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NCT question

  • 10-03-2009 1:08pm
    #1
    mcwhirter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,432 ✭✭✭


    There is a test on the NCT report called 'side slip/alignment test.'
    Does anyone out there know what that test is for?


Comments

  • #2
    Darragh29
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,097 ✭✭✭Darragh29


    mcwhirter wrote: »
    There is a test on the NCT report called 'side slip/alignment test.'
    Does anyone out there know what that test is for?

    It tests wheel alignment on both axles. It's a crude sort of a test, it isn't accurate like a laser wheel alignment test would be, but it can identify if the wheel alignment parameters for any particular car are way out. All it is is a plate in the ground with sensors under the plate that detect if the plate is forced to move left or right as the car is driven straight over the plate. The degree of movement of the plate is calculated and extrapolated to give a lateral movement figure (to the left or right, expressed in +ve or -ve values), in metres, per KM travelled by the vehicle.


  • #3
    znv6i3h7kqf9ys
    Closed Accounts Posts: 497 ✭✭znv6i3h7kqf9ys


    Yeah, thats the test that will break your car. They broke mine on that ramp. Needed new tie rod ends and bushes. When I brought it back for the retest they hardly tested it at all. The car was fine before I brought it in but after that test it handled like a boat.


  • #4
    mcwhirter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,432 ✭✭✭mcwhirter


    Darragh29 wrote: »
    It tests wheel alignment on both axles. It's a crude sort of a test, it isn't accurate like a laser wheel alignment test would be, but it can identify if the wheel alignment parameters for any particular car are way out. All it is is a plate in the ground with sensors under the plate that detect if the plate is forced to move left or right as the car is driven straight over the plate. The degree of movement of the plate is calculated and extrapolated to give a lateral movement figure (to the left or right, expressed in +ve or -ve values), in metres, per KM travelled by the vehicle.

    Thanks for the info. The readings for my car were 7m/km for the front and -13m/km for the rear.
    The nct limits are 14 for the front and 18 for the rear.
    Should I be concerned about the rears?
    I ask this as sometimes when driving over certain road defects the rear will sometimes jitter left to right slightly.


  • #5
    Darragh29
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,097 ✭✭✭Darragh29


    Joy Angry Pedal wrote: »
    Yeah, thats the test that will break your car. They broke mine on that ramp. Needed new tie rod ends and bushes. When I brought it back for the retest they hardly tested it at all. The car was fine before I brought it in but after that test it handled like a boat.

    No, the side slip test cannot "break" your car. All it is, is a metal plate/sheet on the ground that is driven over.

    What you could be thinking of is the shifter plates on the vehicle lift that shake the sh*t out of the suspension to detect ball joint/track rod end wear.!


  • #6
    Darragh29
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,097 ✭✭✭Darragh29


    mcwhirter wrote: »
    Thanks for the info. The readings for my car were 7m/km for the front and -13m/km for the rear.
    The nct limits are 14 for the front and 18 for the rear.
    Should I be concerned about the rears?
    I ask this as sometimes when driving over certain road defects the rear will sometimes jitter left to right slightly.

    It depends on the car. Some cars have a solid back axle, so there is no real wheel alignment/adjustment. However if you had wheel bearing wear, this could effect the side slip result. Some cars have wheel alignment adjustment on the rear axle and you might just need this checked and adjusted if necessary. If you have concerns, I'd say get laser wheel alignment done. Also have a look at your tyres for evidence of bad alignment.


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  • #7
    znv6i3h7kqf9ys
    Closed Accounts Posts: 497 ✭✭znv6i3h7kqf9ys


    Darragh29 wrote: »
    No, the side slip test cannot "break" your car. All it is, is a metal plate/sheet on the ground that is driven over.

    What you could be thinking of is the shifter plates on the vehicle lift that shake the sh*t out of the suspension to detect ball joint/track rod end wear.!

    I stand corrected. But tell me, if you were operating that machiene could you break most suspension if you really tried?


  • #8
    Scorpio Girl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 128 ✭✭Scorpio Girl


    another question about nct, my air bag should have been changed in december, will they fail me for this. my car is 99.


  • #9
    Seth Brundle
    Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 42,146 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    Airbags are not a test-able item - I recently passed with a lovely airbag light on my dash.
    Its something that should be fixed for yourself - not the NCT!


  • #10
    Darragh29
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,097 ✭✭✭Darragh29


    Joy Angry Pedal wrote: »
    I stand corrected. But tell me, if you were operating that machiene could you break most suspension if you really tried?

    I wouldn't say it could break a component unless for example a ball joint or track rod end was already badly worn and that part of the test caused it to sheer, but I've seen ball joints sheering after going over a bump on the road, because they should have been replaced long ago but the owner never bothered. I had one these plates on a lift for checking suspension and I never had a problem with components being damaged on the car...


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