

[Paul240480]

I had 'tank' done after replacing a McPherson strut 18 months or so ago. I can defo' say the improvement was/still is great. Not sure if it was 'hunter', don't know what that is? But it was 4 wheel alignment done by Euromaster. My 850 needs it doing, get on the toll roads where 80mph is the limit and it vibrates from the rear end like owt Need to replace CV boots so once those are done I'll get the alignment done

[Rustee]

Minesa - I haven't tried pulling away on full lock yet and will try tomorrow and let you know. Before the test it did skip a bit so it'll be interesting to try out. The garage owner told me he had owned 240's and liked to see them kept on the road. He currently runs an S60.

[Rustee]

Thanks for the linky Sony, that's how I found Evergreen garage north of Ipswich. A charming old fashioned place who still have a petrol pump attendant!

Originally Posted by SonyVaio

I know I always harp on about getting vehicles done with the Hunter Alignment Kit on here in various posts, but I couldn't have summed the results of it better myself.

It really does make a massive difference as it is not just wheel alignment that gets done, it is a full geometry setup.

Anyone interested can have a look here - LINKY! - you can find your local centre with the Hunter Kit.

[Clifford Pope]

Interesting.
I can see the point of getting front wheel alignment checked, but there is no adjustment possible at the back. It's a solid rear axle, and if the bushes are sound then that's it. You don't need sophisticated geometry analysis to pick up worn bushes.

[Rustee]

Originally Posted by Clifford Pope

Interesting.
I can see the point of getting front wheel alignment checked, but there is no adjustment possible at the back. It's a solid rear axle, and if the bushes are sound then that's it. You don't need sophisticated geometry analysis to pick up worn bushes.

The measurements for the back wheels before / after bush replacement were:
rear nearside -0-16 / -0-15 camber
rear nearside toe unchanged at 0.06
rear offside camber 0.03 / 0.02
rear offside toe -0.05 / -0.05 unchanged

So I guess that worn rear bushes will affect the readings even if there is no adjustment as the before and after readings showed.

[Rustee]

Originally Posted by minesa240x3

Well done,I'm sure I read on here wayback that volvo's especially the 240's are wasy to set up wrong as most garages don't even recognise the unique way the front has to be set.I think it has wierd settings due to having an amazing turning circle.
Please let me know if yours now tries to scrub the front tyres when pulling away on full lock?
Mine does and all my others did!They kind of try to jump ahead instead of turning?
BUT if set properly then apparently they stop doing this.
Kind regards Brian.

Brian, I took her out to an empty car park today and tried pulling away on full lock and doing 360 degree turns and there was no scrubbing or jumping. Before the work the wheel would tighten up on turning in to park on full lock and I would get the jumping feeling that the car wanted to go straight on, now you do still get the sense that you are turning very tight but that's probably because that's what is happening. She is running Pirelli P6000's if relevant. Regards, Martin