As mentioned previously, get the alignment properly checked. Then see what values the rear camber is currently set to.

As others have found, this is unfortunately difficult to get done under warranty as they have a fairly watertight case that it could have been knocked out by potholes/speedhumps. And that's difficult to argue with really.

But take it to a reputable alignment place and see what's what. Alternatievly take it back to the dealer and see if they'll do it there for you, as you're understandably alarmed at the rear tyre situation etc, etc, etc....

Seems a reasonable approach. Any ideas of a place in South Wales who can do this kind of work?

A reasonable Hi-Q/National Tyres would be able to get it on the ramps and get the alignment figures. I've listed what the revised figures should be, along with what they should have been originally. So you can see.

With these places though, it's best if you know of someone who's had decent, reliable service in the past.

I phoned SUK for advice who referred me back to my retailer. Not sure what to do about this really. Is this just a case of put up and shut up? I have had nothing but great service from my retailer (as shown in the review section) and don't want to tarnish this by kicking up a fuss, neither do I want to appear to be bending over as it were.

What would you do in this situation?

I've got to take mine back in on Saturday for a knocking noise coming from the front suspension so am gonna see if they will do something about it - I'm not prepared to pay £90 to have the geometry sorted out every time I need tyres - In the meantime I found this (the printout from 'Tyres Northampton' the first time I had it sorted out on my Mk2 vRS)

Edited 12 August, 201015 yr by Mash

Thanks guys, very helpful as always

Yes, rear camber values.

thanks for confirming that. I'll get it checked asap.

Mash

those rear camber values have been set to the old data.

The geometry figures are usually stored in the alignment machine, although some machines still have the old figure for rear camber so make sure you check it.

Here are some numbers for you:

Octavia II (2004-) Sports Suspension RS (2UC)

Front

Camber 0°41’ ± 0°30’

Caster 7°47’ ± 0°30’

Toe 0°05’ ± 0°05’

Total Toe 0°10’ ± 0°10’

Steer Ahead 0°00’ ± 0°03’

Rear

Camber 1°20’ ± 0°30’ (These are the revised settings)

Toe 0°05’ ± 0°05’

Total Toe 0°10’ ± 0°10’

Thrust angle 0°00’ ± 0°20’

All figures shown in degrees and minutes.

Edited 12 August, 201015 yr by Bogwoppit

Mash

those rear camber values have been set to the old data.

The geometry figures are usually stored in the alignment machine, although some machines still have the old figure for rear camber so make sure you check it.

Here are some numbers for you:

Octavia II (2004-) Sports Suspension RS (2UC)

Front

Camber 0°41’ ± 0°30’

Caster 7°47’ ± 0°30’

Toe 0°05’ ± 0°05’

Total Toe 0°10’ ± 0°10’

Steer Ahead 0°00’ ± 0°03’

Rear

Camber 1°20’ ± 0°30’ (These are the revised settings)

Toe 0°05’ ± 0°05’

Total Toe 0°10’ ± 0°10’

Thrust angle 0°00’ ± 0°20’

All figures shown in degrees and minutes.

Cheers - that alignment was done a couple of years ago, but will be sure to check they've had them updated when I get the next alignment done - I assume they should be the same in the facelift vRS?

I'm not sure TBH. I don't think the facelift had any changes in the suspension compared to the pre-facelift but it does weigh fractionally less.

Unladen, it's running on the standard 18's with 'normal' pressure (couldn't tell you exactly what, never needed to pump them up....

Theres your problem, case closed

RTFM

Not case closed at all. You can't say with any certainty that tyre pressures would be the key to the *whole* issue. They may play a part and obviously it's a good idea to keep an eye on them and keep them at recommended levels.

Not case closed at all. You can't say with any certainty that tyre pressures would be the key to the *whole* issue. They may play a part and obviously it's a good idea to keep an eye on them and keep them at recommended levels.

Well if the OP doesnt even check his tyre pressures then there is no point trying to theorise what it might be as without correct tyre pressures he'll never know whats causing it.

