alignment

[rocket7171]

I have a bad shake in front end and need help.
I took tires off and checked balance on both. both are ok.
When dealer looked at tires he said pass side tire is cupped real bad. He said this is most likely my problem. I just got a $400.00 alignment done when the car was at vintage in sping with about 300 miles on it since. When you jump on the car and at higher speeds it now seems to get real loose on the front end almost where you think your going to loose it.
I guess I should get it reaigned and need proper specs for a street driver not a track car.
Can someone tell me the correct specs for this car?
Tony, Reg?
thanks
tom

[Smoking Cobra]

Check your struts! Have same problem with mine right now. Strut is bad. Probably was always bad as i had never been able to get rid of the shimmey with alignment's and balance. It could not have worn out in 4800 miles.
joeg

[tony martin]

FRT AND REAR:

CAMBER 1 1/2DEGREE NEG.( _ +1/2 DEGREE)
1-2MM TOTAL TOE IN.


U CAN RUN A LITTLE LESS CAMBER IF U WANT BUT I FEEL THAT IT COMPROMISES THE HANDLING.

BMW SET UP ALL THEIR SPORTIER TYPE CARS WITH THIS NEG. CAMBER.

SOUNDS LIKE YOUR FRONT TOE IS OUT FROM THE CUPPING OF THE TIRES.

SET YOUR FRT RIDE HIEGHT TO GET TO APPROX 1 1/2 TO 2 DEGREES NEG.
SET FRT TOE 1MM.

SET REAR RIDE HIGHT TO COMPLEMENT THE FRT RIDE HIGHT.

SET REAR CAMBER 1 1/2 TO 2 DEGREE NEG.

SET REAR TOE.

HAVE A WONDERFUL COBRA DAY.

[Speedysnake]

I fought the same problem for several months, tires were balanced, but it took quite a bit of weight to do it. When BFG agreed to replace the tires, the tire shop found that one wheel was extremely out of balance, and did not run true. (approx. .040" axial variation). Team III supplied a new wheel, tires road forced balanced, and now it rides great!

[rocket7171]

Thanks guys. I'll try front end shop this week sometime.

tom

[Cashburn]

here is a question... what has changed since the alignment?

check your invoice... alignment was not 400, but labor mods to get it to spec where. i think you owe me a day on the show floor ;-)

[Smoking Cobra]

Hi Jay

Hope your enjoying the nice weather. Will stop bye during the week so Brian can show me what part to order. Napa stocks a couple differnt strut parts and i;m not sure what i need. Can't make Marcus tonight, but will have some pictues for you.
joeg

[rocket7171]

Hey Jay,
No changes on my end since you had car. I lowered tire preasure to 20 lbs from the 42 they were at when I got car back. The ps tire showed no cupping before the alignment but now show major cupping in 300 miles or less. I will take it to my guy and let him go over car specs and will let you know when done what was wrong. I'll use Tony's specs.
I did my show time. paid in full.
Elbow chrome pipe that goes to the motor has some major deep scratches in it. Any idea where I can get one? Looks like someone had a tough time with alignment.
tom

[Cashburn]

Did you change tires since the alignment? I find it odd that an alignment issue would affect one side vs. the other if it is a toe issue. That wheel has been changed out? Did a weight get thrown? You don't go 300 miles with it working for you and then ... wham! No good.

Only one place to get "factory parts"

[chuckmynatt]

I had a similar problem, bad steering wheel shake especially under accelleration. A few times it was downright violent. I finally discovered the passenger side wishbone to frame nut was EXTREAMLY LOOSE. Tightened it up and problem gone. I'm so paranoid now I check them regularly.

Chuck

[rocket7171]

Tires are original that came on car. Both front tires were checked for balance and there the best you can do with bfg 17"s with these stock rims. No changes have been made. I noticed it when I first started to drive it this year. I finaly have gotten to drive more after I fixed oil leak in sender. I think the front end is too high and caster is off but not sure. It was like this since I got it back. It's loose in the front end when I speed up. Not doing anything close to full power and it's scary.

I guess your responce on the chrome pipe is talk to tony? Why did it get so scratched up? It wasn't like that before. I'll just take it off and turn and flip and put scatches on bottom. It's only a show car for me oh well......
tom

[Cashburn]

Pipes come from the factory, I've got a few here but they have a price tag of $28,900, though you get to pick the color of the wrapper

You should have Nittos on the 17" wheels. Something else is up. Take a good look at it from the bottom side. Things can loosen, that's part of the game if you drive 'em.

