Freelander 1 Tyre wear/steering problems after tracking

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kernowsvenski

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I'm after a bit of help trying to diagnose a problem with tyre wear and steering. I've had a search around the forum but I'm still head scratching a little.

I'm experiencing tyre wear to both edges of both front wheels (although most pronounced on the outer edge of the front left), and the car does not track straight. When driving on a road with crossfall to the left, the car pulls left. When the crossfall is to the right, the car pulls right. If i'm on the crown of the road, or it's completely flat, the car tracks straight. The pulling to left or right is more than it should be though and cannot be attributed just to the fall of the road.

To date I've had new front wishbones with joints, along with the rear bushes, and new steering arms. I've also fitted a new top mount on the driver's side and the arb is polyushed and secure. The rest of the drivetrain/VCU/prop etc is all good.

Since having my last set of tyres fitted I've been in for alignment adjustments four times but it's still not right. As such I'm now trying to get to the source of the problem. I suspect that the steering rack is worn but I was wondering if this is a likely cause, and how I could diagnose/confirm? The car has done 160k but the steering feels tight and I can't detect play at the steering wheel. One point to note is that I did buy Britpart steering arms. It's the only time I've not bought OEM or genuine parts.

Thoughts?
 
Wear on both inner and outer edges suggests tyre pressure is to low.

Another cause could be the shocks are soft, allowing the body to roll excessively, increasing the scrub angle on the tyres.
You could even be cornering too fast?
Maybe even a combination of the 3 ?
If it's got new wishbones, and new track rods, then as long as the track rod lengths are the same both sides, it can't really be wrong, unless it's had some impact damage in the past, which has distorted the body.

Do you have the wheel alignment printout?
 
Worn anti roll bar bushes can impact body roll too, but if tyres are a bit low and you like the right foot then outer edge of the left tyre is going to wear

Low tyre pressure could also account for pulling across the camber of the road
 
Tyre pressures are all good. I run at 34psi. Shocks could be a possibility though I should think. They're more than likely original. The problem has been around for a year or so and I'm not aware of any accident damage. Certainly none in the last nine years. Could worn shocks cause the car to pull either way depending on the fall of the road?
 
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What size of tyre are you running, I can't remember?:oops:

I used to run my FL1 at 32 PSI (measured with an accurate digital gauge), finding that a good compromise.
However the actual tyres being used will make a slight difference to the pressure they like.

Also if the shocks are the originals, then they're well past there best, which will increase body roll, especially with "spirited" driving. ;)
 
I've got 17" 65 profile Geolandars, but the problem was there when I was running 55" tyres too.
I wouldn't describe my general diving style as spirited, especially now the Ron box is not on the car
 
It does sound like you have replaced all the culprits!!
What tracking figures did you get applied when the tracking was set up. Most garages read the book or guess.
I found outer edge tyre wear and looked at the tracking data. If you set for parallel then you are just within spec but it solved my problem. Have the same tyre set up as you.
Might also be worth changing the other top mount to make sure they are identical and not stiff on one side??
 
I had four wheel alignment done as I'd recently done the trailing link bushes and the right rear was slightly out. Unfortunately I don't think I kept the print outs but they did it to the LR spec I believe.
 
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