[s-cars] I'm ready to SELL if I can't fix the WANDERING problem!!!

[Linus Toy]

No secret Nic--it's a problem...sell the car and it goes away.  I'm offering
$5.00 :)

I've been running H&R V8 springs on my '91 200q, Bilstein HD, with Kumho Ecsta
712 235/45-17s on BBS RX 17x8.  My last alignment (1 year ago) at Omni in
Kirkland came up with the followng:

(use Courier for spacing)
           LF       RF      limits (degrees)
Camber   -0.8     -0.9     0.0  to -1.0
Caster    2.0      1.7     0.33 to 1.67
Toe        .05      .05   -0.04 to 0.08

           LR       RR
Camber   -0.5     -0.5     0.0  to -0.5
Toe        .11      .10    0.0  to 0.17

So except for Caster on the LF, all is within limits spec'd by their alignment
machine's database.

Result:  Same as you describe--substantial tramlining on our heavily worn
roadways around Puget Sound.  On new surfaces, no problem.  Even worn concrete
roads (I-5 thru Seattle) have sections where the car grabs if I don't pay
attention.  King County roads seem worse than others.

<Rant mode on>
Chalk it up to our refusal to pay taxes for basics like road infrastructures.
I used to laugh at Chicago's substantial use of salt and their constant need to
rebuild roadways.  I realize now it's their unoffical full employment act and a
service to the driving public ;) Tim Eyman be damned.  Yes, I'll pay higher
taxes for decent roads.

For you non-PNWer, sorry for the rant...but watch out for the tax revolt, if it
hasn't already gotten you.
<end rant>

--------------------------------------------------------
Linus Toy               Insanity is doing the same thing
Mercer Island, WA       you've always done and expecting
linust at mindspring.com   different results
                        - Roger Milliken, Milliken & Co
--------------------------------------------------------

> -----Original Message-----
> From: s-car-list-admin at audifans.com
> [mailto:s-car-list-admin at audifans.com] On Behalf Of Nic Bode
> Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2003 7:56 AM
> To: s-car-list at audifans.com
> Subject: [s-cars] I'm ready to SELL if I can't fix the
> WANDERING problem!!!
>
>
> There must be a secret I am missing. Please help me!! A
> little background. '93 S4 76,000 miles Seattle, WA roads H&R
> V8's with Bilstein Sports-switching to Eibachs soon Bolero's
> with 235/45/17 SO-3's-heavy 38psi cold front 33.5 psi cold
> rear 1 degree negative camber-left and right-front 0.08" toe
> IN-left and right front 1/2 degree negative camber-left and
> right-rear 0.11" toe IN-left and right-rear complete front
> end bushing rebuild w/ all subframe mounts all nuts and bolts
> rechecked after 1,000 miles
>
> Oh yeah, and a ton of wandering. I don't dare drink a beer
> and drive. I might get pulled over by the local long arm of
> the law. The biggest positive difference I saw is when I went
> to the tire pressures you see above. I sold my Kumho 712's
> and went to the SO-3's on a reccomendation that the
> Bridgestone's don't wander, in comparison. A little better.
> Three alignments in the past year and a half and I can't
> drive over small cracks in the road without endangering
> children on the sidewalk. Car has never been hit or
> re-arranged. What am I missing? My GTI VR6 with 3 degrees
> negative camber and toe out drives straighter than this
> thing. Feel free to email directly with your words of
> encouragement and rays of light shining the path towards a
> straight driving, no need to look out for the car in the next
> lane, wife no longer laughing/swearing at me, can take
> clients in the car again, UrS4.
>
> Nic
> spedrcr at attbi.com
>
> PS-I'm not kidding about selling it if I can't fix it. It's
> intolerable.
>
>
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