It is strangely coincidental that i've yet to come across anyone who has fitted new tyres and had 4wheel laser alignment to the new settings at the time of fitting and keeps an eye on their pressures who's had a problem with 'saw toothing'

Theres your problem, case closed

RTFM

Yeah, thanks for that helpful post.

Maybe I should have checked the pressure regularly, but you'd best go give your valuable RTFM advice to all the other threads about the rear camber being wrong and tyres sawtoothing...

Case re-opened.

There are cases of that actually. Have a look round the forum for other threads.

Incidents of alignment falling way out of guideline figures, when the owner has done everything possible with good tyre choice, correct pressures etc. It really comes down to perhaps a poor implementation of the rear suspension setup on A5 platform vehicles.

It seems that with those revised camber settings, the suspension is less likely to prove troublesome in the future. But as has been mentioned earlier in the thread, many garage and alignment systems have the original rear camber settings stored, so owners must go with these revised settings on a piece of paper, for the technician to input manually when setting the car up.

Not case closed at all. You can't say with any certainty that tyre pressures would be the key to the *whole* issue. They may play a part and obviously it's a good idea to keep an eye on them and keep them at recommended levels.

If you read his posts the guy has done 20K up to his first service and never checked the geometry ( which is usually free!!!! its only if you need adjustment they charge ) OR ever checked his tyre pressures, then moans about uneven wear.....LOL What do you expect?

. But as has been mentioned earlier in the thread, many garage and alignment systems have the original rear camber settings stored, so owners must go with these revised settings on a piece of paper, for the technician to input manually when setting the car up.

I'd go somewhere good then that knows their business then, its hardly an uncommon platform and any decent alignment specialist should know it.

I

I was all ready to inform my usual alignment place about the revised settings as I pulled up the first time I took my octy there, but the guy started talking to me about it before it was even on the ramps and enquired what tyres I was running, he was pleased with my choice of asymetrics

For info its Chemix in Stourbridge/Halesowen in the West Midlands

If you read his posts the guy has done 20K up to his first service and never checked the geometry ( which is usually free!!!! its only if you need adjustment they charge ) OR ever checked his tyre pressures, then moans about uneven wear.....LOL What do you expect?

The point I'm trying to make here (pressure checking aside) is that in the 15 or so cars that I've owned over the years, I've never had a problem with rear wheel alignment, then in this Octy vRS and my last one, it has now happened 3 times. This leads me to think that there must be something wrong somewhere and I just wanted to know if any other owners of the facelft vRS had the same thing. I was hoping this would not be a problem now as I don't want to pay £90 to have the full alignment done every time I need to get some new tyres.

The point I'm trying to make here (pressure checking aside) is that in the 15 or so cars that I've owned over the years, I've never had a problem with rear wheel alignment, then in this Octy vRS and my last one, it has now happened 3 times. This leads me to think that there must be something wrong somewhere and I just wanted to know if any other owners of the facelft vRS had the same thing. I was hoping this would not be a problem now as I don't want to pay £90 to have the full alignment done every time I need to get some new tyres.

£90...cry...they see you coming

If you checked more often ( checking is free usually ) then you'd be buying tyres less often, and TBH i'd always have the alignment checked at the time of fitting tyres or not

Seriously mate i'm not having a go but I find it funny that you do 20k over what? 12 months without checking the pressures or the alignment and then complain they tyres are worn funny?

If thats your usual method of maintenance then i'm not surprised your other cars have been the same.

Seriously the tyres are the one thing other than your brakes that stop you dying..........love them like a child

£90...cry...they see you coming

If thats your usual method of maintenance then i'm not surprised your other cars have been the same.

That's the point, my other cars haven't been the same. Only the Octavia vRS's. I completely understand where you are coming from regarding checking the pressures, but as this problem just seems to be limited to the Octavias I've had, and the fact that other people in this forum are having the same problem, this is why I am not so happy about it. If anyone knows of anywhere else that can do this full alignment in Northampton then let me know, but Tyres Northampton is the only one that I know of.

