Hi All,

After buying a brandnew pair of Michelins(!) for the rear of my 155K miles jtd weekend, my Marea started wandering like a boat above 50mph. I've changed all the shocks, and a brand new pair of front wishbones. I tracked it parallel with the aid of a home made gauge based on last months 'practical classics' instructions, and it now runs pretty true and with much less suspension banging.

However the ride over anything but the newest road surface is harsh through the steering wheel. Thinking my homemade tracking maybe to blame I sent it off to the local tyre fitters, who reported it fine as they're very honest (and didn't charge )

I do know however they always set them parallel though, so I'm wondering what the official fiat tracking angle is? anyone know?

Parallel is within tolerances.

Parallel is fine as you have already been told and it shouldnt affect the ride anyway. Oue Marea is at about 135K on the original front shocks and rear shocks changed at about 50K. It still rides well and doesnt crash over bumps or potholes. How are your track rod ends?

Dont know about the tracking but have your rear subframe bushes maybe gone ? I'm having to do them for my Mot and the car has been wondering all over the place recently. If you jack the rear of the car up somewhere other than the rear suspension and have a good look at the four main mounting bushes, one of mine had fallen apart and it wasnt obvious until the weight was off the suspension. Oh and you havent shoved the bottom ball joint up too far have you ? The bolt should just slide in if it's correct. Sorry if you know already

Iain

Thanks for the replys. It's not the rear subrame, both of whichs front mountings have now been modded to take the brava replacements as detailed in other pages of this site. I first did one side about a 18 months ago and it hasn't given problems since so it seems an ok repair.

Track rod ends are also fine.

All I can think is either:

- The new wishbones, which were surprisingly cheap, have such rock hard bushes they're transmitting too much road surface vibration (it rides over 'proper' bumbs fine).

-Alternatively the suspension was so bad before the arms were done, the tyres have been scrub damaged. They actually don't look too bad, so if this is the case I'm hoping a few hundred miles will sort them out. Next month's drive to Switzerland might help this!