[Retro]

According to the Bentley book and other sources the caster angle on my MKIV Jetta should not be adjustable. Camber, toe, etc.. are adjustable but the angle on how far forward my wheels are not supposed to be changeable. The strange thing is that all the alignment shops I have gone to say my max range should be 7.7deg but my drivers side is 8.6deg and my passenger is 7.6deg...
Could someone tell me whats going on here? I have had some hard bumps but not enought to wreck my frame (I think that would need some serious damage??). I have changed my suspension a lot but this strange alignmen has always been there on all of my setups. What do you guys think?

 

[bajan01]

Re: Caster settings are off.. what could it be? (Retro)

Just curious as to how you are measuring your caster?

 

[Retro]

Re: Caster settings are off.. what could it be? (bajan01)

I read the reports from the alignment shops. Sears is kinda nice they give you the readings and then a drawing to show what they are talking about. I have readings from different shops and they are all the same thing.

 

[bajan01]

Re: Caster settings are off.. what could it be? (Retro)

Hmmmm...I don't know on this one

 

[G-wrench]

Re: Caster settings are off.. what could it be? (bajan01)

my guess is that it has to be one of two things.
There is the possibility that the car was like that when you got it but you never noticed it... Have you ever had an alignment that read normal?
Then it could be damaged after the fact... the frame is bent or a piece of hardware could be bent or stretched...
maybe sears isn't the place to solve the problem... you may need some more sophisticated equipment. If it's the frame you will most likely need a body shop with a frame straightner and lazer alignment system.
If it's a bent piece of hardware then you may have to do some careful measurement to find out.
Since the angle of the strut (caster) is determined by the location of the strut tower and the position of the center of the wheel you have alot of places where damge could hide. The tower could move, the control link could be bent, the strut could be bent, or the hub could be tweeked. It may be a very hard problem to solve.

 

[Retro]

Re: Caster settings are off.. what could it be? (G-wrench)

I have had multiple shops check it out.. even the dealership could not straighten it.. of course they start making allusions to aftermarket suspension setups

...
The last time I told them to go over the suspension and alignment carefully, and I would pay for anything not under warranty they said my alignment was straight, which it was not, and they did not do anything except put it on the machine and do the alignment even though I told them about the strange numbers and that it is easier to steer right than left (and yes I know about drift, road lean, directional sticky tires - it is none of those!). I even went back a while later (long while later) when I felt I might find someone more willing to do work and I had brand new coilovers that were set up as perfectly as possible. service advisor drove my car, said it feels fine and that he does not want to work on a car with nothing wrong... stupid thing is that all my other friends - race car drivers, race car engineers (one designed engine parts for ford racing) and car enthusiasts feel the same problem when they drive the car long enough.
Well, I'm going to consult my bestest mechanic tommorow and see what he says.. I might just sell the car to someone who likes it and I'll buy one that drives straight.


[Modified by Retro, 11:13 PM 2-13-2002]

 

[Retro]

Augh, I forgot

I forgot to carry my alignment reports so I could give them to my mechanic. Well I guess he will believe me if I just tell him, unlike certain dealerships .