So I checked my tyre pressures today. I RTFM ( ) and see that my fronts should be 2.0 and my rears 2.1 (what happened to psi?!!).

Rears were on 1.8. I'm happy to accept here that my misunderstanding of the tyre pressure warning made me naive enough to not check my pressure over the last 9.5k miles. They are now rectified and interestingly the droning between 50-60 has gone and has now set up shop between 70-80

Fronts were on 2.4. The observant amongst will note these were fitted at the dealer only yesterday. Maybe the dealer should also RTFM.

Edited 13 August, 201015 yr by Grad

So I checked my tyre pressures today. I RTFM ( ) and see that my fronts should be 2.0 and my rears 2.1 (what happened to psi?!!).

Rears were on 1.8. I'm happy to accept here that my misunderstanding of the tyre pressure warning made me naive enough to not check my pressure over the last 9.5k miles. They are now rectified and interestingly the droning between 50-60 has gone and has now set up shop between 70-80

Fronts were on 2.4. The observant amongst will note these were fitted at the dealer only yesterday. Maybe the dealer should also RTFM.

So your post just spurred me on to RTFM too, as I also have always relied on the tyre pressure warning to tell me if the tyre pressure had changed, and I guess that it means that it will only light up if its a substantial drop in pressure right? i.e. you're getting / got a flat. I always read it as it would tell you if the pressure changed from when it was set....guess not.

Anyway, regardless, I still think there's an inherent problem with these cars

So your post just spurred me on to RTFM too, as I also have always relied on the tyre pressure warning to tell me if the tyre pressure had changed, and I guess that it means that it will only light up if its a substantial drop in pressure right? i.e. you're getting / got a flat. I always read it as it would tell you if the pressure changed from when it was set....guess not.

Anyway, regardless, I still think there's an inherent problem with these cars

Amusingly, yesterday, 20 miles away from the dealer on the M4 the warning light and sound came on. Logic told me that the system had finally sussed there was new tyres on but I was passing a sliproad so I got off and did the sensible check anyway. Reset it then and it was ok after. Obviously reset it again once I sorted the pressures out. Can only assume the dealer didn't reset it yesterday after the new tyres were fitted.

I agree with you though. I think the pressures contribute to a number of factors which are causing this issue. A quick search of the mk5 gti and seat forums will net similar results with Dunlop topping the search stakes. I'd do some stats based on the keyword returns but I do it every day in work and I really CBA!

Oh goodness, didn't realise people were placing such faith in the tyre pressure system!

As you mention, it's only really good at noting a substantial drop in pressure. It has its place I suppose, but doesn't replace regular pressure checks.

And yes, quite right to reset after the new tyres went on. The garage probably didn't even know the system was fitted!

Oh goodness, didn't realise people were placing such faith in the tyre pressure system!

Lessons learnt etc Would rather have egg on my face and move forward rather than pretend that everything was fine and it was all Skodas fault.

As you mention, it's only really good at noting a substantial drop in pressure. It has its place I suppose, but doesn't replace regular pressure checks.

And yes, quite right to reset after the new tyres went on. The garage probably didn't even know the system was fitted!

You'd think they'd know considering they sold me the car and they are standard on FL vRS

Friend had a Seat Altea and Seat's cure was to fit Continental Sport Copntact 3's as apparentlly some makes/brands are more susceptible than others. He thought it did cure the problem.

My Elegance Hatch with sports suspension is also droning away (50p tyres on the inside), I knew what the noise was as my Focus did exactly the same thing (rear suspension is very similar between Focus and Golf platform cars)....

I'm not convinced the camber issue will affect the stepping: My Leon had it, but it was even accross the tyre, not on the inside edge- which would suggest to me camber was OK. I've had no problems since replacing the cheap, nasty tyres it came with with Conti SC3s, but time will tell.