I've only had my 2000 Fabia 1.4MPI for a couple of months but straight away I noticed that the steering wheel tended to slightly pull to the left when not held firmly straight. I presumed that the tracking/alignment was out with the wheels, so took it to my local specialist garage who told me that the tracking was indeed out, by 2.2mm or so. They then corrected this, gave me the documentation to prove it had been corrected, and off I went again.

But the problem is still there. Unless I hold the steering wheel straight, it gently pulls to the left. If I drove in a straight line and then released the wheel, the car would soon be up the gutter in a matter of seconds. It's very annoying and although I know that the wheels are aligned properly, I'd still like to get this problem sorted.

I'm in two minds as to whether to take the car to another local wheel alignment specialist and see what they say. I've read many times that the problem could be caused by the camber in most UK roads, but it still doesn't seem right. I know there's lots of topics about this kind of problem, but I'm just looking for some advice. I can post a photo of the final alignment documentation that the garage gave me, if this would be of any help.

Thanks in advance.

Andy

could be the camber in road if tracking is spot on best to have it checked every three to four weeks with pot holes speed bumps etc

I've only had my 2000 Fabia 1.4MPI for a couple of months but straight away I noticed that the steering wheel tended to slightly pull to the left when not held firmly straight. I presumed that the tracking/alignment was out with the wheels, so took it to my local specialist garage who told me that the tracking was indeed out, by 2.2mm or so. They then corrected this, gave me the documentation to prove it had been corrected, and off I went again.

But the problem is still there. Unless I hold the steering wheel straight, it gently pulls to the left. If I drove in a straight line and then released the wheel, the car would soon be up the gutter in a matter of seconds. It's very annoying and although I know that the wheels are aligned properly, I'd still like to get this problem sorted.

I'm in two minds as to whether to take the car to another local wheel alignment specialist and see what they say. I've read many times that the problem could be caused by the camber in most UK roads, but it still doesn't seem right. I know there's lots of topics about this kind of problem, but I'm just looking for some advice. I can post a photo of the final alignment documentation that the garage gave me, if this would be of any help.

Thanks in advance.

Andy

I had this until i found a place that could use their equipment properly.

It has something to do with the rear axle slip angle - you need to compensate for it in the front tracking to get the car to run straight.

"I had this until i found a place that could use their equipment properly."

Yes, its a bit of a nuisance when a place has the kit but has not been smart enough to keep someone that been trained and truely knows how to use it!

"It has something to do with the rear axle slip angle - you need to compensate for it in the front tracking to get the car to run straight.

"

I think that you are meaning getting a proper four wheel alignment, but it might be better to get any duff TCA rear bushes replaced first.

Has it been involved in a bump? bent shock absorber or worse?

I had to replace my shock absorber and the whole knuckle that it sits in plus bearing just last week.

she doesnt pull to the left anymore!

Hi Andy,

Are your two front tyres identical?

Swop the wheels over and see if it makes any difference.

Rob

"

I think that you are meaning getting a proper four wheel alignment, but it might be better to get any duff TCA rear bushes replaced first.

Yes - 4 wheel alignment

However - the main meaning was to find a place that can use their equipment properly rather than throwing the apprentice at it.

The best 4 wheel alignment system in the world is only as good as the person using it.

I've only had my 2000 Fabia 1.4MPI for a couple of months but straight away I noticed that the steering wheel tended to slightly pull to the left when not held firmly straight. I presumed that the tracking/alignment was out with the wheels, so took it to my local specialist garage who told me that the tracking was indeed out, by 2.2mm or so. They then corrected this, gave me the documentation to prove it had been corrected, and off I went again.

But the problem is still there. Unless I hold the steering wheel straight, it gently pulls to the left. If I drove in a straight line and then released the wheel, the car would soon be up the gutter in a matter of seconds. It's very annoying and although I know that the wheels are aligned properly, I'd still like to get this problem sorted.

I'm in two minds as to whether to take the car to another local wheel alignment specialist and see what they say. I've read many times that the problem could be caused by the camber in most UK roads, but it still doesn't seem right. I know there's lots of topics about this kind of problem, but I'm just looking for some advice. I can post a photo of the final alignment documentation that the garage gave me, if this would be of any help.

Thanks in advance.

Andy

Before I did anything I would find a stretch of level road early one morning with nobody on it and drive down the middle. Just to eliminate any camber issues. Better yet drive on the wrong side of a road with camber and see if it pulls right. ALL cars steer a bit left depending on camber. Obviously do this in a safe place........

Hi Andy,

Are your two front tyres identical?

Swop the wheels over and see if it makes any difference.

Rob

I've just noticed that the 2 front tyres are different. The front right is a Debica Passio and the front left is a Michelin Energy. Both are the same size (165/70R14).

Could this have any impact on it pulling to the left? Is it still worth swapping the wheels over or not?

Andy

I've just noticed that the 2 front tyres are different. The front right is a Debica Passio and the front left is a Michelin Energy. Both are the same size (165/70R14).

Could this have any impact on it pulling to the left? Is it still worth swapping the wheels over or not?

Andy

It won't help. If you have a matching pair on the rear I would be inclined to swap from to rear and see if that makes any difference. I think I read somewhere once that it's better to keep tyres rotating the same way, so swapping side to side might not a good idea (and obviously a non-starter if either tyre is directional)

I've just noticed that the 2 front tyres are different. The front right is a Debica Passio and the front left is a Michelin Energy. Both are the same size (165/70R14).

