Well I took my Octy in and came back £45 lighter in the wallet having had a full tracking check done.

The front was slightly out, so that was adjusted, but as you can see the rear is well knackered.

PDF of results: http://www.matthewames.co.uk/briskoda/20090206_tracking/octy_tracking.pdf

What now? Get a dealer to replace the rear suspension bar? Or purchase the bar and get a local garage to fit it? I have not got any prices as yet.

Comments welcome!

Cheers,

Matt

Isn't the bushes the only thing that can effect the rear? New OEM or uprated bushes should do the trick rather than replacing the whole beam.

Isn't the bushes the only thing that can effect the rear? New OEM or uprated bushes should do the trick rather than replacing the whole beam.

By the looks of it the only problem was the rear camber. Afaik new bushes won't fix this.

I'm guessing too much negative camber on the rear could have been caused by someone jacking up the car in the centre of the rear beam.

How much does it effect the car? (handling, tyre wear etc)

Suppose you have to weigh up the costs

I'm guessing too much negative camber on the rear could have been caused by someone jacking up the car in the centre of the rear beam.

Wouldn't that create positive camber angle? Is there any scope for adjustment in the hubs?

Woops, yeah that's what I meant!

Maybe jack the car up by the beam then, to bend it back!! ha

There's no adjustment on the rear. Not officially anyway

Weak or damaged rear shocks can increase the negative camber.

I've also seen this kind of problem when the springs have been replaced without using spring compressors (brute force)

Weak or damaged rear shocks can increase the negative camber.

What? Even on a car with what's effectively a solid rear axle like the Octy? I've seen enough ancient Carltons and Omegas to know what you're talking about, but they have independent rear suspension, I think... :confused:

Your car is on standard suspension? Your have more negative camber then me!! Mine's a vrs lowered about 20mm! But im looking into camber top mounts.

Your right the back camber is a mile out from one side to other, my reads-

Left- -1 32

right- -1 30

Which i was quite surprised about, though my front is out by 24,yours is fine only a small amount.Just out of interest is your steering wheel straight? Also your thurst angle is quite high, For more info/ help have a look here - http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/forum/index.php?

Edited 6 February, 200917 yr by gmaster
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Car had new shocks about 18 months ago (iirc), has done about 40k on those and had a set of tyres in the mean time. I am guilty of jacking on the end of the bar, but not in the middle. Did not realise I wasn't meant to :-( Normally try and jack elsewhere and stick axle stands on the ends of the bar, but I guess that is equally bad :-(

However I do also think the back has been involved in a rear end/side accident as the boot used to have spacers under the hinges, and some of the trim did not line up very well, and there is evidence of a respray, but that that could have been for another reason.

The issues with the tyres are is that they are wearin on the inside edge, in pairs of tread blocks. So two block ok, two blocks worn, two blocks ok, two blocks worn.

Your car is on standard suspension? Your have more negative camber then me!! Mine's a vrs lowered about 20mm!

Might be a stupid comment but...

How do you lower a vRS? Is it by shortening the springs?

If so, then mbames may have weakened rear springs. I would think these are progressive i.e. softer initially. I see it's an estate. Do you carry heavy loads?

Ignore above if I'm talking nonsense.

Weak or damaged rear shocks can increase the negative camber.

I've also seen this kind of problem when the springs have been replaced without using spring compressors (brute force)

Why on earth would you use spring compressors on the rear of an Octavia?

Why on earth would you use spring compressors on the rear of an Octavia?

Indeed, the rear springs just lift out a treat, an absolute doddle to change.

Your car is on standard suspension? Your have more negative camber then me!! Mine's a vrs lowered about 20mm! But im looking into camber top mounts.

Your right the back camber is a mile out from one side to other, my reads-

Left- -1 32

right- -1 30

Which i was quite surprised about, though my front is out by 24,yours is fine only a small amount.Just out of interest is your steering wheel straight? Also your thurst angle is quite high, For more info/ help have a look here - Wheels-InMotion (Powered by Invision Power Board)

Standard suspension.

Steering wheel is now not straight after the garage adjusted the front tracking this morning. Grrr.

If so, then mbames may have weakened rear springs. I would think these are progressive i.e. softer initially. I see it's an estate. Do you carry heavy loads?

Nope, standard rear springs (not cut) and shocks. Don't often carry heavy loads. The odd boot full of t&g flooring, but that is only around town. A few miles of abuse, compared to many thousands with me as driver and nothing else (apart from my laptop).

Why on earth would you use spring compressors on the rear of an Octavia?

I certainly didn't when I changed my rear shocks!

Standard suspension.

Steering wheel is now not straight after the garage adjusted the front tracking this morning. Grrr.

I thought this would be the case, it's off center because of the thrust angle, when i had my alignment checked my front toe was out not by much though, they asked me if the steering wheel was straight which it was, so they said no point in adjusting the front toe as`this would cause the steering wheel to be off center.

Edited 6 February, 200917 yr by gmaster
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I notice the camber is a bit high, but both sides fairly even, if your tyres are wearing well i wouldnt be too concerned about a bit extra rear camber

I notice the camber is a bit high, but both sides fairly even, if your tyres are wearing well i wouldnt be too concerned about a bit extra rear camber

His tyre's are wearing on the inside edge, i'd say the rear camber was out by a fair bit.

When I was setting up racecars we used to shim the rear stub axle where it bolts to the rear beam, get some peel off shim washers . Putting 0.5 mm of shim washers between the stub axle and beam on the back two bolt holes on the R/H rear , it will give you about 20' more toe in on that side which from your figures will give you somewhere around 10-12' toe in( depends on the distance between front and rear bolt holes as to what exact change you get, you can do the maths to work it out once you know how far apart the bolts are ).You need to get some toe in as toe out on the rear can be very unstable when you least expect it :eek: . Camber can be changed the same way if you feel it needs less , reduce it by shimming on the top 2 bolt holes . none of it is an exact science because chances are the arm of the beam doesn't sit fully horizontal but its the only way you can change things without being very brutal or buying a new beam and there is no guarantee a new one will be spot on.

hth

Dave

His tyre's are wearing on the inside edge, i'd say the rear camber was out by a fair bit.

But could this be due to the toe being out?

A tyre that is worn due to wrong alignment will never correct itself after the damage is done. New tyres is the only way to see if the new settings have worked.

I also have negative camber, i thought the tyres were wearing due to this but i got a new set of tyres and also got the toe angles corrected and they have been fine since.

But could this be due to the toe being out?

A tyre that is worn due to wrong alignment will never correct itself after the damage is done. New tyres is the only way to see if the new settings have worked.

I also have negative camber, i thought the tyres were wearing due to this but i got a new set of tyres and also got the toe angles corrected and they have been fine since.

I take it your talking about the rear? if so how did you change the rear toe angles? Most fwd cars afaik will run some rear negative camber (over time), if both tyres are wearing then i'd agree and say it may be the toe angles,if one is wearing more then the other one say the one with lots of - camber it could be down to camber.

Just a suggestion not too sure if the back suspension is the same on the front wheel drive model but would this allow adjustment ?

hxxp://www.forgemotorsport.co.uk/content.asp?inc=product&cat=200101&product=FMAUTB2

That's only for 4x4 the other octavia's have a fixed rear beam.

Thank's for that I know for future reference..