Hi, I have just swapped my 2008 Superb Elegance 170DSG Hatch for a May 2011 Octavia 1.4 Elegance with Sports Suspension pack etc. I am delighted with the car, but on the 200 mile journey home I noticed that the steering wheel was mis-aligned even though the car steered straight. I didnt want to make the 200 mile journey back to the Skoda dealer to fix it, even though the salesman said he had never noticed anything wrong, and insted went on a 50 mile journey to Skoda Lincoln, where they said they had the right wheel alignment gear. After one 100 mile round trip only to find the equipment broken, I tried again and after 1 1/2 hours was told the car was only very slightly out of alignment but had been fixed under warranty. On the way back home it was clear that the same problem remained. I phoned them and was told that the solution was to remove and replace the steering wheel so that the car would drive straight. After checking on these forums I found that clearly, this was not the case and went instead to Bush Tyres who offered a free check and printout. The car was well out of alignment and this explained the mis aligned steering wheel. They sorted it in 10 mins and gave me a new printout showing all ok. I was told to roadtest the car before I paid. It cost me £75 but was fine at last. Maybe a lesson there....do all dealers know how to use the equipment they have? Has anyone else used a dealer for this sort of thing?

It is certainly not the case that all dealers know how to measure suspension geometry properly, never mind adjust it correctly.

Since you've given Skoda dealers several opportunities to fix a geometry problem that they didn't fix, I'd suggest asking SUK to reimburse you for Bush's bill.

+1 Send the bill to SUK.

+1 Send the bill to SUK.

Thanks for the advice, I will do just that!

Last week the EGR valve went so Skoda replaced it and also gave car a safety check saying that rear nearside tyre was down to 3mm so would require replacing asap.Yesterday went into another tyre place for MOT where it passed but they did headlight alignment foc and said that front offside tyre had gonen bald on inside of tread and it looked like it needed realignment. It turned out that one side was 5 the other 1 and this I had to pay £25 for , amazing though that I did not feel anything untowards before but soon as driving off I felt the differance. So much for Skoda saying alls well.

This echos my experience but I am just living with it.

I bought from stock and got to drive the car before I bought it. Reported steering wheel offset to left but they "forgot" to adjust it.

Took it in for 1st service at 9800 and reported it again. They told me they couldn't straighten it because if they took off the steering wheel and moved it round 1 notch on the splines it would be offset the other way. They assured me that tyre wear was perfectly even (which was true!).

I suggested that they should alter the tracking to realign the wheels straight with the steering wheel centred.

Oh no! Can't do that - your tyres will wear on the outside if we do that.

Not if you do it right!

No No NO, if we adjust the tracking the tyres will wear out on the outside.

At that point I decided I didn't want them to touch it!

Steering wheel is still offset to the left but I live with it!

This echos my experience but I am just living with it.

I bought from stock and got to drive the car before I bought it. Reported steering wheel offset to left but they "forgot" to adjust it.

Took it in for 1st service at 9800 and reported it again. They told me they couldn't straighten it because if they took off the steering wheel and moved it round 1 notch on the splines it would be offset the other way. They assured me that tyre wear was perfectly even (which was true!).

I suggested that they should alter the tracking to realign the wheels straight with the steering wheel centred.

Oh no! Can't do that - your tyres will wear on the outside if we do that.

Not if you do it right!

No No NO, if we adjust the tracking the tyres will wear out on the outside.

At that point I decided I didn't want them to touch it!

Steering wheel is still offset to the left but I live with it!

There seems to be a clear message here....leave wheel alignment to tyre specialists

There seems to be a clear message here....leave wheel alignment to tyre specialists

No, don't let your average tyre specialist near it - they will do 4 wheel tracking which will make matters worse if one of the rear wheels is out.

Take it to a suspension geometry specialist with a proper rig such as a Hunter.

No, don't let your average tyre specialist near it - they will do 4 wheel tracking which will make matters worse if one of the rear wheels is out.

Take it to a suspension geometry specialist with a proper rig such as a Hunter.

... or other option - John Beam (Snap-On).

Edited 27 October, 201114 yr by allias

I agree! Skoda don't have the equipment or knowledge.

My vRS arrived new with the steering wheel off to the right - "it's within tolerances, Sir!"

I took it to Wheels in Motion in Chesham. Sorted in 20 mins. They were very knowledgeable and professional.

Steering now perfect! £70, but well worth it.

I had a problem with the car slightly pulling to the right and steering off center from the day i picked my car up, but didn't take it back at the time as the wife drove it most of the time and she didn't care about it. My dealer sparshatts of fareham were brilliant, they had it in and found that it was the rear camber was out (and not to the new settings) and also the tyres sawtoothed. They adjusted the tracking and camber angle on warrentee and i also spoke to skoda Uk who also replaced the rear tyres as a good will gesture at 15000 miles.

I really can't say enough about the service i have had from skoda so far, hopefully it won't change.

Have this exact problem, Bought our new vRS from Henrys (Glasgow) just over a year ago. Took it back in for the steering, drivers door not shutting properly and to paint a stone chip on a rear wheel. After spending all day waiting around, came back to find the paint guy was actually off that day (didn't mention it), Nothing wrong with steering with tracking, but the way they said it. It was obvious they did sod all. Not going back there ever again....

It's my wifes car, so she puts up with the steering, but after a long drive down south (from Oban). I was getting right annoyed.

Now to find a suspension specialist in Glasgow!

When new my steering wheel was off the left. After Skodas first attempt at setting wheel geometry the steering wheel came straight. However, seething wasn't right because the front tyres wore to nothing on inside edge in no time. Skoda re did wheel alignment and now steering wheel is slightly off to right! But it's the lesser of two evils. Incidentally, when I had my steering wheel changed by Ben at Shark, he told me you can't just move it round by a spline at a time. It doesn't work like that.

Sarge.

That is true as you adjust it on steering rods on steering rck while you have tracking/alignment done.

When new my steering wheel was off the left. After Skodas first attempt at setting wheel geometry the steering wheel came straight. However, seething wasn't right because the front tyres wore to nothing on inside edge in no time. Skoda re did wheel alignment and now steering wheel is slightly off to right! But it's the lesser of two evils. Incidentally, when I had my steering wheel changed by Ben at Shark, he told me you can't just move it round by a spline at a time. It doesn't work like that.

Sarge.

Sarge, you shouldn't have to put up with an off-centre steering wheel on a new car. Give Skoda another chance to fix it, then go to a specialist. See my earlier post!

Then send the bill to SUK.

Good luck!

My used Skoda bought from a Skoda dealer had an off centre steering wheel, pointed it out on the test drive and the salesman said they can't fix it because they don't have the right equipment, I told them it needs sorted so I'll need another £70 discount so i can sort it at a geometry specialist, he didn't budge on the price.

Abarth, that's poor service. Mind you, for me at least, £70 was worth it. Car feels much better all round.

Also, it's not the steering wheel that's out. The off-centre steering is a symptom of poor geometry. This will affect handling and tyre wear. This will cost you in new tyres sooner than it should.

Any one near the Leeds area I can recomend ABC Car service for a full geometry alignment, If you do a serch on here you will find loads of posts recomending them, plus they give forum members a discount.

Contact allias on the forum for further details.

Simon

Any one near the Leeds area I can recomend ABC Car service for a full geometry alignment, If you do a serch on here you will find loads of posts recomending them, plus they give forum members a discount.

Contact allias on the forum for further details.

Simon

Another Simon in Harrogate seconds that!