Pulling to the left

[Red Westie]

Interesting and a debatable point. If they have a 4 wheel alignment rig and you paid for a complete 4 wheel alignment check then they should have measured all four.
The problem is on most vehicles there are only one or two things that can be adjusted and if other readings are out of specification (things that cannot be adjusted) something is bent.....either a suspension component or the chassis itself. Now comes the history of your vehicle...if you know that your vehicle was steering OK until recently? and you also know that it hasn't been involved in an ancident or heavy bump whilst you have owned it? we can assume the chassis and steering aren't bent and it is this assumption that the garage has made and the reason for only checking the fronts.
On a T25 you can only adjust the front Tracking and Camber, nothing is adjustable on the rear (although someone did tell me once there is an adjustment on a shyncro, not sure if that's true) but on a standard 2WD the only adjustments to be made are the front Tracking and Camber. That doesn't mean that other things couldn't be measured like Caster, setback, ride height etc but as they cannot be adjuted anyway and you presumably told them that the van hadn't been involved in an accident, they just measured the thing that they could adjust.
As for your measurements, it sounds like you are talking about ride height (how high the van stands) and as the van sits on springs, the ride height is determined by how much those springs compress. So if you have a disparity between left and right one of your springs is softer than the other (pretty common problem on the T25) and one that can be overcome by fitting a set of Simon Baxters famous 'Westy Lean' spring shims (Brickwerks)
In my opinion, ride height needs sorting before you go and have the geometry set as one will effect the other.

[gedbedhead]

easiest way to eliminate binding nearside caliper.after a run feel the nearside wheel
if hotter than offside wheel there you go sticky caliper
then at least you can rule that one out.regards ged.

[camper]

Where abouts in Surrey are you?Did you have the wheel alignment done at Merits in Leatherhead. Asking this as i found the manager at that branch helpfull .I have had my own problems regarding getting caster/camber settings. At this branch they allowed me to slacken off the wishbone bolt for the concentric washers to adjust the wishbones for camber.Reading off directly on there computer i got it within tolerance .Caster is a problem though as merits new computer dont give a reading only a left&right grey block diagram with various figures but no real time measurement. Ignore T4 group on sheet

[ninja.turtle007]

I'm in Tolworth and I took it to Southfields Merityre. I just got back from there.

After asking them very nicley they adjusted the caster and camber but said they run out of adjustment and it is still pulling to the left. He said he's 'trying to help me out' and over compensated on the camber. I have no confidence in what they have said and feel cheated out of £65. I really need to get this sorted by someone and I'm going on holiday next thursday 600 mile round trip.

Nothing seems bent or damaged.

The left hand wheel still measures further back than the right hand one.

I'm fed up and just want to take it too someone who can diagnose the problem and fix it. Any ideas who can do it? I trid Jack's Garage but they are booked up.

[camper]

Did you see them measure the caster angle & and then adjust.Others on here like professionals in the motor trade are best to advice.But i thought adjustment of caster can effect the camber angle so first of all the caster angle needs to be correct before the camber is adjusted.Like wise the front steering alignment towing adjustment can effect the camber angle .So caster&camber have to be correct before the front wheel alignment is adjusted.From my own experiance Merityre dont do it like that .And from memory in being in attendance when the camber angle was being adjust the offside couldnt be brought into tolerance even with the full range of the wishbone adjustment movement.But when the front wheel towing alignment was adjusted on the steering rack the camber angle on the offside came into tolarance.Question then is this should the track rod ends be released away from the front hubs before the camber angle is adjusted? then refitted and the front tracking adjusted. When i left Merityre i was half happy with there efforts .My van does pull a little bit to the left but only on a lot of road camber.

[Red Westie]

My concern is: wether or not this centre has properly checked the basic condition of steering and suspension components, SOMETHING THAT MUST BE DONE FIRST before any adjustments are undertaken (there is absolutely no sense in making adjustments if the underlying fault is worn out bushes or bent components) and anyone worth their salt would know this.
My main area of suspician would be if the top wishbone rubbers have collapsed (this is an extremely common issue on T25's)
To check this look from the front of the bus (underneath) at the large allen key bolt (that goes through the top wishbone) the head of the bolt (both sides) should be in the center of the front bush....when they collapse the head of this adjusting allen bolt looks blatently 'offset' to one side.
If this is the case then these will need doing ASAP and Camber/track resetting.
Martin

[camper]

Red westie can i just clarify somethink in my case when i went to Meritryes it was after i had fitted new top wishbone bushes and other parts to the front suspension.The service i received from them was very helpfull and i would recommend them to anyone.You said there is no caster adjustment on a T25 do you mean it can not be adjusted or that a wheel alignment centre wont adjust it. Page 176 in the Haynes workshop manual for all models 1979 to 1982 chapter 8 front suspension said Caster adjustment the caster angle is adjusted by altering the length of the radius rod by means of two nuts on the body mounting bracket Note that the caster angle also influences the camber front wheel alignment and these must be checked after making any alterations to the caster.I would appreciate your professional comments.

[syncrosimon]

Adjust Camber like this...
http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/aa28 ... stment.flv" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And adjust Castor by the nuts on the shaft of the radius rod. Moves the wheel backwards and forwards in the wheel arch. Big tyres usually mean playing with the adjustment to get the wheel to fit.



Tracking is by adjusting the top rod on this photo which comes out of the steering bellows.

[ninja.turtle007]

OK, I know some of you will disagree with what I have done and I would like to hear your comments. After visiting Merityre I realised that it doesn't matter how expensive your computer is if you have a monkey working it.....

Anyway, I measured from the rear hub centres and adjusted the fronts caster angle until they were within 5mm of each other. Then I adjusted the camber using the spirit level method until I have very slight positive camber.

My van now drives beautifully. It drives straight. The sterring wheel returns as it should.

I will check the toe this week end as a friend of mine has the tools required.

I will keep an eye on the tyre wear and address the situation should it arise again.

Cheers.

[camper]

What you did was the best thing can you tell me how you measured the caster angle or was it just a case of equel amount of threads each side.

[Red Westie]

Tis the second time I've been wrong this week....flesh and blood you know, at least I'm big and ugly enough to admit it lol.
I'm really pleased to see the fault has been resolved and I guess I was right about something....the bluming settings were out and did need adjusting.
Martin