Maserati Gransport rear subframe alignment

[Lewis Gregory]

So it would appear it’s a thing, thanks for char king yours @jasst It’s doing my head and is the only thing I can see when I look at the car now. I want to fit spacers so each wheel would fit nicely in the arch But that will make it more obvious that one is right and the other not.

 

[Scaf]

So it would appear it’s a thing, thanks for char king yours @jasst It’s doing my head and is the only thing I can see when I look at the car now. I want to fit spacers so each wheel would fit nicely in the arch But that will make it more obvious that one is right and the other not.

Different size spaces each side

 

[Lewis Gregory]

Different size spaces each side

I thought about that but assumed it would ruin the handing?

 

[Scaf]

I thought about that but assumed it would ruin the handing?

I am absolutely certain it would

 

[Lewis Gregory]

I am absolutely certain it would

So does anyone know if this is adjustable? I now know of three cars that have this issue so would appear there must be adjustment or very poor tolerances during the manufacture of the subframes.

 

[Lewis Gregory]

So does anyone know if this is adjustable? I now know of three cars that have this issue so would appear there must be adjustment or very poor tolerances during the manufacture of the subframes.

Interestingly I just read up on a Porsche forum that this is a common issue - the guys there run slightly different spacers without any noticeable issues apparently.

 

[Chimaera500]

Is it possible that you have a front alloy on the rear, but mounted with a rear tyre by mistake? Offsets of front and rear alloys are I think similar to the difference you are seeing.

I recently fitted 20mm spacers to my Gransport. Both sides are identical. Cant think of anything else that could cause that much difference!

 

[Chimaera500]

If they are standard Gransport alloys, the fronts are ET 62.2, rears are ET 55.5

 

[mjheathcote]

Checked my 4200 with FD rims, both sides are flush, any difference would stick out a mile!!
My 70's Stag is terrible though, the wheels are well tucked under but the difference is probably an inch. Common problem too.

 

[Lewis Gregory]

Is it possible that you have a front alloy on the rear, but mounted with a rear tyre by mistake? Offsets of front and rear alloys are I think similar to the difference you are seeing.

I recently fitted 20mm spacers to my Gransport. Both sides are identical. Cant think of anything else that could cause that much difference!

It’s all set up Correctly - wheels in the right place etc (I’m not a total idiot, just look like one)
just doesn’t look right. They car even had a full alignment at Giallo when it had the clutch done last year. I now know of 3 cars with this problem - I suspect it’s subframe alignment.

 

[Yolanda Rays]

Whilst fitting some wheel spacers to my Gransport it has become apparent that the left hand rear wheel is closer to the wheel arch (widthways) than the right hand side. Is it possible that the rear subframe has been refitted slightly off centre following a clutch change? I had a 4200 a few years ago, and this was exactly the same - I can’t believe this is how they are supposed to be? Can this be adjusted?

have you measure the distance between the axle and the fender? were they the same before you put on wheel spacers? or have you measure the thickness of wheel spacers? Were they the same?
The precision is an important indicators of wheel spacers quality, if they have big difference on their thickness, you must be careful of buying the wrong spacers.

 

[GeoffCapes]

I'd take it to someone like Elite in Rainham and get the alignment checked again.

The alignment on my GTS was 'done' by Giallo, but when I went to Elite after putting spacers on, they had to use heat on the bolts to get them to move and do the alignment correctly as in their words 'no one has ever adjusted the alignment since it came out of the factory".

 

[TimR]

Seems quite weird that a few cars report the same discrepancy....

 

[Lewis Gregory]

I'd take it to someone like Elite in Rainham and get the alignment checked again.

The alignment on my GTS was 'done' by Giallo, but when I went to Elite after putting spacers on, they had to use heat on the bolts to get them to move and do the alignment correctly as in their words 'no one has ever adjusted the alignment since it came out of the factory".

to be honest I have my concerns about Giallo - they car has had 10's of 1000's spent there in the last few years and Im very surprised at some of the things I've discovered considering the recent work that had been carried out. It had over £10,000 spent there last April alone, I bought he car a few months later and a few issues that are linked to the works that were carried out.

 

[BL330]

Sorry I'm late to the party on this thread. Yes this is a thing. I found it on mine, then photographed the 2 GS in a Sydney Maserati specialist.
Both were the same. When I had my suspension rebuilt, the guys sorted this out. I run spacers too.

 

[Ramp]

Very happy I found this thread as this issue has been driving me nuts - misery loves company. I have it on my 2006 GS. Left rear wheel sits about 1/2 inch more outbound than the right rear. Found out when I added the 25mm rear FD spacers and the left side rubs. Car is properly aligned, drives straight, no vibrations, all good. Spent hours looking for accident damage or anything out of alignment - nothing. The subframe and all connections look untouched from factory. A visual of the torque tube shows its straight from front to rear.

I really want to put the rear spacers on but hate that one wheel sticks out more than the other. Has anyone figured out why and how to rectify it ? BL330 - what was sorted out on yours ?

 

[BL330]

I really want to put the rear spacers on but hate that one wheel sticks out more than the other. Has anyone figured out why and how to rectify it ? BL330 - what was sorted out on yours ?
[/QUOTE]
I had a complete rebuild with rebuilt original shock absorbers, new lowering springs from FD, new stiffer anti roll bars from FD, new flanblocs all round. New lower wishbones at the front to get the new ball joints, new upper ball joints. Fitted FD rear Tie Rod kit.
Which meant everything was pulled apart. I mentioned the issue where my 15mm spacers showed the different gaps. It wasn't there when they had completed the job. Hope this helps.

 

[Ramp]

Thanks - that work was a small fortune. Not sure this helps though as nothing specific points to the issue some of us are facing. Do you know if they dropped the subframe when doing the work - the one thought my Indy and I had was that the subframe may have a bit of play if we lowered it and moved it a bit. BUT, since the driveline is aligned, we don't see how this could be the issue and could cause problems. Other than the 1/2" delta, the car runs perfect.

 

[Ramp]

Following up to see if anyone has more insight into this issue. I have some pics below with notes. Feel free to tell me where I'm thinking about this wrong. At least for my car, the facts/assumptions are that car is properly aligned, the torque tube is straight from the factory connected to the engine and subframe, the subframe and car are accident free. If you look at the notes I made on the attached pics, the rear wheel hubs MUST be the same distance out board on each side - but they are not. I added the files as well so you can download and zoom in.

Any thoughts ?

 

[Zep]

I think you are on the right track. The adjustment of camber on the bottom arm should not impact the position of the hub to the degree that you are seeing. So once you have removed the impossible - wrong shape subframe, different length wishbones - then what it left is that the subframe is in the wrong position. If it is 12mm further out on one side, then you only need to move it 6mm toward the other side to rectify it.

You could look at the thrust angle on the rear wheels compared to the fronts (assuming the front wheels are aligned). Put a long straight bar in line with the outside of the rear wheel on each side and compare to the position of the front wheel.