Hercules
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Lada - your peace of mind to take on the world's vast landscapes.
Posts: 785
Location: Gauteng
Town: Benoni
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Post by Hercules on Nov 8, 2009 18:41:58 GMT 2
Wheel alignment is very important on a Lada. It will influence your vehicle handling, make your steering more heavier, cause more tyre wear and cause damage to steering components and steering boxes.
When I fitted the wider wheels on my Lada, the heaviness on the steering was immediately noticed. I took it in for wheel alignment to a wheel alignment centre who is operating for more than 40 years in Benoni and specializing in 4x4 vehicles the last 25 years. He told me that the tow-ing on the Lada is 2-4mm, the same as prescribed in the workshop manual, but that he set all his 4x4 vehicles on 0mm. This will cause less wear on the front tyres, specially the heavy vehicles and it will make your steering much lighter.
To make a long story short, he did the adjustment and what a difference it has on the steering and handling. The steering is so light and a pleasure to drive that it feel complete if the vehicle was equipped with a power steering. Even with the standard tyres it was never so light.
He also advise me that wheel alignment should be done every 10000km to get the most life out of your tyres and steering system.
If any body did experience with wheel alignment and would like to deal with us your experience or has any comments about this issue, feel free to comment on here.
Regards.
Hercules.
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Post by Ari Bezuidenhout on Nov 9, 2009 17:12:36 GMT 2
Hercules So in other words you are saying that we should NOT set our wheel alignment to spec but to 0mm instead? This makes sense but I would have thought that the ideal wheel alignment is 0mm and that the 2-4mm is just a range to get the wheel alignment into. It therefore begs the question, what is the advantage of setting it to 2-4mm?
Curious
Ari
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Hercules
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Lada - your peace of mind to take on the world's vast landscapes.
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Post by Hercules on Nov 9, 2009 20:33:19 GMT 2
Ari, all tar roads is build with a slope to the side of the road to drain water away from the tar surface and to make a road more safer during and after raining. The 2-4 mm tow-ing is to eliminate the vehicle to pull to the side of the road. All vehicle manufacturers specify a tow-ing setting for their vehicles. According to the man who set my wheel alignment, is that our roads are not all build with the same slopes. He has tested his setting on Land Rovers and Land Cruisers over a period of 25 years, and that the 0mm setting did safe tyre wear and has a better handling and drive ability on the vehicles. After he set my vehicle wheel alignment, there was a huge difference on the vehicle handling and a very soft steering.
Regards.
Hercules.
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Post by danie on Nov 9, 2009 21:36:39 GMT 2
I would also advice all owners always to have the wheelbearings clearances (and lubrication) checked before you take the car to an alignment centre.
If the wheelbearings are too loose, the alignment centre will obviously not be able to do a proper wheel alignment.
And while we are discussing wheel alignment :
Many Ladas in South Africa have been misused in the past, and I am aware of a few owners who bought Ladas with bent back axles previously. The axles usually bend when owners do not replace worn shock absorbers, hitting deep holes, and driving at high speed in the veld.
I would advice all prospective buyers to insist on a wheel alignment check, before you buy a Lada. If the back axle is bent, the wheel alignment check will clearly indicate whether the axle is bent or not.
Wheelbearings at a (even slightly) bent back axle will never last, and will cause endless problems.........
Danie
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Hercules
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Post by Hercules on Nov 10, 2009 19:19:29 GMT 2
Danie, thanks for the advice. Peole do forget about the rear wheel and axle alignment, this is just as important as front wheel alignment.
Regards.
Hercules.
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Post by hotstuff on Nov 10, 2009 22:38:07 GMT 2
OK NOW WHAT HAPPENED TO MY POST FROM EARLIER, NEVER MIND WANTED TO SAY THAT I HAD THE FACTORY setting ...then tested the 0deg on the lada as i have set on other 4x4 and deff agree the 0 deg works even on the 215/70/16 I use. but for off road the off set does help some what... actually even slightly more works better but who goes every time to set there alignment b4 they hit the dirt and then back on the road ....to much PT... invest in a good set of shocks and springs...oh and some nobly tires that i wouldn't mind getting my hands on...some time in the future...."hey Gene"
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Post by danie on Nov 11, 2009 19:13:52 GMT 2
On a positive note - more advice which might help:
Both of the current Lada sparepart importers in South Africa did some work on my Lada, since I bought the car - including a general revice, and whealbearing change.
To cut a long story short, and without sharing more detail about any spesific importer - if anyone in South Africa ever tells you that the back axle of your Lada is bent - rather take your Lada to a professional wheel alignment cente, for a proper check...........in my case I discovered that the back axle on my Lada was not bent at all..........
Regards
Danie
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Hercules
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Lada - your peace of mind to take on the world's vast landscapes.
Posts: 785
Location: Gauteng
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Post by Hercules on Nov 11, 2009 20:24:34 GMT 2
Danie, I agree 100% with you. Like a mentioned previously, their are a lot so called specialists out there, that will take the public for a ride to make a quick buck or two. If someone is not sure if their rear axle are bent or not, rather seek the advice of a profetional wheel alignment centre.
Regards.
Hercules.
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Post by hotstuff on Nov 11, 2009 22:40:10 GMT 2
the chances that the rear axle bends is minimum has any one seen how thick they are damn they where built to last thats for sure.
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Post by danie on Nov 12, 2009 6:07:42 GMT 2
Unfortunately the back axles are not "fool proof" Mike.
If shock absorbers are worned , and a Lada gets driven by an idiot in the veld, nothing can be guarranteed..........
