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View Full Version : Lowered Nova's - Tracking/Wheel Allignment



vaughanmc
06-01-10, 05:12 PM
Can it be done ? Nova is lowered -60mm with 195.45.15 tyres so the back tyre is tucked up into the wheelarch a wee bit but nothing major

Definately something I want done like

Cheers, Vaughan :)

JordyzNova
06-01-10, 05:15 PM
rear ?? 80mm custom springs

vaughanmc
06-01-10, 05:16 PM
-60mm all round mate

But don't they do it from the back and point it to the front wheels ?

Benn
06-01-10, 05:17 PM
Well the backs are none adjustable..

Front are easy to do on a ramp. Only the fronts are adjusted. If its done right they'll use lazor's and they just hook the bits on the rim edge.

vaughanmc
06-01-10, 05:18 PM
So it can be done with relative ease with a lowered Nova with 'wide' wheels/tyres ?

Benn
06-01-10, 05:19 PM
Well they do mine fine. And mines all of them..

Only time you might gt a prob is if the ramp is a sit on the floor one, instead of a sunk in the floor jobbie.

Iain
06-01-10, 05:20 PM
When I had mine done it was hooked over the tyre. As long as there's enough clearance between the tyre and the arch it's doable.

Nova_Tek
06-01-10, 05:20 PM
Kwik fit couldn't do any tracking for my Nova even though it's only lowered 30 - 35 (IIRC their equipment wasn't suitable) I got it tracked by another place who had no issues. Depends who you go to.

16xe_chris
06-01-10, 05:21 PM
When I had mine done it was hooked over the tyre. As long as there's enough clearance between the tyre and the arch it's doable.


:thumb: :roll:

mine was a squeeze yesterday but they managed;)

vaughanmc
06-01-10, 05:22 PM
I'll try the local tyre/exhaust place down the road - They done my mate's and his is lowered the exact same but had 155/13 tyres fitted at the time

Maka
06-01-10, 05:22 PM
The width of your wheels/tyres bears no relevance to your wheel alignment. The only variable factor is the angle at which the hubs point, relative to each other.
Getting your tracking done will be just as easy as tracking any other car, presuming your rod ends aren't rusted to buggery!!

Benn
06-01-10, 05:22 PM
Kwik fit couldn't do any tracking for my Nova even though it's only lowered 30 - 35 (IIRC their equipment wasn't suitable) I got it tracked by another place who had no issues. Depends who you go to.

That's cause they are sh*t! They do it with torch's and crap ffs.

Iain
06-01-10, 05:25 PM
The width of your wheels/tyres bears no relevance to your wheel alignment. The only variable factor is the angle at which the hubs point, relative to each other.
Getting your tracking done will be just as easy as tracking any other car, presuming your rod ends aren't rusted to buggery!!

The issue arises when they need to attach something to the rear wheel and they can't do it because it's tucked right up in the arch...

Nova_Tek
06-01-10, 05:25 PM
Yeah I was shocked that they couldn't do it and they were the cheapest which made me further annoyed lol. But I think the guy kinda knew that he was letting a customer down as he was non stop apologising.

I get my car done at two places which is ProTyre in Enfield and Mr. Unique's in Cheshunt.

Benn
06-01-10, 05:28 PM
Its never worth going to kwikfit, they cant do anything. Simple as they are sh*t and they only hire people for will work for min wage. Not on skills and such.

I'd only get it lazor done. My local Protyre does it.

vaughanmc
06-01-10, 05:31 PM
The place I plan to take mine is a Lazer thing

Benn
06-01-10, 06:00 PM
You shouldn't have any probs then, then clamp in side to side again the rim.

vaughanmc
06-01-10, 06:01 PM
Cheers - Just wanted to double check before I go down there :)

Hopefully the trackrod ends are allright

Dave.
06-01-10, 06:17 PM
We do this at work, we clamp the laser/reflective screens to the rim and we have to move the car back and forth, turn the wheel 50 degrees one way, 50 the other etc etc

Theyll probabley use one with reflectors that clamp onto the rim, so aslong as its not a "rim in the arch" job you should be fine :thumb:

vaughanmc
06-01-10, 06:22 PM
Nahh it's about 1cm of tyre (45 profile)

adam c
06-01-10, 07:31 PM
As has been said it all depends on what type of machine they use.The older style ones usually hang off the tyre and you need to check the backs and take some readings then swap the guages round to the front so with a lowered nova they are unsuitable.

