Alignment issues - what's causing them...?

[leon_81]

I'm having a nightmare getting my car to drive right with the steering wheel straight - I can't work out what is causing the problem.

I've had the alignment done 3 times now, once at a place using all the computer gear with a printout at the end - every time, although the report is that the settings are bang on, on the road the steering wheel has to be wonky to drive straight...


So as far as I can tell, something must either be worn or bent or loose - but I have no idea what


Its a 2004 Leon Cupra TDi - recently had the lower arms and balljoints changed for Lemforder ones rather than cheapo brand options, so I'm confident the bushes in the arms are ok


Any help or suggestions appreciated!

Thanks

 

[leon_81]

No mods at all either suspension wise - standard shocks and springs etc

Only thing changed is the wheels - for 8x18 RS6 reps - so same width and rolling radius as standard wheels

 

[Slimy]

To me, this is simply the garages failure to set the steering wheel in the straight ahead position before aligning the wheels. The last place I went to used a springy device on the drivers seat to lock the steering wheel in the right place. Then used their alignment gear to set the wheels up based on the steering wheel being the centre. It's not a difficult task, it just means that to do the tracking you have to undo both tie rods instead of just one.

Even the computer alignment will be no good if they don't put the steering wheel in the right place to start with.

One thing though just to make sure, you say the steering wheel is wonky to drive straight, do you mean that the wheel is simply not straight, or are you having to hold the steering wheel to stay in a straight line? What happens if you let go of the wheel, do you go off course?

 

[seatcupramad23]

does it pull at and sort of adverse camber ? cause a bolt out of my wishbone fell out cause the car pull to one side , had the wheel aligned 4 times before some1 with no how relaised a bolt was missing , i'd check the state of the wishbones and bushes and track/tie rod ends if you already changed the balljoints then at least you no it aint that

 

[leon_81]

As per 1st post - new ball joints and lower arms (so bushes too) a month ago - soo all ok there for sure

Surely all 3 times I've had it aligned the wheel can't have been off centre?


It doesn't seem to want to pull to either side on a decent bit of road, but does 'tramline' a bit - always has, I put this down to 225 width rubber...


I'm wondering if something could be worn or damaged - so if the wheel was set straight when aligned, are the road wheels being able to toe in/out on their own when the car is moving?

 

[Slimy]

Yes, the tramlining will be the width and profile of the tyres. When I go from my 16's to my 17's I can feel the difference.

If the wheels were able to toe in/out when driving, you'd be driving round in circles on scrubbed tyres by now!

I'd be tempted to take it into a place and say the steering wheel is wonky, and keep going back until they've sorted it.

 

[adiohead]

As your wheels are aligned you could sort this out yourself by adjusting the track rods opposite equal amounts on either side.

A garage recently charged me £70 for alignment and made my steering wheel even more off centre.

So I adjusted it myself and it's straighter than it's ever been (in 6 years ownership).

It's just down to the garage being lazy

 

[dabow]

get your self to a proper alinment centre mate, here in notts theres a place that charges around 38 quid, and they are the real deal too.its the only place i trust, and there at the right place.

the other way, drive down a strait road, then mark where the wheel is stainest, then take the wheel off and reposision it your self. there easy to do