Danie
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Post by Ari Bezuidenhout on Nov 12, 2009 9:25:13 GMT 2
OK NOW WHAT HAPPENED TO MY POST FROM EARLIER, NEVER MIND WANTED TO SAY THAT I HAD THE FACTORY setting ...then tested the 0deg on the lada as i have set on other 4x4 and deff agree the 0 deg works even on the 215/70/16 I use. but for off road the off set does help some what... actually even slightly more works better but who goes every time to set there alignment b4 they hit the dirt and then back on the road ....to much PT... invest in a good set of shocks and springs...oh and some nobly tires that i wouldn't mind getting my hands on...some time in the future...."hey Gene" Hey Mike I have 5 noblie tyres On 16" rims if you are interested for R1800 but they are here in Pretoria not in the Cape. Ari
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Post by danie on Nov 12, 2009 17:49:54 GMT 2
Ari, I think if you just "place an ad" under the topic "Spareparts for sale / to swap" your "ad" might get better exposure in future.
At the moment we all know more or less what's going on on this website , but it might take a while for future new members (who might be looking for knobbies on standard rims) to become aware of the fact that your wheels are for sale.
Hope this will help.
Regards
Danie
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Post by hotstuff on Nov 12, 2009 18:58:41 GMT 2
HI ARI WHAT TYPE WE CHAT IN PARTS FOR SALE OR PLACE A PIC PLEASE
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Post by danie on Nov 14, 2009 7:00:41 GMT 2
This is a pic of a Lada back axle, which has been strengthened for more serious offroad driving. The Lada has been lifted for better ground clearance as well : (The axle should look quite good with some paint though......... )
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Post by danie on Nov 14, 2009 7:04:30 GMT 2
Another pic of the same axle.
Should'nt be too difficult to build / modify an axle like this..........
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Post by hotstuff on Nov 15, 2009 14:36:23 GMT 2
where this from looks good but also very heavy....
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Duane
Junior Niva Petrol Head
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Post by Duane on Sept 26, 2010 21:53:47 GMT 2
Hi
Back in the Days on my first visit to an AGENT I was told that my tyres wont last ect. ect. because my rear axle was bent. I went straight to a wheel alignment specialist only to hear that there was nothing wrong with my Lada`s Rear axle nor with the alignment. So it looks like it is an old lie!!!
Regards
Duane
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Post by danie on Sept 27, 2010 5:53:51 GMT 2
Hi Duane
I once asked him for a full report on my Lada was in that area, and he told me exactly the same !
I have spent endless hours lying under the Lada - trying to find out where the axle was bent. When I couldn't find anything wrong I also took the Lada to a local wheel alignment specialist - the computer print proved that the alignment was 100% correct, and that the axle was not bent at all !
That incident finally convinced me that that Agent often does not know what he is talking about, and I decided that he will never see my Lada again...........
I just wonder how often he tries to convince other owners that their axles are bent???
Regards
Danie
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Post by ronnie on Sept 27, 2010 9:21:44 GMT 2
Hi Duane and Danie When I see things like this I sometimes wonder if the "Agent" has a lot of new / second hand axles he wants to sell. What better way to get Business than convincing people they need a new part when it is not necessary. Ronnie
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juranhuman
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Post by juranhuman on Sept 27, 2010 9:35:17 GMT 2
Haha, Guys...My Lada's rear axle is also "BENT"!! Now sign of this though! My Lada was also in a huge SMASH!!! But believe me when I tell you, I mus find the panelbeater who fixed the Lada because I have never seen such good work on a car No sign of any smash at all!! HAHAHA Load of BULL!!
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Post by danie on Sept 27, 2010 17:53:21 GMT 2
Well, he also told me that my Lada has been involved in a "moerse ongeluk" and that he usually scrap Ladas which are in similar conditions. It seems to be clear clear that he conducts his business in a very unethical way, and for this very reason I will never buy anything from him again.
I do find it very sad that issues like this have to be raised in public, but we do not have any choice other than to be honest about this. We do have an obligation to stop this nonsense for once and all, by supporting the Agents who conduct their businesses in an ethical way only.
What we see here at this website seems to be the tip of an iceberg.
Regards
Danie
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Duane
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Post by Duane on Sept 27, 2010 20:11:17 GMT 2
Hi
I would also like to boycott him but where else do I get spares from on the East Rand? I promise you I wont let him see nor touch "my" Lada!
Regards Duane
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Post by ronnie on Sept 27, 2010 21:03:54 GMT 2
Hi Duane I am sure if you buy your spares from Ventz and add the postage it won`t be any more expensive than your local agent . Alao most day to day service parts you can buy at the local spares Ronnie
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Post by ronnie on Sept 27, 2010 21:16:52 GMT 2
Hi Duane The white coils were done by me. I spend a few hours every day on it. The Air Con arives tomorrow so that will keep me busy Ronnie
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darryn
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Post by darryn on Jan 27, 2011 17:22:40 GMT 2
Hi Hercules- where is your wheel alignment place situated in Benoni?
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Hercules
Veteran Niva Petrol Head
Lada - your peace of mind to take on the world's vast landscapes.
Posts: 785
Location: Gauteng
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Registered: Oct 2, 2009 11:55:41 GMT 2
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Post by Hercules on Jan 27, 2011 20:25:17 GMT 2
Hi Darryn.
It is called Northmead Wheel alignment centre and is sittuated on the corner of 5th ave and Pretoria Road, Nortmead, Benoni.
Regards.
Hercules
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