Fiesta MK4 - Adjusting toe in

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Wed 23 Nov 2011 17:06
Fiesta MK4 - Adjusting toe in - pullgees

Recently had the tracking done which kept the car driving straight for about two weeks and yet again it's slightly drifting to one side.

Instead of spending another £20 or so, I just want to give the adjustment a tweek myself, ( that's all it needs). What I want to know is, how sensitive is the adjustment on the tie rods to make a difference? Would say a quarter turn be excessive? The reason for asking is to reduce trial and error, ie. adjust - road test - adjust - road test etc.

I shall make a mark on the rod so that if I made matters worse I can always return it to where it was.

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Wed 23 Nov 2011 17:46
Fiesta MK4 - Adjusting toe in - Peter.N.

Innacurate tracking will not normally make the car pull to one side - unless its very bad, it just wears the tyres out. The problem is more likely to be uneven tyre wear, try swapping the front wheels over. If that doesnt help then the camber angle is probably out on one side, due either to worn bushes or damaged linkage.

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Wed 23 Nov 2011 19:05
Fiesta MK4 - Adjusting toe in - pullgees

Innacurate tracking will not normally make the car pull to one side - unless its very bad, it just wears the tyres out. The problem is more likely to be uneven tyre wear, try swapping the front wheels over. If that doesnt help then the camber angle is probably out on one side, due either to worn bushes or damaged linkage.

I didn't know that about tracking not being the likely cause of drifting. I'll swap the tyres across and see if that make a difference.

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Wed 23 Nov 2011 23:06
Fiesta MK4 - Adjusting toe in - bathtub tom

May also be suspension bushes.

Does it pull one way when accelerating and the other when decelerating?

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Thu 24 Nov 2011 08:19
Fiesta MK4 - Adjusting toe in - pullgees

May also be suspension bushes.

Does it pull one way when accelerating and the other when decelerating?

No. Everything should be tight, it's just got an MOT. As I said it was okay for a short while after having the tracking done but now it's drifting again, but I'm going to swap the fromt wheels around and see of that make a difference.

Having had two Fiestas it dosn't take much to cause them to drft, the last one never seemed to drive straight either.

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Thu 24 Nov 2011 20:52
Fiesta MK4 - Adjusting toe in - whathaveidone!

May also be suspension bushes.

Does it pull one way when accelerating and the other when decelerating?

ka is doing that too , told maybe n/s wishbone worn . Been replaced recently too!

Tracking been done too and MOT , would have garage check wishbone & track rod ends.

bathtub tom did you mean to post this reply to my question ?


OP have you sorted the problem yet ?

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Thu 24 Nov 2011 22:59
Fiesta MK4 - Adjusting toe in - bathtub tom

>>bathtub tom did you mean to post this reply to my question ?

No, but just as applicable.

If you've had one wishbone changed, do you think the other may need doing?

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Sat 26 Nov 2011 09:32
Fiesta MK4 - Adjusting toe in - pullgees

I've swapped to fronts around, only a slight improvement. I'm just going to tweek the toe in a bit on the nearside and see for myself if that makes a difference.

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Sat 26 Nov 2011 18:13
Fiesta MK4 - Adjusting toe in - AndyT

A quarter turn on both sides, to keep steering wheel aligned, is quite a bit of adjustment. At a rough guesstimate, about equal to 1mm of adjustment on alignment +/- 0.25mm. I would try one flat of the nut each side, and keep a written record each adjustment you make, or risk getting lost in adjustment...

The biggest problem is the swivelling of the balljoint and trackrod when loosening the locknut, try and mark them, perhaps with masking tape and a biro. Lastly, one will probably be a clockwise thread, and the other anti-clockwise, if I remember correctly. Good luck.

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Wed 30 Nov 2011 16:44
Fiesta MK4 - Adjusting toe in - pullgees

A quarter turn on both sides, to keep steering wheel aligned, is quite a bit of adjustment. At a rough guesstimate, about equal to 1mm of adjustment on alignment +/- 0.25mm. I would try one flat of the nut each side, and keep a written record each adjustment you make, or risk getting lost in adjustment...

The biggest problem is the swivelling of the balljoint and trackrod when loosening the locknut, try and mark them, perhaps with masking tape and a biro. Lastly, one will probably be a clockwise thread, and the other anti-clockwise, if I remember correctly. Good luck.

I see what you mean about the problem with the trackrod. It's seized up as well. It's just crap, I 'll leave it then. I guess that's how the tyre fitters make their money. It won't be long I suppose before I need to replace the tyre and have the tracking adjusted yet again.

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