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Author Topic: Alignment/tracking issue??  (Read 4607 times)

Offline Robo

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Alignment/tracking issue??
« on: January 07, 2012, 01:59:44 pm »
Since having my edition 30 lowered on eibach sportlines and WALK fitted it drove perfect however due to having these parts fitted along with 2 new front tyres thought it would b a good time to have it 4 wheel aligned and tracking checked so waited around 30 mins all done £40 please.

After driving it for a few miles I noticed the steering wasnt straight if I put the steering wheel straight it drives to the left  :sad1: so I made a call to the company that did it (Gordon's tyres in Wakefield) they said bring it back and we will have another look so I did waited another 30 mins guy said all ok and he'd test drove it around car park (which was tiny not large enough to understand my problem) driving away it felt a bit better but still of centre and it's really annoying me now thought I was doing the right thing having alignment checked now I wish I'd left it because it drove perfect.

So now I don't know where to turn you guys/girls have any suggestions?

Cheers in advance

Offline dan930

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Re: Alignment/tracking issue??
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2012, 02:55:20 pm »
Let them drive it for a bit longer on the open road & see what they got to say about it


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Offline Black9

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Re: Alignment/tracking issue??
« Reply #2 on: January 07, 2012, 02:58:30 pm »
Are they doing a proper 4 wheel geo setup? Also make sure they are applying the correct angles etc...

Offline Robo

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Re: Alignment/tracking issue??
« Reply #3 on: January 07, 2012, 03:59:14 pm »
I offered for them to drive it but they said no need it's all spot on  :sad1:

Offline snapey

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Re: Alignment/tracking issue??
« Reply #4 on: January 07, 2012, 04:15:10 pm »
I had the tracking on the Rocco done yesterday, only a few alterations required, turned out the steering was still offset even after adjustment and required the steering wheel to be aligned with the steering column as it was out by a few splines. Something I wouldn't be comfortable with a tyre fitter touching.
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Offline Robo

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Re: Alignment/tracking issue??
« Reply #5 on: January 07, 2012, 05:53:12 pm »
Cheers for that snapey is that a costly job? wouldn't fancy taking the steering wheel of myself lol

Offline Nodz

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Re: Alignment/tracking issue??
« Reply #6 on: January 07, 2012, 05:56:59 pm »
I had the tracking on the Rocco done yesterday, only a few alterations required, turned out the steering was still offset even after adjustment and required the steering wheel to be aligned with the steering column as it was out by a few splines. Something I wouldn't be comfortable with a tyre fitter touching.

Mines like that atm. VW says its all fine but the wheel is slighty offset so need to find somewhere to do a full geo set up to make sure all is well and sort that out aswell

Offline alackofspeed

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Re: Alignment/tracking issue??
« Reply #7 on: January 07, 2012, 06:36:27 pm »
Is the rear aligned, and how was the front aligned? Unless it's a 4 wheel alignment system, it's not worth the bother in my opinion. That said, you still need to ensure the user is interested in what they're doing to ensure symmetry.

Doing a decent job requires quite a bit of time, as the rear is iterative (camber and toe links affect each other) and balancing the front camber can require the sub-frame to be moved fractionally.




Offline Robo

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Re: Alignment/tracking issue??
« Reply #8 on: January 07, 2012, 07:10:19 pm »
I paid for a full 4 wheel alignment so I presume that's what they did and he did say the rear did require a little more adjustment.

Maybe I do need to adjust the steering wheel is this a big job?

Offline berg

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Re: Alignment/tracking issue??
« Reply #9 on: January 07, 2012, 07:25:51 pm »
4 wheel alignment costs over £100.00 and takes well over an hour, so for £40.00 they aint done a full job.

Check out wheels in motion website he has a list of garages nationwide he has trained.

I took mine to Nigel Langs in Bolton and they were good
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Offline AlanEdition30

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Re: Alignment/tracking issue??
« Reply #10 on: January 07, 2012, 07:27:14 pm »
I noticed a while back that my car was moving slowly to the left when holding the steering wheel straight. I therefore had a 4 wheel alignment done on my car and to sort this issue the steering wheel was never removed. At the end of the 4 wheel alignment i was simply asked to get into the car and hold the steering wheel straight whilst they tweaked something under the car whilst checking the angles on the computer screen.

I presumed this was the correct way of doing this???  :ashamed:

Also the 4 wheel alignment took about an hour or so, and cost £90.
« Last Edit: January 07, 2012, 07:30:40 pm by AlanEdition30 »

Offline dub singh

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Re: Alignment/tracking issue??
« Reply #11 on: January 07, 2012, 07:57:18 pm »
My local garage uses a steering wheel guide bolted to the subframe of the seat to hold the steering wheel in place while they adjusted it... However the car still steers to the left after ive put on my winter wheels..
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Offline snapey

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Re: Alignment/tracking issue??
« Reply #12 on: January 07, 2012, 08:03:30 pm »
Cheers for that snapey is that a costly job? wouldn't fancy taking the steering wheel of myself lol

Cost me £60 at Midland VW. That initially covered the front and rear alignment changes, however they didn't charge me for reseating the wheel which I thought was pretty good of them.
If you have to ask why, you'll never understand.

Offline Yawn

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Re: Alignment/tracking issue??
« Reply #13 on: January 07, 2012, 08:31:33 pm »
Cheers for that snapey is that a costly job? wouldn't fancy taking the steering wheel of myself lol

Cost me £60 at Midland VW. That initially covered the front and rear alignment changes, however they didn't charge me for reseating the wheel which I thought was pretty good of them.

How did the steering wheel become offset? Had you taken it off before?

Offline snapey

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Re: Alignment/tracking issue??
« Reply #14 on: January 08, 2012, 10:07:39 pm »
Cheers for that snapey is that a costly job? wouldn't fancy taking the steering wheel of myself lol

Cost me £60 at Midland VW. That initially covered the front and rear alignment changes, however they didn't charge me for reseating the wheel which I thought was pretty good of them.

How did the steering wheel become offset? Had you taken it off before?

Either offset from the factory or the previous owner had it off. There have been a few R owner on the Rocco forums complaining of an offset wheel from new.
If you have to ask why, you'll never understand.