MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: fab5freddy on January 14, 2012, 09:24:49 pm

Title: Geometry settings - Set-back?
Post by: fab5freddy on January 14, 2012, 09:24:49 pm
Guys have any of you any experience or knowledge of set-back?

Cars just back from having 4 wheel aliginment and has been setup as follows

The cars running with H&R 30mm Springs/B8 shocks/TT lower arms/S3 hubs/WALK/Bumpsteer

Front Axle

Toe in Left 0.8                 Toe in Right 0.6        Total Toe in 0.14
Camber L  -2.23               Camber R  -2.34
I've no reading for the caster on the printout i have.
Can only assume because it's not adjustable they didn't bother getting a reading

Set-back 3 degrees 50mins

Rear Axle

Toe in Left 0.6                 Toe in Right 0.8        Total Toe in 0.14
Camber L  -2.01               Camber R  -2.12
Thrust Angle  -0.01


Set-back 3 degrees 19mins

Now i'm really happy with how it's driving  :driver: but my garage said when i collected it that
the alignment guy is concerned how much set-back i have. I tried to call  in to him today
to find out the story but he's off today.

So i know what set-back is, but can anyone here tell me if they think this is too much or within tolerence
and if it is too much what steps i can take to get it back within tolerence without losing the above settings

Title: Re: Geometry settings - Set-back?
Post by: vRSAlex on January 14, 2012, 10:01:04 pm
Well set back is where one front wheel is further back that the other (for anyone who wasn't sure) but I usually look at this reading in mm rather than degs.

3 degs doesn't sound like very much.  I could really do with knowing the caster measurements too.
Title: Re: Geometry settings - Set-back?
Post by: fab5freddy on January 14, 2012, 10:19:45 pm

I'm going to call back to him on Monday, so hopefully can post up with them then

So Alex do you think these settings are ok?

Garage also mentioned that the track rod ends (whiteline bumpsteer kit) were very low down on the thread

do you think that could be a problem long term or will be ok

 :drinking:
Title: Re: Geometry settings - Set-back?
Post by: vRSAlex on January 15, 2012, 08:49:40 am
The settings look good.  You say it drives well which is the important bit.

You should have enough threads for it to be safe.  I have around 4-5 threads on mine with the TT hubs but I'm changing the tie arms and rod ends to TT versions soon to allow more camber.
Title: Re: Geometry settings - Set-back?
Post by: fab5freddy on January 15, 2012, 09:07:09 am
Do you think changing the tie arms to the TT would help. Assuming the bumpsteer will fit to the arms
Would they fit to S3 hubs?

I,ve been running those settings since fitting the TT arms & ball joints for the last 6 months
with no uneven tyre wear

My only concern is since the S3 hubs have gone on the set-back might cause uneven wear on the tyres
Any thoughts on that?
Title: Re: Geometry settings - Set-back?
Post by: vRSAlex on January 15, 2012, 09:33:07 am
The TT rod ends won't fit the S3 hubs and the TT tie arms won't fit with the stock rod ends.

I can't see how just fitting the S3 hubs would have given the car extra set back that wasn't there before.  Do you have a print out of an old alignment?

You shouldn't get extra wear with set back.
Title: Re: Geometry settings - Set-back?
Post by: danishmkvgti on January 15, 2012, 10:09:25 am
The TT rod ends won't fit the S3 hubs and the TT tie arms won't fit with the stock rod ends.

I can't see how just fitting the S3 hubs would have given the car extra set back that wasn't there before.  Do you have a print out of an old alignment?

You shouldn't get extra wear with set back.

Alex do you have pictures of the TT parts that needs changing, just curious  :smiley:
Title: Re: Geometry settings - Set-back?
Post by: fab5freddy on January 15, 2012, 10:28:22 am
The TT rod ends won't fit the S3 hubs and the TT tie arms won't fit with the stock rod ends.

I can't see how just fitting the S3 hubs would have given the car extra set back that wasn't there before.  Do you have a print out of an old alignment?

You shouldn't get extra wear with set back.


My last alignment was give or take a minute exactly the same bar the set-back

that was 2 degrees 23 minutes front and 2 degrees 32 minutes rear

the only thing that's changed is the addition of the hubs

I'm using the whiteline bumpsteer kit. http://www.awesome-gti.co.uk/product.php?xProd=38010&xSec=9447 (http://www.awesome-gti.co.uk/product.php?xProd=38010&xSec=9447)

I've checked and it's seems compatible with the S3 as well as mk5 platform so can't see a problem
Title: Re: Geometry settings - Set-back?
Post by: vRSAlex on January 15, 2012, 11:27:18 am
If you use the whiteline kit on the s3 hubs then you must use a different nut that holds the rod end to the hub. The nut you need is an oem s3 one. The part number is: wht 000 785a and you need two.
Title: Re: Geometry settings - Set-back?
Post by: vRSAlex on January 15, 2012, 11:34:14 am
The TT rod ends won't fit the S3 hubs and the TT tie arms won't fit with the stock rod ends.

I can't see how just fitting the S3 hubs would have given the car extra set back that wasn't there before.  Do you have a print out of an old alignment?

You shouldn't get extra wear with set back.

Alex do you have pictures of the TT parts that needs changing, just curious  :smiley:

Not yet.  I've still not ordered the bits.
Title: Re: Geometry settings - Set-back?
Post by: fab5freddy on January 15, 2012, 12:08:27 pm
If you use the whiteline kit on the s3 hubs then you must use a different nut that holds the rod end to the hub. The nut you need is an oem s3 one. The part number is: wht 000 785a and you need two.


Is it ok to drive untill i get those from the stealers?  :scared:
Title: Re: Geometry settings - Set-back?
Post by: vRSAlex on January 15, 2012, 12:42:00 pm
Yeah.  The nuts supplied with the whiteline kit hold the rod ends to the pressed in insert on the hubs rather than holding both the insert and the rod end to the hub.
Title: Re: Geometry settings - Set-back?
Post by: Tfsi_Mike on January 15, 2012, 12:49:40 pm
Yeah.  The nuts supplied with the whiteline kit hold the rod ends to the pressed in insert on the hubs rather than holding both the insert and the rod end to the hub.

Need to stick the shouldered nuts on mine thanks for the heads up Alex
Title: Re: Geometry settings - Set-back?
Post by: fab5freddy on January 15, 2012, 12:59:04 pm
Alex you're a leg end. Thanks a million for the advice  :drinking:
Title: Re: Geometry settings - Set-back?
Post by: the bruce on April 04, 2012, 10:14:47 am
 :happy2:

If using S3 hubs you already need the S3 collar type nuts even without the Whiteline Bump Steer Kit.

VERY important for safety !!  :wink: You also need a similar nut for the lower ball joint (arm to hub).