[s-cars] Tramlining

[Graydon D. Stuckey]

Just a few quick notes regarding this problem on Audis...

I recently had an alignment done on my '92 S4.  I ended up with a couple
tenths of neg camber on the front.  I also just replaced the wheel bearings,
inner control arm bushings, and ball joints and the tie rod ends.  (all the
things that Scott suggests below)  Now, despite having 255/35-18 tires on my
car (Yokohama ES100 AVS), the car is extremely stable even when driving in
the ruts generated by a barage of heavy trucks over a period of years.   I
had 245/45-16 tires on my 5KCSTQ a few years ago, and that was so nervous
even with stock alignment settings that my wife refused to drive it.  It
would violently dart across the highway with no warning.  You really had to
pay attention.  So, I think the S4 with tight suspension bushings is a
decent car as far as tramlining performance, but tires can also make a huge
difference.

Later,
Graydon D. Stuckey
http://elektro.cmhnet.org/~graydon/
> -----Original Message-----
> [ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
> The s car alignment spec max is -1.1neg, so you are within
> specification.  A
> couple of things.  First, a new alignment might be in order.  Second, many
> times tramlining can be reduced by putting in new inner control
> arm bushings.
>   IME especially with wide tires, these fail more often, and can cause
> tramlining.  While you are doing that, replace the swaybar
> bushings, to get
> the rest of the slop out.
...