Hi all. My front wishbone bushes are starting to degrade and also I'm suffering with the tyres wearing on the outside edges pretty badly. I've got meyle hd rear console bushes and they are going strong after fitting them over a year ago. Had the geometry checked and adjusted numerous times and understand that the camber can't be adjusted and it's out of tolerance.

 

So...just had new tyres and don't want the same again with the tyres wearing....I'm going to replace the front wishbone bushes but wondered if anyone has had success with these adjustable camber ones ? 

 

Cheers all 

 

 

https://www.awesomegti.com/brands/powerflex-bushes/powerflex-front-wishbone-front-bush-camber-adjustable-fabia-2000-2007-pff85-201g/

 

Link to the bushes

What are your current camber figures?

Initial. 

Left 1.14 (red)

Right 0.56 (green) 

 

Final 

1.16 (red) 

0.56(green)

 

This was on the 23/4/19 after having new suspension arms and new arb bushes. It was way out before this and the technician said at time that the left tyre would scrub on the inside after a while. Both have scrubbed badly on the inside and I can't understand why. The tyres where brand new at the time. (Toyo proxes t1r) 

Presumably all those numbers have a minus sign in front of them on your printout? Can you scan or photograph the whole page?

 

In your first post you talk about wear on the outside edges, was that a typo?

 

It is possible to even up the camber by shifting the subframe across a tad, but there must be something else wrong I think.

 

Where did you get the alignment checked, somewhere like KwikFit who will happily measure but only adjust toeing?

 

As Wino said, why/how did they manage to adjust and correct the alignment and leave it the same as it was originally?

 

Are you using shortened springs, if so that will increase the camber a bit - and lead to you needing to buy adjustable bush assemblies.

So you have just over a degree negative camber on the n/s and just a fraction under a degree on the o/s.

 

That is just about ideal in combating the usual drainage camber on UK roads. 

 

Remember adjustable bushes on an MacPherson suspension set up is all about trade off. Adjust the camber on the front wishbone and you will no doubt also alter the castor angle.

 

Worth noting in my personal experience the Fabia always seems to be a little harder on the edges of the tyres, but Toyos were by far the worst for killing them.

Edited 23 October, 20196 yr by Tech1e

Sorry I meant to say the inner edges wore . I'll scan a picture of the hunter alignment 

Haven't got shortened springs. Balljoints ,trackrods, wishbones and rear consoles replaced just before the alignment was done. Incidentally, the tracking and camber was perfect when i purchased the car in 2016 through to 2017. 

 

I'm thinking the culprit could be front wishbone bushes but I've had a tug at them and don't seem to be a lot of play tbh. Stuck on this one 😞

Cars back on the hunter tomorrow for a check up. Hopefully it's just an alignment issue ...

 

Never been happy with how the car track's.....always seems to be pulling to the left and right hand down on the wheel. Funny thing is ....when I drive on the right side of the road......car drives perfect. 

 

 

@Johnnynapalm Can you clarify on the timing of parts fittings versus alignment check? Was the printout above before or after the console bush change?

Hi wino....the printout was after the parts change. Which consisted of...new suspension arms....meyle hd rear console bushes....new balljoints. New arb bushes.  Also new rear shocks. 

 

The console arms where removed for fitting of the rear bushes and wondered if this had any effect on subsequent tyre wear issues? 

 

After the all work was completed (before the final alignment) the tracking was horrible and shredded the tyres in less than a week. Four new Toyo proxes where fitted and the alignment done. Hence my confusion at the quickly  worn tyres on the outer edge . They where worn to the cords as well. I don't drive particular hard either. Mostly motorway miles to work and back about 25 miles a day. 

 

Cheers 

Edited 23 October, 20196 yr by Johnnynapalm

7 hours ago, Tech1e said:

So you have just over a degree negative camber on the n/s and just a fraction under a degree on the o/s.

 

That is just about ideal in combating the usual drainage camber on UK roads. 

 

Remember adjustable bushes on an MacPherson suspension set up is all about trade off. Adjust the camber on the front wishbone and you will no doubt also alter the castor angle.

 

Worth noting in my personal experience the Fabia always seems to be a little harder on the edges of the tyres, but Toyos were by far the worst for killing them.

Hi.....could a certain manufacturer of tyre cause this excessive wear? I can't think of what else could have caused the premature tyre wear unless the front wishbone has deteriorated but that was fitted new last march as well 

Removal of the consols is almost certainly behind this problem.

There are some special tools that can be used to get them back in exactly the same position they were, but no-one except dealerships or VAG specialists are likely to have them.

10 minutes ago, Wino said:

Removal of the consols is almost certainly behind this problem.

There are some special tools that can be used to get them back in exactly the same position they were, but no-one except dealerships or VAG specialists are likely to have them

So having the car aligned again would a waste of time then you reckon?

Not necessarily, but it would be good to get measurement of caster as well as camber and toe. All 3 will be affected by the consoles not being in the best possible positions.

Caster, like camber, can only be tweaked by moving the consoles relative to the chassis, so wouldn't be corrected by a 'simple' alignment, but information about the angles would increase understanding. 

1 minute ago, Wino said:

Not necessarily, but it would be good to get measurement of caster as well as camber and toe. All 3 will be affected by the consoles not being in the best possible positions.

Caster, like camber, can only be tweaked by moving the consoles relative to the chassis, so wouldn't be corrected by a 'simple' alignment, but information about the angles would increase understanding. 

Ok thanks for this....I'll report back tomorrow after it's been on the hunter

I’d wager you put something other than Toyos on and they won’t wreck themselves. 

1 hour ago, Tech1e said:

I’d wager you put something other than Toyos on and they won’t wreck themselves. 

Have evergreen budgets on now so will see how they go. Thanks for the help

4 hours ago, Johnnynapalm said:

The console arms where removed for fitting of the rear bushes and wondered if this had any effect on subsequent tyre wear issues? 

 

When you say the ''console arms'' do you mean just the wishbone arms or the whole alloy consoles were removed. The consoles are not ''arms''.

53 minutes ago, TMB said:

 

When you say the ''console arms'' do you mean just the wishbone arms or the whole alloy consoles were removed. The consoles are not ''arms''.

The whole alloy consoles were removed. The mechanic at the time specifically said he was going to do it this way as he found it easier. 

 

Funny thing is.....prior to him removing the alloy consoles for fitting meyle hd bushes......I had already fitted PSB  rear console bushes myself. I didn't like the stiff ride so asked my mechanic to fit the meyle ones as I don't fancy doing the job again.

Wish I had left the psbs ones in now ha ....hindsight is a great thing 

OK. I did the same as you - I fitted PSB ones but found them a bit harsh, so I removed them and Fitted Meyle HD. Did it all without touching the consoles though. It's always pulled very slightly to the left which I have heard is a common Fabia trait but it doesn't wear the tryes unevenly.

Update.....have found out that the garage I used in the past wasn't using a hunter.....they use a Hoffman. Always assumed they was using a hunter for some reason. 

 

Car is booked in next week at the closest place to me that have a hunter rig. 

 

Is a hunter superior to a Hoffman system ? 

28 minutes ago, Johnnynapalm said:

Update.....have found out that the garage I used in the past wasn't using a hunter.....they use a Hoffman. Always assumed they was using a hunter for some reason. 

 

Car is booked in next week at the closest place to me that have a hunter rig. 

 

Is a hunter superior to a Hoffman system ? 

 

No, it's just got more smoke, mirrors, pretty lights, bells and whistles available to increase the garages earning potential.

 

Moar tech = moar betterer!