Should I be concerned?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Merlin Cat, Sep 15, 2020.

  1. Merlin Cat

    Merlin Cat Moderator

    2E6B5569-2D0C-4C5B-8472-2919C1B4CE6B.jpeg 3B502237-261B-4489-BDA9-C799049EC0BD.jpeg

    I’ve just done a 100 + mile trip to visit my dad. I thought I’d come in the camper as a cheer up for myself.

    I stopped at Warwick Services for a break and thought , ooh that Rear near side wheel arch - tyre looks like my van is ‘slammed’ instead of my normal stick height.

    I then checked the off side, as I’m very particular about my van, and noticed that wasn’t quite so slammed.

    should I be concerned? I was a little bit so carried on the M40 a bit slower than previously.

    Is it normal for one side to be lower? I’d never noticed it before.

    Should I visit a mechanic before my drive back North?

    ive attached photos of near and off side and differences between them.
     
  2. Baysearcher

    Baysearcher [secret moderator]

    That first photo looks like it’s pushed the arch out?
     
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  3. Baysearcher

    Baysearcher [secret moderator]

    It’s probably the photo but the camber looks all arse about face too?
     
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  4. Merlin Cat

    Merlin Cat Moderator

    it does doesn’t it. Maybe how I took the photo? Tho trying to put my fingers in to see if it was so close it was touching the tyre it felt like I had a twin arch, like someone had just put new arch on top of rubbish old one. I can’t recall ever noticing this before. The other side feels fine and like a single skin.

    I will look again in daylight.

    My main worry is that the tyre will rub and then pop and I will crash!!

    Would a tyre be able to push an arch out?
     
  5. Little Nellie

    Little Nellie Supporter

    Sure the wheels not loose?
     
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  6. Merlin Cat

    Merlin Cat Moderator

    I’m on dads drive so may be the slope? There is defo quite a bigger gap on the offside.

    I put my heavy bags on that side in a DIY attempt to help!!
     
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  7. Merlin Cat

    Merlin Cat Moderator

    good thinking, I will check in the morning. Blimey, if so I’m lucky after my motorway drive!!! :eek:
     
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  8. Little Nellie

    Little Nellie Supporter

    Could be angling itself out at the top rocking on the wheel nuts?
     
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  9. Merlin Cat

    Merlin Cat Moderator

    I’ve had work done on the brakes for the MOT and not driven it much since so will check in the morning. In the off side I now have a red wheel nut which I didn’t pre MOT work so reckon the rear wheels have been off.
     
  10. As a first step, I would check your wheel nuts are actually done up properly.
     
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  11. There is a cm or so difference between each side on mine - only to be expected on a near 50 year old vehicle for torsion bars to settle at different rates if heavier load has been in on one side . the clearance between wheel and wheel arch does look a bit close in the top picture - but they do look like different makes of tyre - I always put same make tyre on each side of an axle
     
    Merlin Cat likes this.
  12. Normally they sag on the driver’s side.
     
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  13. Merlin Cat

    Merlin Cat Moderator

    Cheers, I just don’t recall it looking so close before. The front of my van has always seemed to sit higher but I thought it was pretty uniform across ways. I defo can’t recall it looking like it was almost resting on the tyre.
     
  14. Merlin Cat

    Merlin Cat Moderator

    Rude!! I’ve gone a bit less plump I will have you know!!! :).

    I don’t think it’s ever been this close before. I have to admit I was a bit nervous for the next 13 motorway miles after I’d spotted it.
     
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  15. I was not implying you were “traditionally built” ;). But, yes, cars do sag on the driver’s side after many years.

    Check your wheel nuts, Alex. A wheel coming off on the motorway can be really embarrassing.
     
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  16. Merlin Cat

    Merlin Cat Moderator

    will do first thing tomorrow :thumbsup:
     
    Lasty likes this.
  17. Merlin Cat

    Merlin Cat Moderator

    I once lost a few wheel nuts on my T4 in Spain. The tyre place had forgotten to tighten them. That was on a motorway so I have experience :) . My rear wheel was wobbling like a clowns bike wheel!
     
  18. I shouldn’t really talk. After doing my brakes a couple of weeks ago, I set off down the road...with all the wheel nuts finger-tight :eek:
     
    scrooge95, Lasty, PanZer and 3 others like this.
  19. Coda

    Coda Supporter

    Having seen this first hand I can say I thought it was quite exciting seeing a wheel go several hundred yards at 50mph without hitting anything then exiting the motorway up the off ramp.
     
    Valveandy, rustbucket, MK-Bay and 3 others like this.
  20. I have heard they actually overtake you, which is quite interesting...
     
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