We chased a similar vibration on a car here with the 17" Team 3 Wheels, after 3 rebalancings and the replacement of the front wheel hubs we were left with a vibration at 80mph exactly... off at 79mph and off at 81mph. Left it as either the Nittos or the Team 3 Wheels themselves. Prior to all the work the vibration was 60mph to 85mph.

[rocket7171]

Jay,
This car came with BFG tires and team 3 wheels. All tires and rims are the same as you sold this car to me. I guess you forgot that. At the time this car was built BFG were the tires installed. Ask Brian. I will take the car to my guys and report back when done what was found. Cupping on tires is not a good thing and I hope it's not too late for these tires. I had your alignment checked when I first bought the car and it was right on but all tires were way out of balance. Rebalanced and car drove great.
Thank your shop for the scaatched pipe for me and if the alignment is out I will forward the bill to them.
tom

[Rwillia4]

Tom,

Wow, take a deep breath! $hit happens, things change with vibrations, driving, parking,… I'm sure no one maliciously beat up you pipe or misaligned you car. With every replica things are EXPECTED to change and maintaining them is CONSTENT. Don’t get me wrong, 300 miles after an alignment I would be bummed also, but don’t start throwing out accusations before you found a cause… it sounds like jay heard about this from this thread (I probably would have given him a call first).

I as I am sure a many are interested in hearing what the problem is, once it is found.

Rob

[Rwillia4]

PS
Sounds like it left the shop working fine and you were happy...

Originally Posted by rocket7171

When I got my car with 17" rims it shook real good at all speeds. I took it to my front end shop that I trust. They checked it out and the car was tracking staight. They then checked tires and front two were way off and rear was alittle off both sides. Some custom balancing to all wheels and the car is 400% better. Yes it's rough on rough roads but no more wheel shake.
17" wheels look and handle great.
tom

[Cashburn]

tom did call, but i guess an hour or so was too long... i am only worried about the shake though. no problem, let us find the fix and keep on driving or polishing gold plastic on veneer ;-)

and i have done both.

[Gatorac]

We chased a similar vibration on a car here with the 17" Team 3 Wheels, after 3 rebalancings and the replacement of the front wheel hubs we were left with a vibration at 80mph exactly... off at 79mph and off at 81mph. Left it as either the Nittos or the Team 3 Wheels themselves. Prior to all the work the vibration was 60mph to 85mph.

Can you post some more details about this fix? I've been chasing a shimmy that starts around 55mph. Some times it's bad, some times not as bad. I've had the tires road force balanced and the wheels checked several times. I would love a fix.

[rocket7171]

I called from the front end shop. I was trying to get correct specs before I would let them touch car. I had to bring car back home so I then asked for help here. Not Jay's fault, he's not on call. These cars have some problems with shakes and thats expected do to the weight with low profile tires. I just don't like the you changed something crap. I try to go the right way and never brought up the scratched pipe till now and the help I get is buy another car and you can have a pipe. Like it's my fault someone else screwed up. This is my dream car and my wife and myself like to do car shows as much as possible. It sucks when you spend a lot of money to get your car fixed and this is what happens. I've never had a bad thing to say about vintage motor sports. I've always gone out of my way to answer all questions on backdraft cars and give out info for Vintage Motor sports.
My car did ride nice before going up to CT for upgrades. I asked for the springs to go to lighter ones to improve the ride. We also installed a LSD rear. I spent alot of money and time on this car and just ask for the same quality of work that Vintage has done in the past.
My original reason was to ask for help on specs to get car alignment checked and adjusted if needed.

Rwillia4
Don't quote a old forum from when I got car fixed the first time two years ago. Your not in my shoes so butt out.

[Rwillia4]

Sorry, I misunderstood, I thought you were complaining about your service more then trying to fix the problem.

I hope you get it back on the road quickly

[Rwillia4]

I have discovered that if I don't put the wheels back on in three stages I get a vibration. 1st- tighten the lugs VERY lightly by hand to center the rim, 2nd hand tighten skipping every other lug, 3rd torque. Problem gone