Recommendation for Caravan Wheel Alignment, Parkes, NSW
Submitted: Thursday, Oct 24, 2013 at 09:09
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Member - Lynton B (QLD)
You might care to enter the following as a recommended specialist in
Parkes, NSW, if your caravan needs a wheel alignment. We had our alignment performed yesterday and are more than happy with the service we received.
Tuned
Suspension & Mechanical
Rear Building, 60 Clarinda Street,
PARKES
Ph. 02 6862 2060
Speak to Rob Oxley
Regards
LyntonB
Reply By: Ross M - Thursday, Oct 24, 2013 at 10:07
Thursday, Oct 24, 2013 at 10:07
Lynton B
What brand of caravan and what type of
suspension is it which required alignment?
Cheers
Ross M
AnswerID:
520281
Follow Up By: Member - Lynton B (QLD) - Thursday, Oct 24, 2013 at 16:33
Thursday, Oct 24, 2013 at 16:33
Hi
Ross
Crusader Mk2 caravan fitted with dual Simplicity
suspension system. Do you have any comment re this?
Regards
LyntonB
FollowupID:
800716
Follow Up By: Ross M - Thursday, Oct 24, 2013 at 19:04
Thursday, Oct 24, 2013 at 19:04
G'day Lynton
I was curious to find out what it was, both for future reference and also I wondered why it would need alignment.
Do you know if something has changed ie bushes worn etc or twist in the swing arm/axle unit?
If anyone know why the fronts require 2mm toe in and the rears zero, it would be interesting to know the theory being applied.
Cheers
Ross M
FollowupID:
800729
Follow Up By: Member - Lynton B (QLD) - Friday, Oct 25, 2013 at 08:38
Friday, Oct 25, 2013 at 08:38
Hi
Ross
The misalignment occurred in only the last 5000km or so. I had travelled some badly corrugated roads [with considerable care] over that distance.
The aligner told me that three of the wheels were "out", one considerably so [which resulted in a severe and very unusual tyre wear pattern]. Only one was close to the proper setting. No worn bushes or twisted components identified.
Again the aligner - a Pedders
Suspension specialist - told me the toe in is there when the van is stationary, but wheels straighten up when the van is moving. I won't know if the realignment will result in a lower fuel consumption because of less resistance from the tyres - as the specialist indicated it would - until I have travelled some distance. I am not a mechanic, so I don't know if all this makes sense, but I do know the van appears to trail better, and with less resistance.
Regards
LyntonB
FollowupID:
800753
Follow Up By: Ross M - Saturday, Oct 26, 2013 at 18:55
Saturday, Oct 26, 2013 at 18:55
Lynton
If there are no worn bushes and nothing is twisted then I wonder what is allowing the out of alignment to occur.
Something must have moved in the adjustment section or there is a twist or the bushes have become oval in the centre hole and allowed the
suspension arm to operate in a different position.
Keep and eye on the wear as the arms may begin to have more sideways travel than before.
The toe in on the front axle which becomes zero when the caravan is moving, can only happen if the bushes are flexing and allowing the arm to move sideways outward from centre.
Were the front tyres wearing with a feather on the outer edges of the tread ribs? That would definitely be bushes allowing the arm to move outwards during motion.
Cheers
Ross M
FollowupID:
800830
Reply By: Member - Wamuranman - Thursday, Oct 24, 2013 at 17:58
Thursday, Oct 24, 2013 at 17:58
Hi Lynton,
It’s always good to know of a place that can do the alignment in case you need it done.
But how do they know the specifications to align to, unless they download from the manufacturer’s web site?
Ours is cruisemaster trailing arm independent coil and I always carry the specs with me…front axle 2mm toe in, rear wheels parallel to chassis, and negative camber on all 4 wheels (0-0.5 degree negative). Its just that I would not leave it someone who does not do caravan alignments regularly to find out what the settings are.
Out of interest how much did they charge for the alignment?
Cheers
AnswerID:
520297
Follow Up By: Member - Lynton B (QLD) - Friday, Oct 25, 2013 at 08:49
Friday, Oct 25, 2013 at 08:49
Hi Wamuranman,
My recommended specialist is a Pedders
Suspension specialist who performs regular alignments for caravans whose owners are referred by the local caravan servicing business and caravan parks in
Parkes. I agree that it would be wise to carry the alignment specs with me and will approach Simplicity and/or the caravan manufacturer for them.
Regards
LyntonB
FollowupID:
800754
Follow Up By: Member - Wamuranman - Friday, Oct 25, 2013 at 09:28
Friday, Oct 25, 2013 at 09:28
I forgot to say Lynton that in the future I plan to be able to do my own wheel alignments. I am just organising the right gear. I will put a post on this site in a week or two of how I get to do them. Its not hard to do.
Cheers
FollowupID:
800757