I've had the van tracked, and then retracked after eating a tyre in less than 2k!

it doesn't seem much better.

its an 08 1.3 van and for some reason eating the outside off the front tyres especially the front left.

I can't really say how long its been going on for now but its vertinly got much worse over the last year or 2.

tracking in a straight line isnt; the problem. so why would it be out of track when turning? Should I be looking for a bent trak rod etc?

fanx

this is a tough one when it comes to tracking, im constantly at my local tyre depo!


i have never had a problem with track rod ends BUT the lower arms tend to be the biggest problem, even though they show no real problems under torque etc they come away from there bush, they still solid but may be faulty, i always replace bottom arms when i cant find a problem. we once sat and discussed the tracking and found out if needs to be minus 0.85. just under 1mm.

they steering wheel should give you a good indication as to whats happening with the front end.

i also once had a bent strut bracket, the bracket that connects the hub to the shocker. was un noticiable but 4 wheel allignment and checking found this error.

there are simply loads to take into account with the drive allignment.

also i think personally that the cambers on the front are just generally wrong but cant be adjusted.

ive had countless meetings and conversations with every fiat member of staff on this planet.

do you have any knocking when driving? maybe not so much when on good road but when you get on a rough bit of road do you have any noise's at all? put the windows down full, hanf out the bugger if you have to. get it on the ramp really shake every componant link driveshaft everything.

ALSO

with regards to these vans they are set ina way when they come out of the factory there generally set up as if they have weight in the back. i know its silly to hear that but it does make a differnce if you went to get your van tracked with half a ton in the back then remove the weight its mental.

do you have any pulling at all ?

best way i find to check this is to go on the motorway ona night and just simply find the straighest bit and flatest and stick around the power band on your revs maybe 55-65mph and just floor the accelerator. mine currently ease's left when accererating and rapid right movement when letting of.

ive got a loose bottom nearside arm. it squeeks. just waiting to get this sorted.

possible problem.

OR

as i write this i just remebered the ultimate way to find out if anything is loose...do this...

get your guy to track it up (on the rotating discs) then take the gauges of the front and do lock to lock maybe 6-8 times. see if the numbers change.

if they dont change maybe ifs something as simple as an over inflated tyre which i have also suffered with.

This topic really bites me but have not suffered for around 2 years now after much much TLC on a WEEKLY basis. ive just finished a full year on 205/40/17s and not a problem really apart from a had the bent shocker bracket which caused a canvas apperance within 4 weeks. could not get it sorted was to busy. but had to resort when time came.

ive just set of on 205/45/17s so can only add to this topic as and when really but as always il be there weekly.

''taxis suffer alot as they do alot of turning'' one fiat technician said to me. i walked off. not even worth laughing at. simply mentality. just dont get it. i simply love this van. especially with my new face on her"!"

if i remeber owt else il add on...hope this helps....

defo try the tracking numbers and turning lock to lock....

:slayer:

Thanks for the info and comprehensive reply. I've touched base with most of the above and have come to the conclusion something must be bent so the wheels can be tracked in a straght line but because of the shift in position it throws out the lock on the front left. The van had a bump this side early in its life (nothing to major) but fiat replaced just about everything under there and is possible they didn't put something back right but more likely IMHO that something has been 'shifted slightly'. If I find it I'll be back here to tell all.

fanx

Just replaced both bottom arms which i have been told were fine and no movement, even checked them myself and feel solid. got them off and they are SHOT, bottom ball joints were both knacked, the offside more than the left, ive never replaced them together so this time will tell.

just sat looking at van on flat and the wheel camber just did not look right. this was the problem.

been changed as i type this!!

another couple ton in her...

:worship:

anti roll bushes too aswell as track rod ends....oh the joys of owning a dobbin. :devil:

what caused ur bad camber??,replaced my bottom arms but the tyres scubb out on the insides very quickly ( Regards Richie

I wrongly changed both my bottom arms 18 months ago thinking that they were the culprit which was causing my Doblo to suddenly vere to the left (turns out the problem was the lower engine mount).
Four months later I got an advisory on my newly new ball joints having split rubbers but not allowing dirt ingress into the joints. Another six months down the line I noticed that the nearside front tyre had scrubbed out on the inner rim. At the same time I was getting a bouncing clatter on rough roads at low speed. No adverse affects at speed or on roads with a decent surface. Shock absorbers were suspected but I had no resettle bouncing when testing. Also suspected the top steering arm bushes/bearings but couldn't see any evidence of wear or stiffness.
Next consideration was the anti roll bar bushes. Although I changed them, there was no adverse wear in the originals. 9,000 miles and seven months down the line, I've noticed that my new replacement front nearside tyre has scrubbed out on the inner rim again. I was loathed to spend any more money at guessing what the cause is and having the tracking done, so at this point I've got the white flag out and have taken the motor to a friendly MOT station with decent hydraulic equipment for testing the front suspension components. Everything fine except the offside lower ball point. Tester told me that the offside ball point could have any effect on the nearside tyre tracking/wear because the worn ball joint will allow wonder across the steering arm.
Whether the rapidly worn ball joint is a result of my bad fitting or using non main dealer lower arms (cheaper option at the time) who knows. Hoping I can get away with fitting just the new ball joint rather than a complete arm to rectify the bouncing and hopefully the tyre wear problem.
Above may give a few pointers to other peeps with the same symptoms.

It's funny, I have a need to replace the left front lower wishbone as it clatters and clanks when I run over stuff....but my tyres have lasted a year (almost).

They are Gislaved Nordfrosts. They are worn from normal driving and perhaps a little wheelspin every other wet day thanks to the serious amount of BHP on tap after the map.

But I have kept an eye on the tyres due to the sheer amount of posts on here complaining about tracking and wear, but they are fine across the width of both tyres!!

It was a wheelchair taxi i Aberdeen and had been well serviced and I noticed new Monroe's on the back, serious looking things you would find on a 40 tonner

My front tyres have just done 11,000 miles. They were put on new for last MOT. One tyre just scrapped through MOT with severe wear on inside edge. The other OK. Rear Tyres still going strong after 24,000. My Tyres are Avon ZT5's.
Does any one get good miles on the front of their Doblo or am I chasing rainbows to get any more?