stewartg Posted March 24, 2019 Report Share Posted March 24, 2019 Rebuilding the front suspension of my Vitesse. Any garages you know in Essex /Cambs/E Herts /N London who can properly set up alignment, tracking etc? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted March 25, 2019 Report Share Posted March 25, 2019 You could take Petes advice and just buy a gunsons trackrite and DIY, which are very accurate. Or the cheap DIY using 2 bits of (straight) wood or metal about 2 foot long and a tape measure.... this pic explains it, but I use one tape measure and an assistant! (they have used a spirit level, but anything dead straight will do) If you also want camber/castor most garages will look blankly at you, but somebody who has the Hunter alignment stuff will do a proper job. There is a list on the hunter site. That will do all 4 wheels. Do not forget for the book specs you need to load the front seats with a medium sized adult on each during setup, or equivalent weight (150lb/75kg) and that includes just toe setup. https://www.alignmycar.co.uk Other "general" advice is to allow the new stuff to settle well before alignment, and remember that if using rubber bushes in the wishbones, to leave teh bolts slack until the car is back on the ground. Not an issue with poly bushes (sorry if teaching you to suck eggs, but amazing how many don't do that and wonder why the car sits high and/or the bushes rip) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted March 25, 2019 Report Share Posted March 25, 2019 See the post on toe in the simple way Use a tape measure or buy a trakrite for £45 off amazon Come to twiddle day april 7th at HQ Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waynebaby Posted March 25, 2019 Report Share Posted March 25, 2019 Kwik Fit can check the toe in , camber and castor and if they don't adjust anything it's free. They'll only be able to adjust the toe in at the front though, since removing/adding shims is beyond them. Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mjit Posted March 25, 2019 Report Share Posted March 25, 2019 I can recommend Elite Direct Tyres down in Rainham. Full, independent 4 wheel lazer alignment and had both my Spitfire and 2000 through there, including re-shimming the rear tie bars and the front lower wishbone shim shuffle on the Spit. They don't do bookings, which means you can be hanging around a while on a Saturday - but the in-house cafe do a very good bacon roll. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyman Posted March 25, 2019 Report Share Posted March 25, 2019 23 minutes ago, Waynebaby said: Kwik Fit can check the toe in , camber and castor and if they don't adjust anything it's free. They'll only be able to adjust the toe in at the front though, since removing/adding shims is beyond them. Wayne Sorry Wayne, i would not trust qwik fit to check tyre pressures let alone anything else If you have had a good experience you must have been very lucky. Tony. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted March 25, 2019 Report Share Posted March 25, 2019 Its easy to get carried away, you dont need a micrometer to measure a brick Where ever you go ask if they can check as per the specification be that laden (static ) or unladen Most wont have a clue But they can sell you more tyres Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted March 25, 2019 Report Share Posted March 25, 2019 28 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said: But they can sell you more tyres Ask them how old they are, get a blank look? Exit stage left! db 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted March 26, 2019 Report Share Posted March 26, 2019 I know that there are a lot of posts here about tyre age etc, but am I correct that most of the 'age damage' is done by UV light reaction with the rubber. The reason I ask is that Lady BW's modern does very little mileage and lives with the Spitfire in the garage. Her tyres look fine, no flaking, breaking up etc visible. They are the originals, nearly 20 years old. Only seen daylight (literally) for 22,000 miles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted March 26, 2019 Report Share Posted March 26, 2019 The rubber oxidises, leaving the rubber hard and reducing the friction with the road. UV tends to speed the process up and also cause cracking. But at 22 years even in a garage the tyres will not be great, despite looks. I believe the anti-oxidants used in the rubber need movement (heat?) to keep them active, so lack of use will not be a benefit. But your car, and until tyre age is part of the MoT you can still legally use them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted March 26, 2019 Report Share Posted March 26, 2019 had a feeling the guide lines ( allbeit from a manufacturer) is 7 years we had a local vitesse on 20yr old tyres that would spin wheels in top gear at 40mph.. they had no grip at all . there all sorts of degrading even the steel bands can go rusty , might look round and black , it ends there . its all you have between you and the tarmac ....its never wise to cut corners on safety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted March 26, 2019 Report Share Posted March 26, 2019 I always think the biggest risk is driving a 50+yr old car😲 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted March 26, 2019 Report Share Posted March 26, 2019 Thanks. I thought that may be the answer. They do need replacing even though it only does about 120 miles a year... don't ask!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted March 26, 2019 Report Share Posted March 26, 2019 In 2012 a 19 year old tyre on a coach burst and 3 people were killed in the ensuing crash. Following a campaign by one of the victims mothers the government came up with this consultation document. Although it's for heavy vehicles, coaches, busses, lorries etc I don't see it will be long until it's also applied to cars. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-consult-on-ban-on-10-year-old-tyres-to-boost-road-safety Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted March 26, 2019 Report Share Posted March 26, 2019 Thanks Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted March 26, 2019 Report Share Posted March 26, 2019 1 hour ago, Badwolf said: Thanks. I thought that may be the answer. They do need replacing even though it only does about 120 miles a year... don't ask!!! Sell the car, get taxis...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daverclasper Posted March 26, 2019 Report Share Posted March 26, 2019 3 hours ago, johny said: I always think the biggest risk is driving a 50+yr old car😲 Is that because of old design, or potentially old components?. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted March 26, 2019 Report Share Posted March 26, 2019 yes, both those so if youre really risk averse you probably should have the most modern 4x4 available or maybe not drive at all...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrapman Posted March 27, 2019 Report Share Posted March 27, 2019 18 hours ago, johny said: I always think the biggest risk is driving a 50+yr old car😲 I think the biggest risk is other people's ideas of how you might be driving a 50yr old car sometimes. yes my brakes really are as good as yours and yes I can accelerate faster than a push bike.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted March 27, 2019 Report Share Posted March 27, 2019 15 hours ago, clive said: Sell the car, get taxis...... The taxi is me!!! It's a question of independance, plus with only 22,000 miles on the clock, this car will be a classic in its own right in a coulle of years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted March 27, 2019 Report Share Posted March 27, 2019 1 hour ago, thescrapman said: I think the biggest risk is other people's ideas of how you might be driving a 50yr old car sometimes. Like the Discovery driver I encountered a few years back who, on seeing two moderns and my Vitesse, all travelling at 65mph, all equally spaced, decided to let the moderns past then pull out in front of "the old car that must be slow". It's a damned good thing my brakes were better than they might have been! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted March 27, 2019 Report Share Posted March 27, 2019 There is an argument that the more dangerous a car is in terms of how injured you will get in an accident the more care people take when driving it😵 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted March 27, 2019 Report Share Posted March 27, 2019 theres a lot of muppets who have no idea of care or danger, just sod you coming through !!!! Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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