Front axle out of line

Dayo97 · Oct 18, 2020

Hi everyone.
I’ve got a 300 tdi 110 The front wheels keep wakering about when im doing anything above 50. there’s no play in the steering and I’ve replaced the chrome swivels and the bearings. All of the bushes seem tight so I decided id check the wheel alignment. I pulled some string so it was straight off of the back wheel and the string missed the front wheel by about an inch on the drivers side and on the passenger side the front sticks out more than the back. You can tell just by looking at the wheels they’re not in line. I’ve checked that the wheel spacers are all the same width and checked that the wheels have the same offset and it seems the axle is shunted over. The pan hard rod has had polybushings in before I had it and it feels tight.
What can cause the axle to be that far out?
Thanks

Kev12 · Oct 18, 2020

Do you have standard height suspension?

Dayo97 · Oct 18, 2020

It all looks standard is there any way to check?

nobber · Oct 18, 2020

Dayo97 said:
It all looks standard is there any way to check?

Take a photo and show us it.

Dayo97 · Oct 18, 2020

The hight looks pretty standard to me

tottot · Oct 18, 2020

Hight bumpstop to axle looks about right but springs may not be standard.
Do the waggle test, get some one to turn steering back and fore [ engine on ] while you look for movement in the pan hard rod bush's.
Next have a check of the rear axle for unwanted movement. Bar and strong mate handy for these tests.

Dayo97 · Oct 21, 2020

So I can’t see any movement in the panhard bushes and can’t see any unwanted movement on the rear axle. Is it possible that the chassis is bent?

tottot · Oct 21, 2020

A possibility chassis may be bent, also that replacement brackets have not been welded quite in the right place. Not got adjustable pan hard rod ?

Dayo97 · Oct 21, 2020

It hasn’t got an adjustable panhard rod on. Although the end that bolts onto the axle has a thread on that has been welded up. Is that how they were made? Also the chassis is a galvanised chassis so it’s been replaced sometime. I know it doesn’t mean it’s perfect but surly they would of got the brackets on straight.
Thanks for all the replies it’s really appreciated!

Dayo97 · Oct 21, 2020

This is the panhard rod on the axle end. I’m starting to think that’s the problem now. Is there a certain length they’re supposed to be?

ChrisBduck · Oct 21, 2020

I think that is a bit of a bodge! Mine is not threaded. Hopefully where your problem is

Def90man · Oct 21, 2020

Dayo97 said:
This is the panhard rod on the axle end. I’m starting to think that’s the problem now. Is there a certain length they’re supposed to be?

Shouldn’t be threads on a standard one. Looks like someone has made one up for some purpose and it’s too long, putting axle out of position

Dayo97 · Oct 21, 2020

Well that’s better than a bent chassis

I’ll pinch the panhard rod off of my old mans 90 and try that tomorrow. Maybe it’s had a lift kit on before and the threads stripped.

Def90man · Oct 21, 2020

Dayo97 said:
Well that’s better than a bent chassis I’ll pinch the panhard rod off of my old mans 90 and try that tomorrow. Maybe it’s had a lift kit on before and the threads stripped.

Don’t forget to tell your old man before he goes out in his otherwise his journey will get interesting very quickly

Dayo97 · Oct 21, 2020

Def90man said:
Don’t forget to tell your old man before he goes out in his otherwise his journey will get interesting very quickly

It’ll get him back for unplugging my stop solenoid

tottot · Oct 22, 2020

Dayo97 said:
This is the panhard rod on the axle end. I’m starting to think that’s the problem now. Is there a certain length they’re supposed to be?

Thought it may be something like that. You just need a standard solid rod. Cheers.

Dayo97 · Oct 22, 2020

So I’ve been and brought an adjustable panhard rod adjusted it to the same length as a standard one and the axle still sits towards the passenger side quite a bit

not the result i was hoping for. The old one that has been welded up is only 4 or 5 mm out. I’ve adjusted the panhard rod right the way in so it’s a lot shorter than standard and the axle is still over to the the passenger side a bit. The only thing I can think of now is that the chassis is bent

Al2O3 · Oct 22, 2020

Dayo97 said:
So I’ve been and brought an adjustable panhard rod adjusted it to the same length as a standard one and the axle still sits towards the passenger side quite a bit not the result i was hoping for. The old one that has been welded up is only 4 or 5 mm out. I’ve adjusted the panhard rod right the way in so it’s a lot shorter than standard and the axle is still over to the the passenger side a bit. The only thing I can think of now is that the chassis is bent

What make of galv chassis is it?

Dayo97 · Oct 22, 2020

Al2O3 said:
What make of galv chassis is it?

I’m not sure to be honest. It does look a bit suspect. Should there be a makers mark on it somewhere?

Al2O3 · Oct 22, 2020

Dayo97 said:
I’m not sure to be honest. It does look a bit suspect. Should there be a makers mark on it somewhere?

I only know about Richards Chassis, they have an RC cut in the end of the centre cross member.

Front axle out of line

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