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MG MGF Technical - 4 wheel alignment

Folks, I know this has been done to death but I still find myself requiring advice. Im going to be getting a 4 wheel alignment done in the next week or so and I would like all settings on a bit of paper that I can pass to the garage and say do this please.

Im looking for a fairly stable setting that will still be fun to drive but not give me any surprises. Ive lost a bit of confidence in the F after a spin last December. I still feel myself white knuckling the steering wheel on fast corners and I keep thinking the back end is about to go. I have the floating feeling that others have mentioned elsewhere.

Can you recommend Toe etc. that will help but not make the handling completely boring?

The F is a standard 96 MPI with the only mod being a K&N 57i. I have not checked the ride height, which is maybe something I should do. Im currently running on Eagle F1s, which Im stuck with until they wear out.

Thanks in advance
Ralph

There isn't really any hard and fast rules here- and no piece of paper to hand over to an alignment technician (although I am working on a web site for precisely this purpose).

Check simple things first- and ride height is certainly the simplest. It is better to have it at the lower end of the height range.

For more predictable and 'safe' rear handling keep to the standard tracking settings: 0 degrees 10 minutes toe IN.

Consider fitting rear compliance bush washers- cheap and impart more predctable handling.

For the front, for a less 'boring' drive, then by all means go for the 0 degrees 5 minutes toe IN front setting. As the setting go towards greater toe-in angles, the greater the steering feel, the better the high speed stability, and the less the amount of 'safe' understeer. Alan has used up to 0 degrees 10 minutes toe-in with no problems- but 5 minutes is quite adequate.

HTH

Rob
Rob Bell

Cheers Rob - rear compliance bush washers - how much to buy and fit?

Ralph
Ralph

Safe "Understeer"

To quote Arthur Dent "This is a new meaning of the word safe"

If the car is too high you get a very scary ride. Another easy thing to check is tyre pressure, if this is too high you may also get that lack of control feeling.

Get the tracking checked anyway. I also use a toe in setting and this also improves stability at speed.

As Rob suggests the compliance washers will help control the back end and they are cheap (10 quid), an essential item in my book. Depending on the age of the car worn suspension bushes can also be a problem with the suspension.

I played this game before........
Tony Smith

See
http://www.theflow.demon.nl/fab/html/bushes.htm

for a picture and link to suppliers.
Tony Smith

This thread was discussed on 28/02/2001

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGF Technical BBS is active now.