What's made you smile today?

[The Panda Nut]

Checking Mrs Dave's Panda for its MoT. Both front tyres have worn bald on the inside shoulders. The tracking was of course "correct" when the tyres were fitted (she had it checked). Like F it is. There's no wear I can detect in the track rods or bottom arms.

Also found the right front suspension strut is leaking. It's still working fine but I'll get a pair fitted and then not have to worry.

I will only use the full 4 wheel laser tracking at STS as virtually without exception every other place has said tracking OK and tyres wear on one edge. After many goes with other places I have taken cars in to them only to see that in fact the tracking was way off. Their equipment cost c £120,000 a bay and it works. I do not know why other places dont get it right but STS have so far had 100% results and have done wonders for my tyre life as all the cars have even wear. Maybe you could give them a go if there is an available branch near by.

 

[The Panda Nut]

I'm most of the way through the 36K service in Ruby our 312. Parts including oil came to £65 so a vast sum saved on the dealer. But I now have to fit the pollen filter..... I think I know why I have been paying for their service as I am going to have to hand upside down and do battle with the pedals. It does run sweetly now so a smile might be in order. Shame I over ordered on the oil front.

 

[DaveMcT]

I will only use the full 4 wheel laser tracking at STS as virtually without exception every other place has said tracking OK and tyres wear on one edge. After many goes with other places I have taken cars in to them only to see that in fact the tracking was way off. Their equipment cost c £120,000 a bay and it works. I do not know why other places dont get it right but STS have so far had 100% results and have done wonders for my tyre life as all the cars have even wear. Maybe you could give them a go if there is an available branch near by.

I have just googled STS tyres and get https://www.tyrepros.co.uk/ Their location search is pretty rubbish, but it seems their closest is 80 miles from me. I will do my tread warmth test and gradually toe them in by trial and error.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I will only use the full 4 wheel laser tracking at STS as virtually without exception every other place has said tracking OK and tyres wear on one edge. After many goes with other places I have taken cars in to them only to see that in fact the tracking was way off. Their equipment cost c £120,000 a bay and it works. I do not know why other places dont get it right but STS have so far had 100% results and have done wonders for my tyre life as all the cars have even wear. Maybe you could give them a go if there is an available branch near by.

I've had similar experiences Panda Nut. I've now come to the conclusion that it's mostly not down to the equipment and very much down to the incompetence of the operator! So, if you've found someone who can really get it right I guess you've found the "Holy Grail"

You may have seen the post I did some time ago about my "home brewed" tracking gauges? They are very quick and accurate for doing a quick check with but rather laborious when using them to actually do adjustments. However I've not had tyre wear problems for years. I also regularly - probably once a month on average - turn each front wheel full lock so I can examine the tread for wear and if I see any signs of feathering or shoulder wear I immediately check for wear in suspension components, replace what's needed and readjust if necessary (usually it's a ball joint or rubber bush which is the problem).

 

[rmjbn1]

Filled up with fuel yesterday for what seems like the first time in ages...

Realised I could check on here to find the last time...

Exactly four months ago!

To carry on the panic buying theme, fuel warning light was lit on the Panda.

Gosh tho fuel prices have dropped jolly low, ain't they?

So I figured we'd take advantage and fill 'er right up.

£30 and that's your lot in a 169 Panda at the moment.

Filled to the brim again from the warning light being on (£41 this time, so prices have clearly crept back up...), 289.5 miles on the trip, put 33.4litres in.

What didn't make me smile so much was calculating our mpg at 39.4

Not quite as good as the computer's indicated 48.8... I didn't excpect it to be accurate but I was a bit miffed.

Maybe it's because it's all been short journeys, lots of stop/start. Will test again over a more representative tankful.

 

[The Panda Nut]

I have just googled STS tyres and get https://www.tyrepros.co.uk/ Their location search is pretty rubbish, but it seems their closest is 80 miles from me. I will do my tread warmth test and gradually toe them in by trial and error.

