Tracking, What is the correct tracking for an XM?

[onthecut]

Hi. Noz.

Is it possible to upload the relevant little section so anyone without the manual can see what they think ? I've got Autodata and parallel to toe out isn't that uncommon; just had a quick gander and the BX and C3 are both nil to toe out, for example(according to Autodata).

Mike.

[Peter.N.]

To be honest I didn't look in the book. Pretty well every car I have owned has towed in so that was how I set the XM. I adjust my patent tracking tools length so that it just touches the inside edge of the tyres at the front and just misses them at the same height at the rear and I have never had trouble with uneven tyre wear.

Thre thread is probably Whitworth Noz! the length of steel electrical conduit and suitably sized studing was holding up the back of the front seat of my PC Cresta when I bought it as the back of the bench seat was broken. It had been adjusted to jam between the two door pillars. I took it out and repaired the seat and put it in the garage thinking it would come in useful one day, and I've been tracking my cars up with it for 25 years or more! (and other peoples).

Peter.N.

[demag]

According to my manuals, DS and CX toe in.

BX and XM toe out

[xmexclusive]

Hi All

I think that I can answer the trig question.
I consulted the RTA and that states that for both suspension normale and suspension hydractive setting is 0 to 0' 27'' or 0 to 3mm. So this suggest that they are two methods of measuring the same angle.
It also uses just text to describe the setting. Unfortunately my french is not good enough to decifer:
L'axe d'articulation est legerement incline afin d'obtenir une geometrie anti-
cabrage. (Set it up right or you will end up in a field of cabbages?)

Such a pity that we do not seem to know which way to set the only adjustable part of the suspension.

I think I have a computer print out somewhere from the one XM I had checked a few years ago. Will try to turn it out or else drop back in and ask Micheldever Tyres for a copy of the XM spec.

Regards

XMexc

[demag]

Translation:- "You Brits do not have the brains of a French Cockerel"

Or maybe "The axis of articulation is lightly inclined in order to obtain geometric anti lift"

Search me, I only translated it

Anti-cabrage can also be translated as anti nose up. Funny I thought the French always had their noses up.

[noz]

Hi all,

Here's the offending page. Make of it what you will !

cheers

noz

[noz]

Hi all,

Just to make it worse here's the offending page from the Xantia manual.

Cheers

noz

[noz]

...and the CX for good measure.

Suitably confused?

cheers

noz

[onthecut]

Hi all.

I think Noz is trying to confuse us --- the Xantia page is for the rear!! Blimey -- we're in enough trouble as it is !!
On a very simple level, in the CX version (which we all seem to agree is toe in), the actual drawing clearly shows the wheels in a toe in attitude. The XM version, by contrast, clearly shows a toe out attitude.

Mike.

[rowanmoor]

What a debate I have started

I am certain that mine are toed out too far (or not toed in enough) because they are wearing on the insides of the tyre. The steering has felt a bit 'funny' for a while in a way which has made me think that it may be the case too, but I am purely going on what could cause that feeling rather than knowing that that feeling is caused by tracking.

I will find out what it is currently at and what they change it to. I'll probably go on Sat, so we'll see if anyone manages to decypher the manual before then.

[onthecut]

Hi Rowanmoor.

So --- it's all your fault !!!!!!!!!!
I think XMs seem to have a tendency to wear an edge of the front tyre; certainly most of mine (although oddly, not my present ride) have. All this debate and we haven't even got round to castor and camber yet. Can't wait !

Mike.

[rowanmoor]

Mine has always had uneven ware on the front - but then, I do cane it a bit round the roundabouts on the way to work . It has varied between inner and outer edge though which makes me think they have never got the tracking qite right (or not tight so it moves). I guess XMs are just very picky about tracking. They are not light cars after all (expecially with the 2.5 in the front).

I am a little concerned that I may have other non-adjustable problems as one side took a knock a while back. It is difficult to tell though as the 2 front tyres are a different age at the moment. One was a spare and had vary similar tread depth to the one already there on the other side, so the general tread is the same, but they have got there in different places on the car and they are different age and different variants if Michellin tyres. Whilst I can see the old one is very worn on the inside, I can't tell how much the 'newer to that corner' one is worn without a tread guage.

I expect to need 2 backs as well, so I will probably put 2 new ones one the front to get a better picture of the ware in the future.

[Peter.N.]

Whatever! - I am going to leave mine as it is, as it doesn't jump over hedges or wear tyres out. It could be of course that because I have so little tow in it sees it as being almost parallel, I think that was one of the acceptable settings wasn't it?

Peter.N.

[rowanmoor]

As someone said before - if it ain't broke...

It is rather amusing that Peter has no wear or handling problems using his 'high tech' approach and some of us have uneven wear having it checked using £000's worth of laser tacking by 'trained' mechanics. Says it all really.

At least the pace I get my tyres from know how to put the suspension up to change a wheel and don't charge a fortune for the tyres.

Do you want to come and do my tracking for me, Peter

[Peter.N.]

If you don't mind driving to Dorset, I don't mind doing it. We do B&B!

Peter.N.

This post has been edited by Peter.N. on November 28, 2006 03:29 pm