Could this have any impact on it pulling to the left? Is it still worth swapping the wheels over or not?

Andy

My Roomy pulled slightly left when the only difference between the front tyres was the speed rating (the two-digit number in front of the "W"). They were of the same make, model and size and with the same amount of wear. I swopped the wheels over and the car pulled slightly right. HTH

Ok Andy, This is a well know VW trait and affects Golf mk4's Fabias Polos and some others I guess. It is to do with the rear suspension set up being out of alignment. It has been much discussed on other VAG forums for years and a comprehensive fix is detailed somewhere but I can't remember where. Even a 4 wheel alignment does not always correct this as there is no adjustment at the rear. only the skill off the alignment geezer can help you out on this one by adjusting the front toe in to compensate for the rear problem.

Yup, If nothing's wrong with your car then Soot1e's right...

It's more apparent on the vRS's normally though. You can get shims for the rear hubs to align them and I think a member called Basil did a guide many moons ago.

At 50mph, If I let go of the wheel I'd be up the kerb in about 200-300 yards going by the exit signs

This is a well know VW trait and affects Golf mk4's Fabias Polos and some others I guess.

Isn't it also a common thing with German cars that they were sensitive to road camber? I remember around 2006 some chap trying to reject an Audi TT on the grounds that it was unduly sensitive to road camber (it always pulled left) - once he got to the High Court (with a bigger legal bill than the value of the car), he lost, with the judge deciding it was a feature of the model, and stating that both parties were "living in cloud cuckoo land" to let it get that far?

That's it, Basil did the guide.

Ok Andy, This is a well know VW trait and affects Golf mk4's Fabias Polos and some others I guess. It is to do with the rear suspension set up being out of alignment. It has been much discussed on other VAG forums for years and a comprehensive fix is detailed somewhere but I can't remember where. Even a 4 wheel alignment does not always correct this as there is no adjustment at the rear. only the skill off the alignment geezer can help you out on this one by adjusting the front toe in to compensate for the rear problem.

At the time I had my 4 wheel alignment done, a few weeks ago, a guy at the garage there told me not to worry about the highlighted red negative figures on the final printout as the rear couldn't be aligned on this car. I didn't think anything of it at the time but could this be the reason for the car pulling left? Is it worth going back to the garage with the printout and seeing if they can bring the front toe in, or whatever they need to do to align it properly?

Thanks a lot for everyones advice, I appreciate it.

Andy

At the time I had my 4 wheel alignment done, a few weeks ago, a guy at the garage there told me not to worry about the highlighted red negative figures on the final printout as the rear couldn't be aligned on this car. I didn't think anything of it at the time but could this be the reason for the car pulling left? Is it worth going back to the garage with the printout and seeing if they can bring the front toe in, or whatever they need to do to align it properly?

Thanks a lot for everyones advice, I appreciate it.

Andy

The place i have mine done do that - they check the rear alignment and find the slip angle. Then they use that to align the front end.

My car goes straight now and the steering wheel is also straight

pleased i read this now, although i cant make my mind up if it is just the camber in the road on mine or not, as most of my local roads are terrible for camber [and potholes ] anyone found the link mentioned above?

cheers mark

Basils Rear Axle Adjustment Guide..

cheers

Is it worth me going back to the same alignment garage this weekend and telling them about the problem? I'll use some of your comments as info about it and the possible solution.

Or, there is another 4 wheel alignment garage about a mile from me, should I take it there instead?

Andy

try http://www.alignmycar.co.uk/ to find somewhere near you

try http://www.alignmycar.co.uk/ to find somewhere near you

Thanks.

I think I'll try taking it back to the 4 wheel alignment garage that did the work for me originally a few weeks ago, see if they can help. If not then I'll try somewhere else.

It's such an irritating problem! Other than that, I love the car.

Edited 2 June, 201016 yr by FabSkoda00

Just to put your mind at rest... Ya will get used to it if they can't sort it.. I did and I couldn't stand it to start with..

Hi all, so glad I found this thread because I nearly wanted to set my Fabia VRS on fire and roll it off a cliff. The car just always wants to pull to the left, however the steering wheel is perfectly aligned so when it's straight the car goes straight. I've had the car 2 years and only really noticed it in the last couple of months, so doubt it was always this bad.

To fix the problem, on advice of 'professionals', I've changed all 4 tyres (Hankooks) and front laser tracking done at a tyre shop: - still pulls to the left, so took it back and they swapped wheels, tyres etc. round - still no fix. They said that there was no point in doing a 4 point laser alignment because there's no adjustment on the rear wheels. I got advised that it could be a power steering pump centering problem ( which I think is bull) and that my car was probably in an accident and bent. - (it hasn't been)

So took it for it's MOT at a respectable garage and asked them to look into it.... £50 later for them to tell me it still pulls to the left but they gave the car a good shakedown and couldn't find anything wrong with the suspension, bushings, springs, wheels, brakes (poss binding) etc. and re-aligned the steering wheel..... still pulls to the left.

From what I've read here the shims are the the best fix or a 4 point alignment with the slip compensated for on the front wheels..... Does the slip compensating on the front wheels to counteract the rear affect the tyre wear and handling of the car? Or am I better off not being lazy and fitting the shims?

Any input is greatly appreciated.

F.A.B.