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Author Topic: Steering Wheel Skew after alignment  (Read 12136 times)

Offline pudding

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Re: Steering Wheel Skew after alignment
« Reply #30 on: March 28, 2018, 10:28:36 am »
Agreed, the steering can't center itself without some kind of mechanical adjustment, or movement.

Yeah the tyrolsport subframe kit will lock it into place to prevent movement, but it in many cases it won't correct the geometry, which was evidently not correct at the factory.


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willni

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Re: Steering Wheel Skew after alignment
« Reply #31 on: March 28, 2018, 11:29:27 am »
Agreed, the steering can't center itself without some kind of mechanical adjustment, or movement.

Yeah the tyrolsport subframe kit will lock it into place to prevent movement, but it in many cases it won't correct the geometry, which was evidently not correct at the factory.

Yep my mistake it was dark when i looked again still not straight.


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Offline BaldwinGTI

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Re: Steering Wheel Skew after alignment
« Reply #32 on: March 28, 2018, 05:30:51 pm »
Update.. I took my vehicle to a local place. I used that alignmycar website to use somewhere with the latest hunter equipment. Thanks for that link. I’ve only had a short drive back from the garage but all seems to be ok. The printout shows the front was way off. I also had my wheels balanced. There was a juddering feedback through the steering wheel before and that seems to have now cleared up was well.


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Offline TheBALDpuma

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Re: Steering Wheel Skew after alignment
« Reply #33 on: March 29, 2018, 09:33:20 am »
I think alignment comes down to sh*t mechanics perosnally.  I've used loads of places over the years, and a lot have been sh*t.  Most lately a place called Alba Tyres in Leeds... I was havig four new P Zeros put on, so had 4 wheel alignment done at the same time, even though it felt fine I wanted it spot on with the new tyres.  It came out from the garage and within 30 seconds I realised it was not aligned right, with quite a significant pull to the left.  I took it back and gave them another go, and this time it was even worse... needing a 45 degree steer nearly to go in a straight line!!  I went back and lost it a bit with the manager (Three trips in, six taxis and a they also put p zero neros on orignially, and when I called them on it they tried to tell me the neros were the new replacement tyre for the "p zero"!!!) and he admitted they hadn't actually done the rear alignment on any of the three attempts!  He offered to do it again, and I obviously just told him to get lost! I ended up taking it else where (Andy Turner Engineering in Leeds) and he was excellent! It drives like a totally new car when he's had it.  I probably have the alignment done every 10,000 miles (6 months), keeps me happy! I can't stand it if it pulls left!

Offline pudding

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Re: Steering Wheel Skew after alignment
« Reply #34 on: March 29, 2018, 11:29:37 am »
Cars naturally pull in one direction anyway because of the road drainage camber, but 45 degrees to keep it in a straight line is extreme  :grin:

You are right thoigh, a lot of it does come down to skill and knowledge, which as we all know is desperately lacking in the car world. 


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Offline TheBALDpuma

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Re: Steering Wheel Skew after alignment
« Reply #35 on: March 29, 2018, 11:49:54 am »
Yeah, it can be tough to tell if it's marginal pull whether it's just the camber, or alignment issues... totally flat roads do exist but it's hard to find one for sure!

Offline pudding

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Re: Steering Wheel Skew after alignment
« Reply #36 on: March 29, 2018, 11:54:14 am »
I don't know if you have the old 1970s concrete motorways up your way, but they are dead flat around my way.  Last forever and grip rubber really well.  I can take my hand off the wheel and it tracks dead straight for 100s of yards  :smiley:

On a more modern tarmac road, no chance.  The steering wanders and tugs all over the shop from poor surface prep, lorry ruts, inconsistent cambers etc etc, but shows as spot-on on the alignment rig!!

That said, you definitely can feel the difference between sheddy roads and sheddy alignment!



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Offline TheBALDpuma

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Re: Steering Wheel Skew after alignment
« Reply #37 on: March 29, 2018, 11:59:04 am »
None up here that I know of, but I hit a stretch on the M25 when I visit my family in Surrey.  Noisey stuff that concrete!

Wheel alginment is huge trigger for me - it drives me nuts if it's not right!  I can't drive the other halves car, because her's is way out and the wheels are out of balance, so motorway driving is just horrible!

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Re: Steering Wheel Skew after alignment
« Reply #38 on: March 29, 2018, 12:11:53 pm »
Yup, REALLY noisy, and the M25 sections you mention feature some hilarious dips where the ground underneath has subsided  :grin:

Lol, snap.  The missus's MK4 1.6 has warped brakes, knocking rear top mounts, screeching starter motor, ditch finders and it's slooooooooooow.  But she loves it  :stupid:   It does have dead-on tracking though  :grin:


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willni

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Steering Wheel Skew after alignment
« Reply #39 on: March 29, 2018, 05:52:58 pm »
My first and then 2nd alignment sheets (Corghi machine) , 2nd time the manager did it steering wheel is off a little bit, so gonna pull the steering wheel off see if it a fitting error there.






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« Last Edit: March 29, 2018, 05:54:52 pm by willni »

Offline pudding

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Re: Steering Wheel Skew after alignment
« Reply #40 on: March 29, 2018, 06:03:46 pm »
Yet another one with different camber left to right  :grin:

Camber off on one side isn't a mega problem though.  It's just nice to have everything bang on even left and right.


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Offline BaldwinGTI

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Steering Wheel Skew after alignment
« Reply #41 on: March 29, 2018, 09:07:23 pm »
Yet another one with different camber left to right  :grin:

Camber off on one side isn't a mega problem though.  It's just nice to have everything bang on even left and right.

I have a visual printout from mine. They’re nearly equal both sides but not perfect. I’ll try and photo it tomorrow. The car is definitely far nicer to drive.


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willni

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Re: Steering Wheel Skew after alignment
« Reply #42 on: March 30, 2018, 10:50:50 am »


Took the airbag out today to see if it was an error on my part, as it’s still going left when steering wheel is straight.

But to no avail i had it put on bang on, so third alignment will be coming soon, using Hunter Equipment this time.


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Re: Steering Wheel Skew after alignment
« Reply #43 on: March 31, 2018, 12:33:51 pm »
What equipment did the first place use?

VAG Biessbarth or Hunter should sort it.  I've always had good luck with the VAG system.


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willni

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Re: Steering Wheel Skew after alignment
« Reply #44 on: March 31, 2018, 12:55:03 pm »
What equipment did the first place use?

VAG Biessbarth or Hunter should sort it.  I've always had good luck with the VAG system.

Both alignments Corghi previously


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