Rear wheel alignment . Too much Toe - poor direction change

[sk4tec]

Hi guys,

as is quite common on Leon MK2 platform my Leon has rear tyre stepping. From what I've read the cure ranges from only using Conti tyres to getting the rear alignment changed.

I find the handling on the Leon a bit inert and a bit boring.

From my simplistic understanding I think there is too much toe in on the rear axle which is casing the tread stepping. Toe in causes straight line stability at the expense of keenness to change direction.

I'm wondering if getting less toe on the rear end might solve the tread stepping and make the car feel more agile

Anyone who's gotten the alignment sorted care to comment if their car handles better.

(assuming the toe can actually be adjusted ?

 

[Kevgrady]

The rear toe can be adjusted because I have just done mine at work. My tyres were also stepping on the rear and making and awful lot of noise. Replaced two rear tyres for Goodyear Eagles now drives fantastic with no noise.

 

[silver surfer]

vw also advise on there system and settings the track car with a full fuel tank

 

[J400uk]

Mines on Contis all round and had problems with un-even wear. Had laser alignment done a few weeks ago front and rear, needed a few adjustments.

 

[jreedy]

Camber can also cause your tyres to wear in the inside edge

 

[Jarre]

Mine are wearing unevenly on the rear and are also really noisy now that the car has been lowered. The steering wheel also isn't straight and the car can slightly pull to one side too. I'm wondering whether the car actually had the alignment done when it was lowered....

 

[unsheenashashin]

Sorry to hijack a thread, but jarre - when you mentioned your steering wheel not being straight, mine isn't either, it's like it's turned slightly to the left, and the car pulls even more slightly (hardly noticeable) to the right. I thought maybe my wheel needed straightening, dyou reckon it could be to do with the rear wheels? Got a mate that can do laser balancing for free so not overly concerned........

 

[Jarre]

I'd get him to look at it especially if it's free! I'll get in touch with awesome GTI and see what they say about it.

 

[J400uk]

My steering wheel isn't straight either. Hate this car sometimes!

 

[Jarre]

Got mine booked in to have the alignment done again. Apparently my rear tyres may be out of shape causing the humming noise that I'm experiencing, so may need new tyres (reluctant to do this now as it's nearly time for winter mode!).

 

[sk4tec]

Thanks for the replies.

Two questions remains unanswered though.

1) Does the car "handle" better after the alignment? (as in keener to turn in). My Leon is fast, stiff but not really a patch on my old FN2 Type R (not a 100% fair comparison). But even compared to my old Mazda 3 "Sport" (based on a Focus MK II chassis) which was softer but you could get the back out if you wanted.

2) How does this happen? Does the car leave the factory spot on and gradually over pot holes the toe drifts out? Or is this down to wear and tear on the bushes which leads to more toe in?

 

[GREG_R84]

Agh good to see im not the only one whos steering wheel isn't straight.............

 

[andy550]

If your wheel isn't straight and your tyres are making funny noises I'm guessing you want your alignment doing. Had mine done at shark and that sorted that issue.

In terms of handling, VW generally set up cars to understeer as its safer for the average Joe. Do you drive with ESP on or off? I've tended to find the ESP is a pretty good system - it makes the car turn hard into a corner by pulling the back around. Adjusting your toe will change the turn in dynamics in the way you said, but just fiddling with tyre pressures can alter the way the car handles as well, and that's easier.

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk 2

 

[kazand]

I reckon this rear wheel alignment problem affects fuel consumption too. Previous 10 plate FR petrol was affected by saw tooth inner tyre wear , found after it started to hum particularly on smooth roads, replacement R after 15k has no such issues, and as gf's daily driver achieves better consumption .

 

[PLuKE]

This has happened to mine! The inner tyre is warmer that the outer, also a humming at 60mph and a few other speeds.

How much would the toe adjustment cost? Plus my car as spacers on the rear.

Luke

 

[TMO]

My 08 FR suffered quite bad on the rear, still got this picture from when I had a good look at the tyres and notice how bad it was worn on the inside, only done about 22k miles. Look at all the wasted tread

 

[red line fun]

i do wonder if speed bumps have their part to play in some of this? either that or the mechanics of the car are just crap when it comes to retaining wheel settings. i never had any probs with my mk1 (owned 4 years from new) but with my mk2 i get it all fully aligned, wheel straight etc and it's great ... for a few weeks/months then you notice things aren't quite right again. and i normally crawl over blo0dy speed bumps so hopefully it's nothing to do with my car taking a hammering going over them.

 

[springer]

My 08 FR suffered quite bad on the rear, still got this picture from when I had a good look at the tyres and notice how bad it was worn on the inside, only done about 22k miles. Look at all the wasted tread

TBH after 22k mile thats not too bad.If a manufacturer is running negative camber that part of the tyre is going to scrub more.

Theres a thread somewhere where i have put the wheel alignment specs up for Cupra and Cupra R(yes cupra boys they are different lol).

I have to say of the 16 year i have been aligning cars ive had brand new cars that were out according to the spec on the machine(taken from manufacturers).
I will soon be doing mine as got 4 new tyres and dont want any scrubbing