I am thinking of a Gunson's Trackrite kit. Even if it doesn't work its not much more than one tracking session. Does anyone on here have any experience of these?

 

[varesecrazy]

I am thinking of a Gunson's Trackrite kit. Even if it doesn't work its not much more than one tracking session. Does anyone on here have any experience of these?

Too dim for bright sunshine..

You need the factory figures for setting

This info is 10 years old ..a few likeminded guys clubbed together.. but I never got to use it

It may have been upgraded

 

[The Panda Nut]

Well I have finally done the filter. Once you get the need to remove the steering column out of the way its fairly easy. What a crackpot car this is. Surely a RHD access to the filter from the passenger footwell would not have been so costly. The old filter was seriously black. Just a brake service to do now and jobs a goodun. Somehow from the state of the parts I suspect this is the best service this car has ever had. Car purrs like a small lion now.

As soon as the last spark plug arrives I can get on to Daffo. Ordered 8 and got 7. Why is it always me.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I am thinking of a Gunson's Trackrite kit. Even if it doesn't work its not much more than one tracking session. Does anyone on here have any experience of these?

I've looked at the trakrite a few times and I rather like it. You do need a nice flat smooth bit of ground to work on and you need to drive over it smoothly without jerking or the reading gets corrupted. If you buy one then store it in a sealed package or container and avoid using it where dust and grit might get into it's workings. The plates run on rollers and will not be so free running, and therefore less sensitive, if grit gets in the works. It's difficult to use it to set actual toe in (for instance if your manual quotes 1.5mm toe in when the scale is calibrated in degrees!) but it's brilliant for just setting the wheels parallel - which should give you minimum tyre wear. In the end I decided to just continue using my own "home brewed" gauge.

The laser kit would be much more accurate but looks more difficult to use - and more expensive. For someone like me who has spent their life in and around motor vehicles and knows what to check out before going anywhere near making an adjustment then all these kits are helpful. A less experienced person might spend quite a bit of their hard earned cash on kit like this and still not achieve a satisfactory outcome.

For those not familiar with the kit we are talking about, here is a video all about it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpBMrKmoS7E

 

[portland_bill]

Over the road is parked a Hotpoint service van.
Under the Hotpoint branding, their service slogan. "The way you care"

I would have hoped for better.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Checking Mrs Dave's Panda for its MoT. Both front tyres have worn bald on the inside shoulders. The tracking was of course "correct" when the tyres were fitted (she had it checked). Like F it is. There's no wear I can detect in the track rods or bottom arms.

Also found the right front suspension strut is leaking. It's still working fine but I'll get a pair fitted and then not have to worry.

See what I was saying earlier about incompetent operatives? The other aspect I suppose is that the machines need regular calibration which is going to cost, wonder how many get a regular calibration?

I've been thinking about how to minimize the risk of the job being done wrong and I think the least you should do is ensure you get the machine's printout on completion. Of course that doesn't compensate for the guy who doesn't properly check everything over - track rod ends, bottom arms (both ball joints and bushings) wheel bearing free play, ride height, top mounts, damaged components (bent suspension arms, obvious chassis damage, bent wheel rims, etc), and more for wear and damage and positioning the vehicle correctly - always on a flat surface and running it forward and not allowing it to run back before taking any readings, I could go on. Just running the vehicle into the workshop and taking the readings are not going to cut it, and you see this done a lot!

 

[portland_bill]

I've always puzzled as to why tracking should ever need adjustment. Once set, the track rod ends will not move on their threads, so any misalignment must be due to wear in other components, as Jock says, or damage, and anything bent needs replacing, not adjusting out. Wear in ball joints or bushes will allow movement in all directions, so any tracking adjustment will 'correct' it only for that moment, and if checked again a few minutes later, may give different results. New joints and bushes at every service will sort it though.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I've always puzzled as to why tracking should ever need adjustment. Once set, the track rod ends will not move on their threads, so any misalignment must be due to wear in other components, as Jock says, or damage, and anything bent needs replacing, not adjusting out. Wear in ball joints or bushes will allow movement in all directions, so any tracking adjustment will 'correct' it only for that moment, and if checked again a few minutes later, may give different results. New joints and bushes at every service will sort it though.