The newer machines use targets on the wheels that clamp onto the actual rim so you have no problems with lowered cars etc(well...only if it wont get on the ramp!)and they also are digital and you normally get a before and after print out showing camber,caster and toe.

The places in this link have the newer machines and iirc theres a printable £5 discount voucher on the website: www.alignmycar.co.uk (http://www.alignmycar.co.uk)

Plus with getting a printout your not just taking someones word for it that its set as it should be.

floydy13
06-01-10, 09:11 PM
probably have to get the gas out if it hasnt been touched for a while....
i know you guys will all have your different opions on this but if i was you i would get it toed in about 1ml-2ml across the front. in my past experience if you set a lowered nova paralell across the front you will still get mega wear on the inside of the tyres. if you toe it in a little, it helps make them wear a bit more evenly. also as for the rear guages..if they are the type that sit on top of the tyre, you can turn the part that sits on the tyre, away from the wheel so you can get a reading from it

John
06-01-10, 09:13 PM
Fit some standard size steelies to have it checked, then re-fit alloys after, simples!

Benn
06-01-10, 09:14 PM
^ Or take it to them and let them do it as the car is...

Pete
07-01-10, 10:05 AM
The place I plan to take mine is a Lazer thing


With the lazer tracking it will be fine, when i use to be at a better college they had lazer tracking and we had a range rover sport come in, it had been lowered but unsure what by, but his arches were over his alloys , we had no trouble doing his.. lazer is the best and can always give an accurate reading :thumb:

vaughanmc
12-02-10, 11:20 AM
Got it done today :thumb: Also had new Trackrod Ends fitted last night as one was mega mega slack and had loads of play

They said they couldn't do the back...? But they clamped the front wheels and done it with laser and done it that way...Seems to have worked as the car feels more planted and 'on the road'

Did they do anyone elses that way ? £15 they took as well :)

brainsnova
12-02-10, 12:12 PM
the backs dont need adjusted as its a fixed axle so when you lower it the wheels drop equally. but 60mm drop will still give front tyre wear on the inner edge over time.

rubachuk
12-02-10, 12:13 PM
Took my last to one of these super-duper 4 wheel geometry blah alignment places and they couldn't get the rigs to fit under the back arches. Cesaros on 185/45 lowered 40mm

Welsh Dan
12-02-10, 01:08 PM
Did they give you your camber reading aswell Vaughan?

http://www.xen0phobiak.f2s.com/alignment.jpg

vaughanmc
12-02-10, 05:43 PM
Nope, didn't get any invoice or anything like that...

djshaggeh
12-02-10, 06:26 PM
Lazer tracking isn't all that accurate like people keep suggesting. Its more like a rough estimate and nine times out ten the doughnut thats using it doesn't have a clue.

I use the Hunter DSP 500 at work and I use it 6 days of the week. Its a much better and more accurate bit of kit. The only problem is, it doesn't like lowered novas as the guages scrape the arches. The only car I haven't been able to track is my nova. You can get special guages for lowered cars and only a handful of companys have them. However you can cheat, if you spin the radars back, as if you've rolled the car back. But again its doesn't give you and accurate reading.

chris gsi
12-02-10, 07:43 PM
the tracking kit i have at work is realy good. i used it to set my nova up it gives you the option of just setting up the front or the back
http://www.supertracker.com/STR410R_wheel_aligners.htm

Adam
12-02-10, 07:55 PM
Lazer tracking isn't all that accurate like people keep suggesting. Its more like a rough estimate and nine times out ten the doughnut thats using it doesn't have a clue.
.
Thats because usually they get the "kid" to do it lol

I had mine done when i first got the coilovers on, because i had to set it to about 8mil toe out so it would pass mot :roll:

Bubba
12-02-10, 08:09 PM
no1 could do mine when it was -60 on 17s :(

shaun4321
12-02-10, 08:21 PM
100mm all round, 195/45/15 and we done mine with a bar from rim edge to rim edge and its spotty dog!!!! brakes dead straight and i have a bent drum stick that needs replaceing lol

Benn
12-02-10, 08:45 PM
no1 could do mine when it was -60 on 17s :(

That's just them no wanting too.

I dented my wing on the front when the tyre pulled it and it could still be done.

Joe Richardson
12-02-10, 09:43 PM
we have laser ones at work aswell,i shall be doing my corsa soon,because it is pulling to the left slightly :)