tracking all over the road

[redliner99]

I put a set of VX GTS wheels (17x 8) on my VL sl and now the thing tracks all over the road. Ive had an alignment done and checked all the suspension. Does anyone know what to do to fix it as its ####ed to drive. Standard suspension, standard height, no power steering. I had 14 x 8 on my VH and it handled and tracked perfectly.

[VL Berlina 5speed]

maybe the mags could be off balence or buckeld. that would proberly cause those symtoms u discribed, best go get the wheels checkd out and balenced

[redliner99]

They are brand new rims and tyres (just balanced) in pefect condition. The car follows grooves in the road. The suspension workshop told me its the offset and size of the wheels affecting suspension geometry. Has anyone else had the same problem.

[ucwepn]

This is normal when going to larger size rims that you are not used to the car "tram lining" which means that the car will follow the camber of the road and you constantly have to "drive the car" to keep it straight. Mine does this as well with the 18's, you'll get used to it.

[redliner99]

My old VH with 8in wheels would track exactly where I'd point it. My VL drives me on the road. Since I put the wheels on its embarassing to drive as its hard to keep straight.

[ucwepn]

yeah but what was the diameter of the wheels on the vh? like 15 inch? or something, its not the width of the wheels that does it its the height and the fact that there is more vertical metal spinning and low profile tyresthat the car will follow the road is only natural. My mate had a 2000 model SSS pulsar and that used to do it with the stock wheels but 50 profile yokohamas. My old torana used to do it when going from 13 inch to 15inch with 60 profiles. I blame the shit roads haha. you will get used to the gently rocking the wheel left to right while going in a straight line thing until you don't even think about it anymore. If you watch a V8 supercar drivers wheel work you'll notice that they do this too even with their big buck components and slicks.

[burnz]

This is normal when going to larger size rims that you are not used to the car "tram lining" which means that the car will follow the camber of the road and you constantly have to "drive the car" to keep it straight. Mine does this as well with the 18's, you'll get used to it.

not so much the wheel it's the tire's there new do 5000k's you should b right then (bed/scub them in)

[vlv8vic]

yeah its both really, tyres with higher tread tend to have more movment in them, specially if they are a cheaper brand. Wider tyres and lower prifiles will track heaps. youll get used it it. My 16s even track a bit.

If it really embarrases you to the point you cant handle it, get some cheesecutters.

[IBLOWN]

No No No..... Good Lord! It Is Your Wheel Offset. The Offset Is Wrong (too Wide) Causing The Car To Follow The Shape Of The Road. The Chassis Is Not Designed For A Wider Track. You can have 2000000000000 inch wheels and it will not make any difference as long as the offset of the wheel is right. i run 19 inch x 9 inch wide wheels with the right offset and have no problem with tracking, but had 17 inch wheels with the wrong offset and nearly hit gutters it tracked that bad. And They are Right, Youll Get Used To It.

[redliner99]

I agree IBLOWN. My VH had 225's stretched on a 8in rim with stiff sidewalls and it used drive like it was on rails. I had chasers custom made to 8in with the right offset. I reckon the offset is wrong on my GTS rims for a VL. The thing is, its not whether I can get used to it, I want the thing to go where I point it. I'm not talking about mild tramlining, this is wandering. Its the last thing you want when you're driving quick. Has anyone used the whiteline camber castor adjustment kits and wheter they would fix the offset problem.

[vlv8vic]

....and grab some power steering next time youre at the wreckers!!! i'd hate to be parking that thing!

[Bax]

They're HSV wheels. Shouldn't the offset be perfect?

[ucwepn]

Mine doesn't wander like you describe it, mine are the right offset because I made sure when I bought them that the guy checked on the system and made sure all was well. Your car may have been involved in a collision at some stage and not repaired properly for the wheel alignment to be right and it wanders like that. Or maybe you need new shocks or swaybar bushes. Just a thought.

[ucwepn]

I'm pretty sure all commodores have the same offset thats why the wheels are interchangable and you don't get hassled by the authorities for having the wrong wheels, otherwise every commodore driver with a different models rims would be in trouble hey.

[IBLOWN]

Nup. Vt Onwards Have A Different Track. So... Different Offset.

[redliner99]

I was told later commodores had a different track as well by the suspension workshop. They checked and replaced all worn components. they told me the problem are the wheels being the wrong offset. Tm suprised more of you dont have the same problem. Maybe the power steering covers it up? I actually prefer not to have power steering. The car only weighs 1190 kg, no powers steering and no air- it goes hard. I like the wheels and dont want to change them.

[redliner99]

doing a bit of research. not sure what the measurements mean.
Up to VS offset 48P
VT-VX offset 40P
There definately seems to be a difference in offset and therefore track with later model wheels which must affect suspension geometry.

[redliner99]

oops wrong way around
SHOULD BE
up to VT 40P
VT-VX 48P

[greenfoam]

My Car wanders all over the road like a freak almost scary in very wet weather, I drove a old legend retired suspension mechanic home from work today he noticed I had to correct the steering more than I shoud be and said to me before I'd even got to 100. Did you know your panhard bushes are worn out? I said no? is that what's wrong with it? and he goes yup and when I droped him home he showed me the movement in the rear end by rocking the car side to side from the back wheel arch, and you could see by looking at the tire there was a substantial amount of slop there. So maybe have a look at that, it may have been a problem before but shows up worse with the new stiffer wheels

[redliner99]

yeh you're right greenfoam. My car was worse than it is before I took it to a suspension specialist. They changed the panhard bushes and checked the rest of the suspension and aligned it. The tracking improved but still can be scary if you drive quick especially in the rain if you push it close to its limits then it decides to wander. Leaves you little margin. Thanks for the input.

[ucwepn]

Also the VL is not as sure footed as its predecessors like the VH and vk, due to the engines costing so much holden had to cut some corners in the car to try and keep costs down. The rear end is especially bad.

[vlv8vic]

The car only weighs 1190 kg, no powers steering and no air- it goes hard.

it makes that much difference? fail to see how, air con straps only a fraction of power only when on (i dont even feel it with the v8), and power steering returns fluid at the rate it needs to so the power loss in negligable.

It intigues me when people suggest it makes a car so much faster, same with removing an engine driven fan and replacing it with a thermo activated electric fan, the results in power gain are negligable.


Agreed ucwepn, they really tend to throw more than anything ive driven hard.

[redliner99]

it makes that much difference? fail to see how, air con straps only a fraction of power only when on (i dont even feel it with the v8), and power steering returns fluid at the rate it needs to so the power loss in negligable.

It intigues me when people suggest it makes a car so much faster, same with removing an engine driven fan and replacing it with a thermo activated electric fan, the results in power gain are negligable.

Although its off the point of the thread, I disagree vlv8vic. I think all those fractions of power add up. They make your engine more responsive with less drag. CAI, matchporting, cam change, exhaust in isolation make small differences but put together can make your car fun to drive, less slugish. I've had cars with air con and rarely used it as it took the edge off the driving experience. With the combination of all those little things plus the light weight the car goes hard and its fun to drive.