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Alignment Issue?


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The NSF wheel on my car is noticeably further back. Basically nearer the back of the wheel arch when compared to the OSF.

It has since been in to Skoda for an annual service, and although meaningless it's gone through their extensive multi point check.

It's also since had full tracking and alignment done which hasn't affected it.

The reason I'm now mentioning it is I've now installed wheels that stick out 6mm more than standard so now when reversing on full lock the tyre is barely fouling on the mud flap.

FYI the car has Bilstein B8 shocks and H&R 40mm lowering springs.

What's at fault here for it to be visually noticeable but not be picked up by Skoda or the tracking guys?

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?

Who fitted the new suspension?

 

You had best get a properly qualified mechanic to check who it has been wrongly fitted.

Dangerous.

Check that new Bolts were used etc.

 

I remember 'newbie69' had suspension upgrades and a damper slipped and it hit the drive shaft or similar.

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It was fitted by a mechanic I would call competent but I've got it booked in with another guy this week to check it out.

I'm fully aware it could be something more involved but could it be something as simple as wrongly adjusted low level suspension parts? Although they match the angles the tracking machine wanted it doesn't meant it's necessarily set up right.

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Edited by SuperTurbo
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That is one hell of a difference - and needs a competent mechanic on the case.

How long have you had the car, and when did you first notice this discrepancy?

 

Everything including the turning angles must be miles out - surprised that you have not mentioned any quirks in its handling or steering behavior. First step is to get a starting reading. Go to a garage that has some 'old fashioned' turning angle plates and see what this reveals. 

Are you the first owner of this car? and did you by any chance play around with a front anti roll bar fitment? Have you (or the previous owner - if applicable) had frontal damage repaired?

We need to know far more detail to home in on the problem, and I would be interested to receive details of the wheel centre to wheel centre measurement of both sides - this to be taken of course with the road wheels in the dead ahead position.

One last question - is there any momentary knock sound from the front if you take your foot on and off the throttle at low speeds?

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I haven't noticed any reportable handling issues other than a slight pull to the left which the he car has done from new.

Car was ex demo with 1400 miles on the clock and 4 months old when I got it in Feb 2013 with no accident damage.

I first noticed the discrepancy on Sunday when cleaning the car but it may have been like it for a while for all I know.

The only odd behaviour that I noticed is over the last few months when it has been cold, indo a 3 point turn at the end of my road every morning and on point 3 when going full lock right forwards the outside wheel which is the NS sometimes felt like it was skipping. After some googling I decided this was normal due to the cold temperatures effects on the rubber.

When car was in with Skoda at end of April for 3rd service they said that the insides of both front tyres were below the limit, NS at 0mm and OS at 1mm. The tyres were less than a year and 6000 miles old. They replaced like for like and had the tracking done on a hunter machine. They didn't mention anything else being at fault. Il post the before and after results from the tracking soon.

The uprated suspension was installed January 2015 and I've covered 8000 miles since, excluding the recent time at Skoda the tracking had been done on a hunter machine twice since installation. Also there were no advisories on the MOT in September, including tyre wear and top Mount play. As you might tell I've done very few miles since then.

Something else odd. When car had 2nd service with Skoda, in their multi point checks they decided that both front top mounts were knackered with excessive play, I left it and got someone else to check it and they disagreed so I again left it. Car goes in for 3rd service and they don't mention the top mounts...

2be5b213151135d347b49b9db2a259b7.jpg

Here's the printout from the alignment/tracking done on 21st April. Probably should cut off the dealers name but they've been so crap from day one I will leave it, the fact the odometer reading is completely wrong says a lot.

Edited by SuperTurbo
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When did you have the Bilstein Damper & H&R Springs fitted, and was this by a Garage?

 

EDIT,  Sorry missed that in your post.

i see they have been on for long enough.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/352193-bilstein-b8-question

Edited by GoneOffSKi
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With the front wheels set dead ahead - a tape measure from the centre of the road wheel decal cap at the front along side of car to centre of road wheel decal cap at the rear. Do this on both sides of the car, so we can get an idea of the side to side disparity.

 

As a point of interest, have you checked the bushes on the inner ends of the wishbones - in particular the front nearside bush?

Edited by 2ndskoda
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Are you driving it?

I would go into any tyre and exhaust centre and ask them to put it on the ramp.

Not to do any work, but at least to get it checked / looked at from underneath.

Or a garage if they will have a look as you wait.

 

?

Did you change your wheel over just recently, and if you did where was the car jacked up?

Edited by GoneOffSKi
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I won't be driving it between now and Thursday when it's being looked at as I'm only down the road from where I work.

The wheels were changed on Friday but the issue was visible before this change. I didn't fit them so can't say where it was jacked up from.

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Sorry but this is all strange.

If it was visible why go and buy wheels and fit before getting the suspension sorted out.

 

As far as the people you have working on your car, best be more careful, 

if what you sent pictures of was there before changing the wheels it is odd they would change the wheels.

 

Basically something is far wrong and the car is unsafe.

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Been under the car with the mechanic.

The front shocks looked fine visually, swapped them over from left to right to double check.

Issue is still there.

Lower arm is fine.

Turns out the hub is bent, 1/2 inch out compared to the offside. That means new hub and bearing for £180 plus labour.

Parts arriving tomorrow. Will update.

Edited by SuperTurbo
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Don't forget - when this is solved and both sides 'at rest positions' are correct. YOU WILL need to get the alignment done again on  hunter equipment.

 

Also note that many of us would be very interested in seeing a picture of the 'bent hub'

Edited by 2ndskoda
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Yeah I will definitely be getting the tracking done again.

I will definitely get a picture of the hub.

Although not the most accurate way to measure but the OS gap from tyre to arch is 53mm. NS gap is 42mm.

Coincidently, measuring from the same reference point under the car, the hub on the NS sits 12mm further back from the front of the car.

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"Turns out the hub is bent, 1/2 inch out compared to the offside. That means new hub and bearing for £180 plus labour." ???????

 

Are you sure??? or do you mean the housing assembly. -  This does not sound correct, and I'm mystified by this description of a hub being bent by 1/2"

Are we all singing from the same hymn sheet on this one?

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"Turns out the hub is bent, 1/2 inch out compared to the offside. That means new hub and bearing for £180 plus labour." ???????

 

Are you sure??? or do you mean the housing assembly. -  This does not sound correct, and I'm mystified by this description of a hub being bent by 1/2"

Are we all singing from the same hymn sheet on this one?

 

Sorry, wrong terms being used on my part. Its the wheel bearing housing that is at fault, not "hub" as I was previously stating.

 

I've got the bearing, housing is arriving today and all hopefully getting fitted.

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Update.

New wheel bearing housing and bearing fitted. Made no difference, whole wheel assembly is still sitting 1/2 inch back compared to the other side.

Lower arms are both straight and true and bent shock absorber has been ruled out by swapping them right to left.

Car will be spending the weekend in the garage in bits but I am at a loss.

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I can only think that you need to realign the subframe. I read on another thread the subframe mounts to the body with bolts through slotted holes in the subframe, so these need to be loosened and the the frame repositioned. Possibly the frame was removed to change a console bush in the past and badly refitted.

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