Vectra GSi tyre wear - The Conclusion! | Technical matters | Back Room Forum

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Fri 5 Jul 2002 18:42

Vectra GSi tyre wear - The Conclusion! - SjB {P}

Some of you will recall the fun and games that I've had with very high levels of tyre wear on my otherwise hugely enjoyed Vectra GSi Estate.

At last, I can report success, on the front wheels at least, and record it here for the benefit of others.

Let's start with rear tyres though: These have a high degree of negative camber on the GSi (ie they lean 'in' towards the middle of the car, at the top), which gives terrific levels of cornering grip. The down side is a high level of load, and consequent tyre wear, on the inside shoulders of the rear tyres.

Trawling the web, I have found the level of tyre wear I experience (brand new 215x45 ZR17 Avon ZZ1 tyres worn down to the legal limit on the inside edges in 16,000 miles, and equivalent Yokos in 13,000 miles) to actually be 'very good'! Other GSi drivers report as little as 10,000 miles on Avons, and 8,000 miles on Yokos!

Infact, the problem is so well known, that Regal manufacture an after market camber kit, to reduce the problem (www.regal-auto.co.uk/Camberki.html). I'm not sure that the claims to improve handling can be that true (Surely Lotus Engineering, who sorted the B model Vectra suspension out, and MSD, who did the GSi variant, know what they are doing?) but given that one option for next year is to buy the car when the lease runs out, I will investigate this further. There is a big difference between Fleetlease shelling out a fortune in tyres every few months, and me doing so! ;-)

Now to the front tyres: Over the past six months, my GSi has developed a gradually increasing 'pull' to the left, along with increasing levels of wear to the inside shoulders. Two well known fast fit centres, and one independent centre, have had a good look and reported nothing wrong beyond mild tracking tweaking, even using their 'highly accurate' laser equipment.

Fleetlease have been extremely good in all this, and have honoured each of my requests, including, today, to pay for a full four wheel geometry check at the Camden Motors Vauxhall dealership, in Leighton Buzzard. Included in this test was a full camber check, which revealed the problem: The GSi at least (I don't know about other Vectras) has front suspension that is adjustable for camber, and one of my front wheel assemblies had moved a long way out of true.

They also established (by burrs on the nuts, I guess, given that the physical length difference would have been small) that one or more of the fast fit centres had 'adjusted' the tracking by moving only one trackrod, instead of both symetrically.

With the steering properly centred, and the front camber angle reset, I have a car that tracks, steers, and grips as well as the day it was new, and not a clonk, rattle, or bump-steering moment in sight. Woo Hoo! Now I know why I enjoy driving this car so much! :-)

/Steve

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Sun 7 Jul 2002 17:55

Vectra GSi tyre wear - The Conclusion! - Keith S

I'm glad you have had a result.

If you were paying for it yourself then 3 full geometry checks are very expensive and frustrating. The lease company should persue the other 3 for their money back!

Did you have to ask thew Vauxhall dealer for a special check, or do they have better eqipment or know how I wonder?

If it now drives as well as you say then I think I would leave the rear suspension well alone.

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Mon 8 Jul 2002 08:35

Vectra GSi tyre wear - The Conclusion! - SjB {P}

In addition to be a sales outlet and service garage, Camden Motors in Leighton Buzzard are also a fully equipped accident repair centre, and as such have specialist wheel alignment equipment that goes a long way beyond your average fast fit outfit.

I understand that they are the only Vauxhall dealer in quite a wide catchment area with this kit, and therefore the ability to sort out my Vectra's problem out as well as they did. Not only can castor and camber be measured for each suspension unit, and tracking for each pair of wheels, but also the way in which each pair of wheels sits in relationship to the other.

When Fleetlease gave me permission to book the car in, they asked me to request a 'KDS' check, which is what I did. What it means, I know not! Backroomers?

Since writing my original post, I have driven 250 miles round Cotswold roads, and it really is back to perfect health. No bump steer, no torque steer, plenty of feedback - far more than any 3 series Beemer I've driven, despite BMW's Feel Connected beliefs - and collossal grip. Dynamically, all most un-Vectra like, and in a different league to the 1997 model SRi V6 Estate I used to run.

Whilst I write, it is very fashionable to knock Vectras generally, but in my own experience with this one particular example, the GSi Estate is truly underrated, and is one of Vauxhall's best kept secrets. Terrific grunt with a wonderful howl when worked hard, yet turbine smooth, quiet, and relaxed in the cruise. Decent handling for the roads we actually drive on, and yet with all the practicalities you expect of an estate.

The issue in this thread has been my only problem, and mechanical reliability (actually of this model, the previous SRi V6 Estate I drove, and three 1.8 Vectra Estates driven by others I know) has been absolute.

If you need a car with the above abilities, and are happy that someone else has paid the monster depreciation, find one, buy it, and enjoy it!

/Steve

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