Rack adjustment

I found it easier to replace the track rods with the steering rack out. Then you can easily measure up the rack for set up and tighten the locking nuts with a large adjustable spanner.

Would also get tracking set up properly with equipment, it is not possible by eye.

Cheers
Rajan

I usualy dont use garages at all apart from mot test, having tyres fitted and i once had a wheel bearing pressed in and i am always there when there working on my car, wheel alignment is one of those things that you should realy get done properly, 4 wheel laser alignment and camber set me back ?55 and the garage was highly recomended to me, was present at the time and i did check everything once i got home to find no problems, 500 miles on im happy, its just finding someone you trust to do these jobs, find others in your area on the forum and find out who they use and the experiences they have had

Cheers, will lookout for a decent garage to do the tracking. Do VW main dealer do tracking?

Anyway, I replaced the other arm today and took my time. I got the measurements bang on. Tracked by eye (will have to do for now) and took her for 100 mile spin down the M6 Manchester to Birmingham and back. Did anyone spot the Lhasa MK1? nudged her briefly to 90 mph and she was rock steady. Perfect and well worth 40 quid replacing the arms, the play has gone completely  

vw do do it but my local wanted ?150 for wheel alignment, ?100 just for camber!

PASS

lol

I once took my daughters Mk 3 to a VW dealer to have the tracking done because it pulled to the left. They assured me that they could get it spot on as they had just bought a hi-tech gadget from a Porsche dealer. They had sensors at each wheel and the the thing worked on some sort of optical system, it took about an hour and a half. When I took it away it was worse than when they started and they said that it was because the tyres had worn unevenly. She took it to a local independent tyre dealer who did it for about ?8 and it was perfect. This is no help to you atall, just another story of garage professionalism.

Typical, finding good garages is like walking a mind field!

I'm not interested in 4 wheel tracking just interested in front 2 wheel tracking. I'm thinking of using 2 long pieces of wood, one on each side of the rim, then measuring to see if the wood is parallel, parallel or slightly under is ok. What do you think?

I've got a piece of unistrut thats just wider than the track with a piece joined to it at each end at right angles and about a foot long. I've got a piece of threaded rod in these at exactly the height of the centre of the hub, all I do is put this front and back of the wheel and adjust the tracking until it just touches the rim at both. I am certain that if you took your car to a specialist who could adjust the tracking to 6' toe in or whatever its supposed to be, then drove it down the road and back and checked it again it would be different.

I've had too many bad experiences with garages, they CANNOT be trusted unless you know them inside out.

I wouldn't let any garage anywhere near my Mk1.