Tracking Results Query

[Trojan]

Right then, took the 172 to have a 4 wheel alignment check and tracking sorted earlier following uneven tyre wear and a bit too much understeer into sharp corners. I got a print out with the results on, however it means pretty much nothing to me! Therefore I was hoping someone could explain what these results mean, and if they look to be correct for the 172:

Readings before adjustment Front
Nearside Individual Toe -4mm
Offside Individual Toe 0mm
Total Toe Reading -4mm

Readings after adjustment Front
Nearside Individual Toe -3mm
Offside Individual Toe +2mm
Total Toe Reading -1mm

Rear flag reading before adjustment
Nearside 7.5mm
Offside 7.5mm

Rear flag reading after adjustment
Nearside 8.5mm
Offside 8.5mm

Cheers

 

[Trojan]

Thanks for the replies fellas, even though I'm still not much closer at understanding the damn results

I did have one reply on Cliosport from somebody who sounds like they know what they're talking about, though he doesn't actually mention whether the results are good or what he would expect for a 172! This was his reply:

The toe in is the amount the wheels point inward if you think of looking at the car from above the the wheels can be like this / \ or like this \ / or ¦ ¦ . This is called the tow in basically the front is adjustable via the stearing arms. Your front passengers side was pointing in by 4 mm now points in by 3mm the drivers side pointed straight ahead now points out by 2mm. The total toe readin is the toal difference so -4 + 0 = -4 Now its -3 + 2 = -1

The rear cnnot be adjusted unless you go for shims and you only need them for track racing setups. iIf the backs out you have to fix any bent bits.
The back is measured though as this is what you need to use to work out the fornt allignment.

That sound correct? If so, from what I can gather, the front wheels are now just 1mm out from pointing in exactly the same direction. That direction however, isn't dead straight ahead but a few mm off to one side. If I'm correct in what I'm saying there, does that mean that to go dead straight, the steering wheel will need to be turned slighty to the side rather than being left in the centre?

Unfortunately I've not had chance to try the car's handling out yet since I had it done as it was busy on the way home, and I'm currently doing nights so am either in bed, or working. One thing I have noticed though is that in first gear when flooring it I'm finding better traction than before. Certainly seems to be spinning the wheels less which is good. Hopefully I'll get a chance over the weekend to take the car out for a spirited drive and see if the understeer has been reduced.

 

[Trojan]

But as long as the total error is small, that just means the rack is very slightly off center, i.e. you will get fractionaly more lock in one direction than the other.

Which is what I was thinking... that it just means that the steering wheel needs to be turned slightly to one side to go straight rather than dead centre?

I really need to test this out, unfortunately I aren't going to get chance until the weekend I think