[richardbradford]

Hi,
Had 4-wheel tracking done on 164 today and they couldn't correctly adjust the rear tracking as limit reached on the adjustment. Assuming this is down to me not completely balancing the tie rod ends so one has 'bottomed out'; in my defence was trying to keep good clearance of adjustment bolts at subframe end.
Anyway, I can get round this by unbolting both M10 nuts and removing the whole arm, to turn just the offending end - question is, by how much?
The left rear toe is +0,16' (originally +0,13') and the right -0,06' (originally -0,05')
Am bit confused as to why they didn't just try to get everything closer to standard parameters and was told they tried to get the rears to closer match the fronts so it drives straight - yet the front tracking is now totally within normal tolerance (-0,01' and - 0,02').
Does anyone know what degree change in tracking at the rear results from one turn of the track control arm (when operating on both ends)? If I know this I can calculate how many turns needed to correct it on mine.

 

[richardbradford]

Interesting, Michael, thanks.
Agree tie rod removal to recentre them would have resolved the lack of adjustment issue.
The factory spec they quoted is -0,04' to 0,00' for the front and +0,09' to +0,14' for the rears.

 

[richardbradford]

Thanks but nothing bent. All brand new under there. Oh well.
Cheers, Michael.

 

[richardbradford]

Guess I'll find out more when get underneath. The car isn't quite driving straight, wheel turned slightly to the right to get it to. Corning really well though.
Had complete rebuild at rear, including 'new' subframe, struts/springs and lateral arms - front A-arms were changed too so was expecting things to be out of alignment.
Will post the findings when have them. Cheers.

 

[richardbradford]

Thanks, Michael.

 

[richardbradford]

Update, with reference to previous tracking data mentioned:
I got under the car, with the old rear track control arm, and discovered the left track was effectively unchanged. Given the laser readout was of negative toe on the right side I adjusted the right rod out half a turn - moving top and bottom so one whole turn combined. Took it for a drive and seemed more stable but still tracked to left.
Jacked up the front and adjusted front track rods one turn each, both towards the right, as had previously been having to steer towards the right to get it to run straight. The front tracking had been set bang on but not in relation to the position of the steering wheel and this corrected it.
Result is great. Car now drives with beautiful stability and corners brilliantly.
As for the garage that set the tracking, I think the mechanic was working on the most basic of levels and didn't actually adjust a thing on the rear, as 164 rear ends are a bit more complicated than basic front track rod ends. And think he didn't get the front of the car running straight as assumed one track rod was at the end of its travel, when it wasn't.
The lesson to be learnt? Find an Alfa specialist that does tracking. My local Alfa garage does not, hence this mayhem.