Absolutely PB. I've heard, more than once, someone being told that their "tracking" (hate that term) is out because they probably "clipped" a curb or some other such rubbish. Yes you may damage something if you really clout it, but "clipping"?

I particularly like your comment about "temporarily correcting". Anyone can stick a vehicle up on a setting bench (most of the laser type tools are now mounted on a ramp or suchlike) and adjust the track rods 'till an absolutely spot on reading is obtained but no-one ever thinks to drive it off, round the block and then back on again and recheck do they? Do this and if the settings don't come up the same something must be worn and I'll almost bet you it's a rubber type bush because ball joints are easy to find.

There will probably be a very small perceptible difference even with good components if you do this because of compliance in rubber bushings, but if you get a big difference you've got to have something going on don't you? I've never seen anyone do a recheck but I always do it when using my "home brewed" gauges and just occasionally I find something I missed by doing this.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

From my experience and having owned a few of them now, Minis do seem to significantly go out of track over time. I don’t know why, it’s not through wear or damage but they do. One thing about mini is they pride themselves on their handling so one theory is they very fine tolerances to begin with, that said it does not seem uncommon to be a few degrees out after only a year, and you definitely notice when they are out as the handling feel changes a lot.

My wife’s 2017 countryman has needed the wheel alignment done twice, the mini before that once (got written off with in a year of having it) the mini before that needed it several times.

My golf has not needed it doing once in 5 years.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Pollen filter fitted. Disconnect the steering shaft first and its easy you need to slide it off the spline'd stub sticking out of the floor then access is easy. Easier than the 169 that's for sure. Centre the steering careful before starting and again before reassembly. Torque the bolt to 33lb/ft.

Just need th change the brake fluid and check and clean the brakes and jobs a goodun. Hooray!

 

[The Panda Nut]

This'll make me laugh every time I look a it. Can't wait to see my mate with the Ferrari 458 and his £800 wing badges.

Shop4Parts sent my missing spark plug. The parcel was huge and very well packed. I am very pleased with the parts, speed of delivery and standard of service and will use them again many times I am sure.

 

[varesecrazy]

Pollen filter fitted. Easier than the 169 that's for sure!

My 2004 was a doddle

Nothing there to change


It will be interesting to see how good the 'servicing' of the OH's TA has been also.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Hi Andy, are you talking "real" Minis or the modern thing they call a Mini? I've had a number of "real" minis in my day including a 1275 S and don't remember any tracking problems.

My pal two doors down has a "new mini" which had overheating problems and I briefly contributed to his efforts to trace the problem. The "old minis" were pretty cramped under the bonnet but I'd far rather work on one of them any day compared to the new one! I have to say I was not particularly impressed.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

My 2004 was a doddle

Nothing there to change


It will be interesting to see how good the 'servicing' of the OH's TA has been also.

Must say I found our 169 easier to do than my boy's 2012 Punto Easy

 

[portland_bill]

Hi Andy, are you talking "real" Minis or the modern thing they call a Mini? I've had a number of "real" minis in my day including a 1275 S and don't remember any tracking problems.

My pal two doors down has a "new mini" which had overheating problems and I briefly contributed to his efforts to trace the problem. The "old minis" were pretty cramped under the bonnet but I'd far rather work on one of them any day compared to the new one! I have to say I was not particularly impressed.

I think he's talking new MINI, not original Mini.
Old Mini was a tardis, small on the outside, big on the inside. New MINI is the opposite, enormous outside, cramped inside and under the bonnet. Old Mini always carried a spare wheel, even when it went ot 12" wheels. New MINI, no space for any spare wheel. Pure genius.

Have you seen the Red Bull promotional MINIs, with the 'can' on the back? Even more cramped inside, with no seat adjustment. Rear deck contains two fridges, with a tiny boot at the rear. Occasionally have to do driver training in them, as they're operated by students, and have to be reminded to look UP!