My Octy estate tends to drift to the left and the steering wheel has to be held off-centre slightly (turned a bit to the right) all the time. It's done it since new, but is now out of warranty. Now it's getting to bug me.

It's not a road surface camber problem, if you let the wheel go on a flat surface, it will centre and the car will then gently drift to the left. It's not a big deal, but holding the wheel off-centre can get a bit tiring on a long haul, and the steering's a bit 'twitchy' when you try to hold it straight, needing constant small corrections to the steering, which is a pain.

I've had a 4-wheel alignment check and been told that all is OK, so I suspect that it might be geometry. It seems to be difficult to get a tyre centre that knows the difference. Can members recommend a reliable place near Portsmouth/Southampton that can handle wheel geometry?

My Octy estate tends to drift to the left and the steering wheel has to be held off-centre slightly (turned a bit to the right) all the time. It's done it since new, but is now out of warranty. Now it's getting to bug me.

It's not a road surface camber problem, if you let the wheel go on a flat surface, it will centre and the car will then gently drift to the left. It's not a big deal, but holding the wheel off-centre can get a bit tiring on a long haul, and the steering's a bit 'twitchy' when you try to hold it straight, needing constant small corrections to the steering, which is a pain.

I've had a 4-wheel alignment check and been told that all is OK, so I suspect that it might be geometry. It seems to be difficult to get a tyre centre that knows the difference. Can members recommend a reliable place near Portsmouth/Southampton that can handle wheel geometry?

Took my car here last year after I had the front suspension ripped apart to fit a new gearbox - they set it up a treat. They have a state of the art Hunter laser alignment system, pretty impressive piece of kit and they seem to know what they are doing.

http://www.denmeadtyres.co.uk/index.php

Bob.

Bob, that's great, many thanks for the reply. Denmead is nice and close to me too.

Hiya,

Did ya get the steering sorted at denmead, i have the same problem on mine.

Larry

Hiya,

Did ya get the steering sorted at denmead, i have the same problem on mine.

Larry

Hi Larry

No, not yet. I'm waiting until after the car's first service at the end of October. Interested to hear that you have the same problem. Must have been set up by the same cross-eyed bloke at the factory!

If you do get it done soon, I'd be very keen to hear how you got on.