V50 rear negative camber

[LR Hybrid]

My '06 V50 SE seems to have excessive negative camber on the rear, which is causing the inner edges of the tyres to wear out quickly.

I've put the car up on ramps and had a good poke around the bushes. Whilst obviously not new, none of them are broken up or squished all to one side. The other item that could have an effect on the camber is the springs, and I'm wondering if these have sagged and need replacing.

I was wondering if one of you nice chaps with a standard v50 would be kind enough to measure the distance from the ground to the top of the wheel arch (unloaded) so I can gauge if my car is possibly suffering from saggy springs?

Many thanks.

[LizardOfBodom]

Originally Posted by LR Hybrid

...
I was wondering if one of you nice chaps with a standard v50 would be kind enough to measure the distance from the ground to the top of the wheel arch (unloaded) so I can gauge if my car is possibly suffering from saggy springs?

Many thanks.

Well, I have pics from my measurement some time ago but I doubt its any good to you as its OEM AWD stance is ridiculous

[Clan]

Originally Posted by LR Hybrid

My '06 V50 SE seems to have excessive negative camber on the rear, which is causing the inner edges of the tyres to wear out quickly.

I've put the car up on ramps and had a good poke around the bushes. Whilst obviously not new, none of them are broken up or squished all to one side. The other item that could have an effect on the camber is the springs, and I'm wondering if these have sagged and need replacing.

I was wondering if one of you nice chaps with a standard v50 would be kind enough to measure the distance from the ground to the top of the wheel arch (unloaded) so I can gauge if my car is possibly suffering from saggy springs?

Many thanks.

The V50 is supposed to have quite a lot of negative camber , in your case
-1.52° ± 1° degrees on the rear , In my experience the wearing of the inner edges is always down to low tyre pressures , keep them up above 36 psi all the time ...
It would be a good idea to get a 4 wheel alignment and see where it is at the moment ..

[LR Hybrid]

Mine are measuring at 685 and 690, quite a way off the 720 in the picture above.

Anyone else near a tape measure?

[IainG]

Hi
Looked into this years ago as my tyres wore on the inner edge. I found out Volvo did modified arms. To reduce the camber. However I now run at 38 psi and the issue has gone.
This is the number for the modified arms. I think.
31201356

Also there are loads of adjustable ones for Fords, same suspension.

Iain

[Clan]

Originally Posted by IainG

Hi
Looked into this years ago as my tyres wore on the inner edge. I found out Volvo did modified arms. To reduce the camber. However I now run at 38 psi and the issue has gone.
This is the number for the modified arms. I think.
31201356

Also there are loads of adjustable ones for Fords, same suspension.

Iain

Those special upper rear arms are only for use IF the alignment is out , a last resort to get the reading back into the allowed range ..
The first course of action must be a 4 wheel alignment check which will in almost all cases be correct regarding camber .. the toe in might be wrong however and that can be adjusted ......

[IainG]

Hi

IF the alignment is out , a last resort to get the reading back into the allowed range ..

However if they were fitted they would reduce the camber by 0.9 or 0.7 degrees(can't remember which)

But the tyre pressures sorted it for me.
I think on the later cars they did reduce the -ve camber to a lower value as standard.

Iain

[rowdy]

Originally Posted by Clan

The V50 is supposed to have quite a lot of negative camber , in your case
-1.52° ± 1° degrees on the rear , In my experience the wearing of the inner edges is always down to low tyre pressures , keep them up above 36 psi all the time ...
It would be a good idea to get a 4 wheel alignment and see where it is at the moment ..

Interesting regarding the tyre pressures. Usually if a tyre is over inflated the tyre wears more in the centre of the tyre. Does running a higher pressure in this case prolong the life of the tyre, or just mask the inside wear by wearing more of the tyre at the same rate?

[Clan]

Originally Posted by rowdy

Interesting regarding the tyre pressures. Usually if a tyre is over inflated the tyre wears more in the centre of the tyre. Does running a higher pressure in this case prolong the life of the tyre, or just mask the inside wear by wearing more of the tyre at the same rate?

Inflating the tyre would present the rubber to the road in a more even way , Iain would know how his wear now ...
The same happens to the front tyres on the larger models too if run for 1000's of miles with low pressure , the inner edges wear ... its a characteristic unless you regularly keep an eye on your raised tyre pressures ...

[IainG]

Hi
Since running pressures at 38 psi all round (fairly sure it is now the reccomended pressure) the tyre wear has been very even across the whole tread.

Iain