Hi all

Car in question is an 02/52 Octy vRS on 41k, and as title suggests, pulls mostly to the left but sometimes the right? :confused: Consequently I had a 4 wheel alignment check at Impossible when I had my front ARB changed a couple of months ago (thanks Mike, absolutely top service) but all was found to be within factory tolerances. Shortage of cash has meant I haven't been able to do much about it until now (wearing down rubbish front tyres courtesy of previous owner anyway so not fussed about ruining them) but it's high time this thing went in a straight line! Will probably take it to the dealer as I moved recently and don't know any good local indies, just wondered if anyone might have any clues? Any obvious suspects that I might be able to scout out myself, so I don't end up paying them 2 hours labour to um and ahh... Car gets more of a pounding than I'd like over rough South London roads, so I thought some suspension arm or other might be knackered out. Any advice gratefully received

Cheers

Sam

Possibly the crap tyres you mentioned, I have noticed different brands pulling one way or t'other, Other thing to check is the tyre pressures.

Common one. Mainly the lower wishbone rear bushes. Load under drive deforms them (they go weak) so a static tracking check is about useless. I use a dynamic tracking device to check tracking under a small amount of load when the slack is taken up, it's a pain to do but results in a very accurate drive.

The best thing you can do is carefully check out the lower ball joints/track rod ends and so long as they are solid with no play when a 3 foot bar is used to check them (waggle steering with weight on teh wheels while holding the TRE to check the TRE's) then have the lower arm rear bush replaced with poly and the tracking set again to parallel. If you can, get the front bushes done too. The difference is marked with the poly bushes but most notably because they don't deform as much and have little slack, the tracking when it's done will be roughly the same when you are driving under load so you'll get more consistant results.

Obviously check tyre pressures, swap wheels from left to right, check for dragging brakes, to eliminate the obvious.

Greg.

Thanks guys, actually replaced the fronts with KU31s a couple of days ago and it feels better, but still out. Tyre pressures have been consistent and within Skoda specs on both crap and new rubber. I wanted to get it sorted before replacing the tyres but couldn't do without the car right now and with the weather as it's been I chose grip against alignment... Greg I had suspected a perishable item such as a bush, as mentioned the car has to put up with a LOT of rough riding - I can see why so many people choose luxury 4x4s to get around the small streets in my area

I'll check what you suggested, and if it comes to new bushes, would the TT ones be an improvement or is poly the best way to go? Maybe I'm just picky but I don't want to sacrifice the ride too much, I've already considered a swap for 16s to this end.

Thanks

Sam

Greg I had suspected a perishable item such as a bush, as mentioned the car has to put up with a LOT of rough riding - I can see why so many people choose luxury 4x4s to get around the small streets in my area

I'll check what you suggested, and if it comes to new bushes, would the TT ones be an improvement or is poly the best way to go? Maybe I'm just picky but I don't want to sacrifice the ride too much, I've already considered a swap for 16s to this end.

Thanks

Sam

Octavia 1's are a bad ride unless on 15" wheels (which means 288mm brakes max). I chose some Hankook KH's due to their smoother ride on the last tyre job and they ride nealy as good as 15's. All 17's and most 16's are just dogs over pot holes and anyone who thinks not has not driven in a decent merc e class or jaguar recently.

Re the bushes, yes TT ones are an improvement but by far the easiest to fit and best are the poly, probably superpro. There is NO NVH increase that I can pick out. To my sensitivity, 16" tyres cause a 50% worse ride, that's my level of pickyness, but I can detect nothing other than excellent 'tight' control and direct streeing with the poly bushes. They still flex and are still the same size! Just more durable and not voided, with just enough flex to take out vibration/noise, but while keeping the wishbone well controled. For the looks reasons you may not want to change, but behind the wheel on all but on limit cornering (eg not safe road driving) in the dry on flat roads with no pot holes, the 195/65/15 will give the best ride and better directionl stability. Wider tyres magnify reluctance to go in a straight line, think of trying to accurately steer a bicycle which had barrels for wheels, vs the pin sharp accuracy of racing tyres.

You won't be dissapointed with the poly setup.

Greg.

Partially agree with Greg. I love my 18's and would never swap to anything less but each to their own. Biggest problem with the octi is it's under damped, better shocks improves it no end.

As for the Superpro bushes he recommends I actually found them to be so much quieter than the stock bushes which I wasn't expecting at all.

I thought I'd have to wait for them to bed in but they where a pleasant surprise from the first drive and give a very direct feeling in the steering and as stated very easy to fit. It's actually harder getting the old bush out than getting the new bush in.

Ian

Sounds like it's worth doing whether it's causing the problem or not - sorry to be an idiot but I'm assuming wishbone = control arm? If so presumably these are what I'm after: Buy VAG - Front - Control Arm Lower - Inner Rear Bushes by PRI Racing Ltd. buy online and Buy VAG - Front - Control Arm Lower - Inner Front Bushes by PRI Racing Ltd. buy online Is it a DIY job? I get the feeling you may have saved me a fair bit of expense

They are the ones but if you buy this kit Buy VAG - Front - Control Arm Lower - Bushes Kit by PRI Racing Ltd. buy online it will save you about £8

Ian

Oh I did it DIY buy the way.

5 bolts either side, 2 for the arm and 3 including new backplate for the balljoint which should all be replaced when you take the control arm off. I can dig out the part numbers and prices if you want.

Old bushes can be a pig to get out. I got very brutal with a drill, flat screwdriver and hammer.

The big poly bush slips straight in and for the little one I used a M12 nut & long bolt and some big washers through the control arm and bush and tightened to squeeze the bush into the arm.

Ian

Cheers, I'll be ordering those up. And thanks for the tips, seems a relatively straightforward process except for removing the old bushes. Might have to call in some muscle... Will post back with updates. Thanks again

Well, best of intentions with regards to DIY, but I've been a bit too busy and needed the car, etc... basically I chickened out! Found a good local indie, dropped it in this morning and got it back a few hours ago. Whoa! Maybe it's just the contrast from driving around with knackered bushes, but it feels SOLID. A more assured and direct drive than I've ever felt from it, combined with the recent decent rubber (sic!) it feels cracking. In fact, the front end feels so good it's putting the rear to shame... I feel a Whiteline order coming on! Thanks so much Ian and Greg for the advice, I'd have shied away from the polys and gone for OEM otherwise but it's a great upgrade Another happy and sagely counseled briskodian!

;-)

Get the poly beam bushes done when you have the whiteline fitted....

Greg.

Will do

I'm meaning to do that too, but I won't be DIY'ing that job :thumbdwn: I'm hoping if I get the superpro ones Awesome will be willing to fit them but they seem to only deal in powerflex bushes

Ian

I have used both and prefer superpro. However I'm sure Awesome will fit them, Sarah should be along to say. If not, they are not the only people in the world that fit bushes.

Greg.

Hi

Yes we only deal with powerflex

I must admit , we did ask for a few of the Superpro to look at so we could see wether the quality , prices etc. was OK

But they never got back in touch , so sorry guys

But we will fit any product that the customer supplies really , so if anyone wants fitting of parts they have , yes we will do that

Sarah

Cheers for that Sarah always handy to know Oh and ditch powerflex...Superpro are soooo much better quality