Pulling with road camber

[Greybeard]

I’ve been consciously testing this the past week. I drive deliberately closer to the centre of the road in my lane where camber is reduced and van goes straight. And where there are roads that are flat or camber is opposite, the wheels 100% follow the camber.

So, I’m now inclined to think it is tyre / wheel combo.

I’ve yet to find someone with spare stock wheel and smaller / diff tyres to try up front, but will do at some point.

I’m happy it’s not a ‘defect’ with the van, more just a symptom of it being modified to be honest.

In the Winter I fit my standard Devonports and standard tyres with no spacers and my van doesn’t ‘pull’ with the camber.

As soon as I refitted my Summer setup of 19x9 ET45 wheels and 275/40 19” tyres I have a gentle ‘pull’ on the steering wheel.

I tried straddling the camber and it didn’t pull.
When I drove on the offside it pulled slightly that way.

I wonder whether the issue is caused by more of the wheel/tyre width being outside of the turning axis of the steering?
On;
https://www.wheel-size.com/calc/?wheel1=215-60-17X7ET56&wheel2=275-40-19X9ET45&fcl=50mm&wcl=30mm&scl=50mm&sr=0mm
this is referred to as a positive scrub radius when compared to the standard wheel/tyre setup
I can’t increase the ET to move the wheels in a little as they then rub the inner wheelarch liners on full lock.

 

[T6_FunBus]

In the Winter I fit my standard Devonports and standard tyres with no spacers and my van doesn’t ‘pull’ with the camber.

As soon as I refitted my Summer setup of 19x9 ET45 wheels and 275/40 19” tyres I have a gentle ‘pull’ on the steering wheel.

I tried straddling the camber and it didn’t pull.
When I drove on the offside it pulled slightly that way.

I wonder whether the issue is caused by more of the wheel/tyre width being outside of the turning axis of the steering?
On;
https://www.wheel-size.com/calc/?wheel1=215-60-17X7ET56&wheel2=275-40-19X9ET45&fcl=50mm&wcl=30mm&scl=50mm&sr=0mm
this is referred to as a positive scrub radius when compared to the standard wheel/tyre setup
I can’t increase the ET to move the wheels in a little as they then rub the inner wheelarch liners on full lock.

Interesting thanks.

 

[T12]

Hi,

There’s been tons of thread about pulling one way or another. And I’ve had a van that has been sensitive to road camber for three years now, which has just become part of driving the van.

Summary:

- pulled with road camber before subframe dropped
- pulled after subframe dropped and replaced
- struts totally replaced (upgraded shocks, drop links, top mounts / bearings etc)
- arb bushes replaced
- arms checked and all bushes good
- engine mount replaced
- new tyres and wheels
- three alignments (one before subframe dropped, one after, one after new suspension and ride height)
- tried swapping front tyres
- three alignments all in green and told all good by three different shops

The result has always been the same. Most of our roads have heavy camber, and it results in the van wanting to naturally fall into the gutter. It results in needing to have the wheel always slightly pulled to the right to drive straight.

Find a road that’s 100% flat, van drives straight.

Find a road with caber falling away to right, van falls to the right.

I’ve been told it ‘could’ be the tyres, and the size of them causing it (275’s). I’m not sure I believe that.

Has anyone had the same issue and found a solution? I’ve checked subframe bolts too and I daren’t try and pull them up - they are already very secure and I do not want to risk snapping them. Another post on there suggested swinging on them to pull them up more! I don’t like that idea!

From a lot of posts it seems a lot of people have the same problem. And some have had t6’s pull from new. Others never have a pull and straight as it goes.

It’s an odd one. Surely there is a way to stop the van from being so sensitive to road camber and falling into whichever way it goes?

Cheers.

Hello, I have the same issues that you, have changed all at front, and now next up is time to change the rear bushes.
Have you replace the rear control arm bushes? Had the problem about 2 years almost and many alignment been done, all seems to be in good condition, but the pulling stil remains...

 

[T6_FunBus]

Hello, I have the same issues that you, have changed all at front, and now next up is time to change the rear bushes.
Have you replace the rear control arm bushes? Had the problem about 2 years almost and many alignment been done, all seems to be in good condition, but the pulling stil remains...

I haven’t, I’ve had everything inspected which was pretty pointless, as the occasional clonk I had for three years was solved when I changed the front ARB bushes.

Honestly it’s OK, I’ve got used to it. I tend to drive more to the middle of the road now than to the left, and it definitely helps.

When these tyres have worn a couple more mm I’ll change them and see if that helps, but it’s 100% not just a pull to the left, the van is just camber sensitive, so whichever way the road is sloping, is the way it’ll naturally try to follow.

 

[T12]

I will change mine at end of the week, and I can tell if it made some changes

 

[Greybeard]

I took mine back to have alignment rechecked.
They did the ‘best they could’, as mine is down around 70mm from standard T32 unloaded heights.
Was advised that the camber couldn’t be completely corrected.
They advised me to purchase suitable PolyFlex camber bolts, which I did.

They then fitted same and reset alignment.
It is now much, much better, only now needing the lightest of encouragement to stay out of the gutter.

I’ve now realised, after reading comments from Steve @CRS Performance , that mine is higher at the back than the front, wheel centres to top of wheel arches, not ‘level’, as recommended.
So, thinking the ‘nose down’ stance is affecting the geometry.
Once time and funds allow I’ll be taking a trip up to Cannock to discuss ride heights etc and have it sorted.
Andy

 

[Kind of Blue]

My 2019 Carevelle 4Motion does not have a problem with road camber in either direction negative or positive. That is the case with standard tyres or 255/55R18 BFG AT. That is on standard Caravelle suspension. I would have thought that 275 is a bit wide and might be prone to track cambers or ridges in the road. It also seems that some the vehicles with traits above also have suspension modifications reducing ride height. Do all of these vehicles conform with recommended or ideal camber angles. It might be though that, when following an aesthetic towards the extreme, that irregularities of ride and handling are more the norm rather than the exception, that one either accepts that, pays significant monies to for better suspension perhaps with camber adjustments or less extreme tyres / stance and so on.

Many of us modify our vehicles, in my case I want to go taller ( because I am a short arse) because I live of road and also want to do just a little of what I did with more appropriate 4x4 machinery. Cost will dictate how far I can go and still have a pleasant and safe machine to drive. A good compromise for me is air suspension allowing normal ride height on the road with elevation for off road and lower height to limbo under height gates. Its quite expensive though. What ever I decide I will not allow a choice that dictates poor handling especially if that means compromised safety particularly in the wet or slippery conditions. I would need then, to think again.

 

[Greybeard]

VW Accessories brochure listed 20x9”
wheels and 275/35 r20 tyres for Transporters