Hi: I've just got new front tyres on my Octavia and discovered the steering wheel wasn't straight when I got home. The wheel was fine before I got them on. I took it back and they adjusted the alignment again but it didn't fix it. Took it back second time and this time they said the rear end was out. They fiddled about at that but again it was no better. I got it checked at ATS and they said that the alignment was slightly out and adjusted it which has improved it a good bit. The steering wheel is still slightly of centre to the left and can't straighten it without veering toward the middle of the road. ATS said it might be due to a worn track rod end. The pressures are correct.

When I got the new tyres on the spare was swapped for one of the fronts (a different wheel on) would that have made a difference.

Any ideas what it is anyone?

Hi: I've just got new front tyres on my Octavia and discovered the steering wheel wasn't straight when I got home. The wheel was fine before I got them on. I took it back and they adjusted the alignment again but it didn't fix it. Took it back second time and this time they said the rear end was out. They fiddled about at that but again it was no better. I got it checked at ATS and they said that the alignment was slightly out and adjusted it which has improved it a good bit. The steering wheel is still slightly of centre to the left and can't straighten it without veering toward the middle of the road. ATS said it might be due to a worn track rod end. The pressures are correct.

When I got the new tyres on the spare was swapped for one of the fronts (a different wheel on) would that have made a difference.

Any ideas what it is anyone?

Mine is doing exactly the same, although it has been doing it since I picked it up from the dealers, and mine was new on the 1st March. Mine has had 4 different 4 wheel alignments, all of which required adjustment at the rear to put it back within tolerance, although it is still doing it. After speaking with Skoda Customer Care UK, who got involved and have made the dealer take it to a local Audi garage, where it is having "another" 4 wheel alignment!!! (See my other thread for the full story!)

Be interesting to find out if it is the track rod ends, on a new car at fault!!!

Swap the fronts to the rears and move the rears up front and see if it helps. If the tracking was ok before, it should not change with new tyres unless its been kerbed.

I read somewhere that when tyres are manufactured they are not all made equally. Not sure the reason, but the effect is that, when rolled along some tend to veer to the right, and some to the left. I think this is called the tyre's runout.. This is donoted by the red and blue stripe you have around the circumference of the tyre. Tyre fitters should pair tyres up so that the runout will cancel each other out. It might be that you have two tyres with a Right hand runouts, hence you have to steer a little left to go straight.

Swapping rears to front might help to dispell/confirm this.

Mine is doing exactly the same, although it has been doing it since I picked it up from the dealers, and mine was new on the 1st March. Mine has had 4 different 4 wheel alignments, all of which required adjustment at the rear to put it back within tolerance, although it is still doing it. After speaking with Skoda Customer Care UK, who got involved and have made the dealer take it to a local Audi garage, where it is having "another" 4 wheel alignment!!! (See my other thread for the full story!)

Be interesting to find out if it is the track rod ends, on a new car at fault!!!

Yep, my brother and I have exactly same problem on our brand new vRSs. Steering wheel is slightly to the left. My brother took his back and they did some checks and said everything was as it should be (except of course for the steering wheel not being aligned). Apparently one of the guys at the garage also has a vRS and also has same problem. Am very interested to see what Audi say about it to you. Please keep us updated.

Sarge.

Yep, my brother and I have exactly same problem on our brand new vRSs. Steering wheel is slightly to the left. My brother took his back and they did some checks and said everything was as it should be (except of course for the steering wheel not being aligned). Apparently one of the guys at the garage also has a vRS and also has same problem. Am very interested to see what Audi say about it to you. Please keep us updated.

Sarge.

Got my car back from Audi today, who tell me that the front Toe measurements were out and needed adjusting "AGAIN, for the 5th time". Having only driven it about 10miles back home in traffic, Im not overly convinced it is 100% fixed, although it does appear to be better. I asked Audi for a copy of the print out from the alignment, but their printer is being upgraded, so are going to post a copy to me. When Ive got the print out Im going back to the dealer, to compare this print out with the previous 4 and ask them why it keeps being out and needing adjustment, which will in the mean time allow me chance to properly test the car and decide if its fixed or not.

Got my car back from Audi today, who tell me that the front Toe measurements were out and needed adjusting "AGAIN, for the 5th time". Having only driven it about 10miles back home in traffic, Im not overly convinced it is 100% fixed, although it does appear to be better. I asked Audi for a copy of the print out from the alignment, but their printer is being upgraded, so are going to post a copy to me. When Ive got the print out Im going back to the dealer, to compare this print out with the previous 4 and ask them why it keeps being out and needing adjustment, which will in the mean time allow me chance to properly test the car and decide if its fixed or not.

Thanks for your reply: Took my car to Magowan Tyre & Auto N'abbey and got 4-wheel alignment done by what they said was a specialist machine (only a few in NI apparently) I think it's helped slightly, difficult to say for sure. According to them the alignment was out from when ATS done it (got a printout to show me) but steering wheel is still out. I'm not sure that anybody understands what the problem is so I'll just have to leave it as can't think of anything else to do and see if gets any better when the new tyres are scrubbed in a bit.

if you are local to Chesham, I can recommend Wheels in Motion. When I got my superb the steering wheel was off centre, after trying a local place who had two attempts at correcting it and failing I took the car there. 1 hour later, the car is perfect and the wheel is straight when I travel along.

These guys come recommended on other forums and hold regular meets onsite, including the Ferrari owners club and more. All they do is wheel alignment so know there stuff.

http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/

It's very strange. The topic fills 17 pages in the german Octavia forum. The weirdest thing is that most of them have their wheel off centre to the left. And in many cases the seems to be everything in order an the respective dealers can't seem to find a cure...

It's very strange. The topic fills 17 pages in the german Octavia forum. The weirdest thing is that most of them have their wheel off centre to the left. And in many cases the seems to be everything in order an the respective dealers can't seem to find a cure...

Very interested in this, especially the off centre to the left part. My Golf V GTI is exactly the same. I've had it realigned many times and no-one ever seems to be able to get it right. I've often been told that 'it's within tolerances, Sir' but have ultimately been left disappointed. It's always slightly off centre to the left. Camber & tyres have been ruled out. Have just accepted it, but it annoys me every time I drive the car.

Just hope the Octy I've ordered isn't the same!

It's very strange. The topic fills 17 pages in the german Octavia forum. The weirdest thing is that most of them have their wheel off centre to the left. And in many cases the seems to be everything in order an the respective dealers can't seem to find a cure...

sounds like a toyota-esque manufacturing fault where the steering mechanism has been engineered so that the wheel sits slightly off centre

I had this. I blamed it on pot holes especially after it appeared to get worse recently.

I had the alignment checked and it was spot on.

Car was due for second service anyway so I put it in with a mention of the off-centre steering expecting a big bill for a suspension component.

Got it back, fixed and with no explanation for it being out. There was no charge so I left it at that.

Mine was off centre to the right but with no unusual tyre ware or pulling. Car braked straight and true too.

Edited 3 May, 201016 yr by Aspman

Thanks for your reply: Took my car to Magowan Tyre & Auto N'abbey and got 4-wheel alignment done by what they said was a specialist machine (only a few in NI apparently) I think it's helped slightly, difficult to say for sure. According to them the alignment was out from when ATS done it (got a printout to show me) but steering wheel is still out. I'm not sure that anybody understands what the problem is so I'll just have to leave it as can't think of anything else to do and see if gets any better when the new tyres are scrubbed in a bit.

Got the copy of Audi`s report. Do these figures look about right, as Im still not sure it goes completely in a straight line!