OK, what the f**k is wrong here.....

[Kroggers]

I did try the search function, but did not find what I was looking for

I was cleaning my car today, with focus on the wheels, and noticed that the driver side front wheel is further forward in the arch than the passenger side - about 1inch I would say!!!! I have had a look under the car (as much as I can without jacking it up and could not see anything that could be wrong. Additionally the car was through the yearly road test and a major service with a P-car specialist within the last month and neither of them found anything wrong. What the f**k is wrong here??? Any ideas of what to look for??? I am getting really worried here

[AFJuvat]

Your caster angle on that wheel is probably off a bit - probably on both wheels if I had to guess. Also, these cars did have a little bit of slop in them when built

AFJ

[Kroggers]

Thank you for your reply AFJ

Is that something to worry about - should I get it fixed before driving it again?? And how do I adjust the caster angle??

[87coupe]

It's called caster. You evidently have a variation in your settings - that or something is bent. Does your car track straight? If so I doubt anything is bent.

Edit: Oops, too slow.

[Kroggers]

Hi Brandon, as far as I can feel the car is tracking straight. I do have a very slight vibration through the car at high speed but I am hoping that this is just due to my rear wheels requiring balancing. I can not believe that anything is broken or the road test centre or the P-car mechanic would have seen it?? I will try to jack up the car at the weekend and see if anything is bent - I am hoping that this is just an adjustment issue!?!

[Klax]

You might also try checking your fender. Has one side been pushed in.

[asphaltgambler]

Use a tape measure (get a helper) and (carefully) scope the distance from the exact center of the wheels center cap from the rear to the front. Compare side to side measurement.

Then check back with your findings.

[Kroggers]

Good Idea asphaltgambler!!! But now that I have been out and measured it, it is even worse The driver side is 2inchs further forward from the rear wheel than the passenger side. Now I am getting worried

[safe]

2 inches!
Caster canŽt be of by that much, can it?

[Kroggers]

I am open to ideas here!!! What should I look for Magnus??

[Dixie]

As siad before, one inch is not a difference in caster.

I'd measure the wheel base side-to-side. Then I'd look for (hopefully) a bent a-arm. I've seen cars off by an inch on one side due to extensive accident damage.

[Kroggers]

This is getting heavy I have had a lot of body work done on the car, and we never found any signs suggesting that the car had been in a big accident in the past. I will lift the car up on Saturday and have a close look. I really do hope that this is just a small problem

[safe]

Can you see which side that is wrong?

Remove the front wheels and look for a bent A-arm.
Also look for damage from a possible crash. Look in the trunc under the carpet and spare for evidence. I dont know exactly what you should look for but I bet you know when you see it (if its there).

[Bob Goding]

caster? Methinks that caster might be changeable by moving the top of the strut fore or aft. This will pivot the strut about the lower balljoint which is not much lower than the wheel tyre centre, so to achieve a 2''
movement at the axle might neet a strut top displacement of about a foot? Something wrong somewhere!

[Kroggers]

As I said, I have done a lot of work to the body etc, and have never seen any crash damage - so I do not believe this is a crash problem. I am not able to see under the car properly until the weekend, so will have a look then. Magnus, what does the A-arm look like?

[cmonref]

The spec book your wheelbase is 2272 mm, or 89.4 inches. Which side is closer to that measurement?

[Quicksilver]

Originally posted by Brian K. Haggard
The spec book your wheelbase is 2272 mm, or 89.4 inches. Which side is closer to that measurement?

Seeing as you have the spec book, go ahead and give him some of the major control points. It should help to see if the unibody is tweaked out of spec.

[450knotOffice]

Paul,

The difference visually can simply be a difference in how the front fenders were placed on the tub. These cars are hand built after all. I have the same issue with my car, although I believe the difference is on the right side.

Also, when you measure the wheelbase on each side, be absolutely certain that your wheels are pointed dead ahead. Any steering input at all, even the tiniest amount, will throw the measurements way off. Trust me on this. And don't trust your steering wheel to be centered perfectly either. It could be off slightly.

If you don't believe me, turn the wheel hard over and measure the wheelbase on each side. They'll be off by more than six inches. This is because the "inside" wheel's hub will rotate aft a bit and the "outside" hub will rotate forward a bit, creating the mismatch.

How do I know this? I went through the exact same shock and horror with my car a while back. Since then I've rebuilt my entire suspension and everything's straight, including the A-arms (and they always were). The car tracks straight and corner balances perfectly. However, I still have a slight visual mismatch in the fender well so it's got to be how the fenders were installed.

[unclebilly]

Measuring to the center of the centercap is pretty crude. If your wheels are turned very slightly, this will throw out your measurement. If you're worried, spend the $60 and get the car on an alignment rack.

I used to rebuild wrecks and the 30 second check to see if / how badly the frame was bent was to se how many fingers fit between the front of the tire and the front fender on each side. Like others have said, your castor is probably out or something is worn. Is your car parked on level ground?

[Kroggers]

Thank you Scott for you comforting words, I am sure (or at least hoping) that I am in the same situation as you. unclebilly, the finger test is the first one I did, and the gap between the wheel and the front fender on each side was a difference of about two fingers. Both my front wings are new, as the old ones were covered in rust, along with some other rust repair. I also had both front Bogies replaced three months back, so the front suspension should be good. I find it hard to believe that the problem can be due to a crash, as the wheel is to far forward and not back - I can not imagine what type of impact would push the front wheel forward, but then I am new to this game I should also point out that my measuring was done in the dark, on my own and with the car not parked on an even surface!!

I will pay the money to get the car on an alignment rack, if I can find a garage in Stockholm that has one.

If I was to assume that the problem is due to a old/bent or badly adjusted components, could you please give me (remember I am new to this looking after my own car thing) an idea of what to look for and how it should look - pics would be great I will have access to a lift on the weekend, so will be able to get properly under my car for a close inspection.

It's at times like this I wish we had a tighter Pelican community here in Sweden, like you all have over there in the US. Would be good to have another pair of eyes looking on this which actually know what they are looking for!!!