Tracking and the NCT?

unkel · 13-05-2011 3:33pm #1

I've a car that's been off the road for the past 15 months, that I want to pass the NCT. I can't remember for sure, but I think the tracking of the front wheels might be off. Will it fail because of this?

13-05-2011 3:35pm

Depends how far the tracking is out. Judging by how much my old car pulled to the right and still passed it seems to me the threshold for a fail is very very high.

Cosmo K · 13-05-2011 3:38pm

Yes, it will.

Mycroft H · 13-05-2011 3:56pm

unkel wrote: »

I've a car that's been off the road for the past 15 months, that I want to pass the NCT. I can't remember for sure, but I think the tracking of the front wheels might be off. Will it fail because of this?

Yep the limit is seriously high, on my car if you too your hand off the wheel it would drag you into the verge very quickly. But it still passed

Alanstrainor · 13-05-2011 5:05pm

Mine passed before i got it tracked, and i thought it was definitely going to fail because of it!

zapata · 13-05-2011 6:14pm

Why do you think it is off?
Are tyres worn or is it pulling to one side?
Check tyre pressures.

end a eknny · 13-05-2011 9:09pm

wont fail unless tyres are bad

unkel · 13-05-2011 9:29pm

Thanks all!

zapata wrote: »

Why do you think it is off?
Are tyres worn or is it pulling to one side?
Check tyre pressures.

I can't really remember if it is pulling to one side. The mechanic said the tracking was off when he serviced it last. The tyres are good and I will check the tyre pressures before the NCT

@Cosmo K - you're the only one here saying for sure the car will fail. But I know you're a mechanic working for the NCT and I value your thoughts! Any more details of why / how it would fail?

CiniO · 13-05-2011 10:16pm

Pulling to right or left, in most cases will have nothing to do with tracking.

What I mean tracking could have been set-up perfectly, and car was still pulling to one side.

Fishtits · 13-05-2011 10:57pm

The NCT test simulates a straight line run of 1 kilometer, if the (front) wheels veer 14 meters or more to one side or other it will fail.

Its true that their may be other "angles" apart from tracking that will cause "pulling to one side" that may have an effect, but in reality, tracking is the most common culprit.

A quick tip:

If you have abnormal tyre wear on both front tyres - its tracking.

If you have abnormal wear on one tyre - its a ball joint or something specific to that side.

If you run your hand lightly across and back over the tyre thread you may be able to feel resistance in one direction vs the other, this will give you an idea as to whether you are toe'd in or out too much.

Bottom line, get it aligned somewhere reputable.

Long story but, wheel alignment is the most commonly misunderstood and thus bastardised quick cash operation out there.

PM me if you want a heads up on somewhere that will do it right, in my experience...

PS Mods... nowt to do with me other than perfect results every time.

Cheers,

Tracking and the NCT?

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