Having a bit of a problem with my car!

 

I went to get my car tracked last week at a garage but they said they couldn't track it properly as the wishbone rear bushes were dead. So I changed them along with the whole complete wishbone just because.

 

Go to Monday now and I take the car back to the garage saying it's all been changed, they track the car and it feels absolutely beautiful now, doesn't pull to one side however the steering wheel isn't straight. When let go of the wheel the car doesn't pull to one side it goes dead straight but as said the steering wheel isn't aligned properly.

 

I take the car back and they say bring it back tomorrow and we'll sort it free of charge etc, I've just taken it back now and they say that because it's all seized up its hard to get it level etc blah de blah, they then work on it and tell me it's not exactly dead straight now it's pointing a tiny tiny tiny bit to the left. Fine I think, I don't mind if it's 1 degree out. I drive it home 10 miles and it's pulling to the bloody left!!! If I let go of the wheel it pulls to the left slightly, much worse than it did the first time it was done properly, wish I would have just left it with the wheel pointy wonky.

 

I really can't take more time out of my life to ring up the garage, sort out a delivery time etc, drive there to do it all again. They were really friendly and you could have a laugh with them though which was good.

 

So anyway, is there any way I can just tweak it ever so slightly so that it doesn't pull to the left anymore? The steering wheel is straight now though if I hold the wheel dead straight the car does go forward, its just pulling to the left :(

 

 

I would have just moved the steering wheel a spline on the column when it was driving straight.

You can do tracking 'DIY' there are guides online, using axle stands and string to work out straight ahead etc.

I asked him if it would be easier to do that and he said no no don't mess around with that you've got the airbag to deal with and all that. Took his word for it :(

Poor deal!

It takes about 5 mins, you wouldn't have even needed to disconnect the airbag to move it.

Haha don't make me feel worse!

I've rang them up and taking it back tomorrow after uni. What a kafuffle.

Having a bit of a problem with my car!

 

I went to get my car tracked last week at a garage but they said they couldn't track it properly as the wishbone rear bushes were dead. So I changed them along with the whole complete wishbone just because.

 

Go to Monday now and I take the car back to the garage saying it's all been changed, they track the car and it feels absolutely beautiful now, doesn't pull to one side however the steering wheel isn't straight. When let go of the wheel the car doesn't pull to one side it goes dead straight but as said the steering wheel isn't aligned properly.

 

I take the car back and they say bring it back tomorrow and we'll sort it free of charge etc, I've just taken it back now and they say that because it's all seized up its hard to get it level etc blah de blah, they then work on it and tell me it's not exactly dead straight now it's pointing a tiny tiny tiny bit to the left. Fine I think, I don't mind if it's 1 degree out. I drive it home 10 miles and it's pulling to the bloody left!!! If I let go of the wheel it pulls to the left slightly, much worse than it did the first time it was done properly, wish I would have just left it with the wheel pointy wonky.

 

I really can't take more time out of my life to ring up the garage, sort out a delivery time etc, drive there to do it all again. They were really friendly and you could have a laugh with them though which was good.

 

So anyway, is there any way I can just tweak it ever so slightly so that it doesn't pull to the left anymore? The steering wheel is straight now though if I hold the wheel dead straight the car does go forward, its just pulling to the left :(

Hi Dann

 

Take it to a proper garage, as the correct way to set up tracking is to set and clamp the steering wheel straight and clamp it, then adjust both wheels with the 

track rod ends to have the wheels aligned as per spec (with the wheel straight ahead)

 

Radiotwo

As above, needs to go somewhere where they know what they are doing by the sounds of it. The only decent bit of advice was not to move the wheel, get it aligned properly dont just move the steering wheel! 

No reason why you can't move the wheel one spline. Especially as it had been driving straight before they 're-adjusted' it.

Cheers for the replies guys, going to take it back tomorrow in the end. Decided that I shouldn't have to do it when i've payed them my hard earned cash.

Should have gone to alignmycar.co.uk and looked up somewhere "competent"

Looks expensive that? I paid £27 if that helps

Why would you move the wheel, uneven steering lock, clearing the airbag light, plus knowing its not been done properly.

I dont know how much that site says but I paid £50ish for Unit 18 to do a front wheel alignment on mine. Was show everything that was done, print off after and it drives spot on. I'm happy to pay a good price for a good job. Cheap normally results in more hassle.

I asked him if it would be easier to do that and he said no no don't mess around with that you've got the airbag to deal with and all that. Took his word for it :(

 

I had someone try to spin me that line a few years back

"We've had trouble before as a result of taking steering wheels off." I asked them how and they muttered something about airbags.

 

Then I pointed out that that doesn't really apply on D-reg Sciroccos, on account they don't have air bags.

Why would you move the wheel, uneven steering lock, clearing the airbag light, plus knowing its not been done properly.

I dont know how much that site says but I paid £50ish for Unit 18 to do a front wheel alignment on mine. Was show everything that was done, print off after and it drives spot on. I'm happy to pay a good price for a good job. Cheap normally results in more hassle.

Talking one spline. Hardly enough to make any large amount of difference.

Enough to know it's been bodged as oppose to doing the job properly (that has been paid for!)

You can't simply move the wheel on the spline as it messes up the electronic angle sensor

Edited 29 October, 201312 yr by BigJase88

^^ what Jase says, you will upset the steering angle sensor (if fitted?)

 

 If it was my car and I had paid for the tracking to be set, I would take it back and ask the garage to straighten the steering wheel as this is part of setting the tracking.

Just of quick note.  After several bad tracking setups, I actually found my steering rack to not be centered, i.e. equal either side...obviously this is not a good baseline to begin with.

 

On good tracking equipment it should show up if the operator can use it.

 

Sounds like you need someone who knows a bit more about tracking.

I would have just moved the steering wheel a spline on the column when it was driving straight.

You can do tracking 'DIY' there are guides online, using axle stands and string to work out straight ahead etc.

 

Do not remove and replace the steering wheel, the rack has to be dead centre, if you remove the steering wheel then the steering angle sensor will be sending incorrect readings to the ECU. If the track rods have seized and are preventing correct adjustment then they should be replaced, they are dirt cheap.

 

On a car with electronic PAS, the steering wheel should never be removed to correct its position.

Sorry mum!

Just a respectful point;

Per se, as this has been posted as a 'problem', it will be here on the forum forever.

When you come to sell the car, many people check the forums to see if the car is on there for any reason, and if it's bodged rather than sorted properly, surely that will turn people away?

Not only that, would you REALLY want to bodge something so fundamentally important as the steering or braking system, when it would be as easy to get that matter resolved by either the company acknowledging their fault and resetting the tracking, or buying new tca's, fitting them, and then having the car re-aligned?

I know what my choice would be, especially as I take my wife and children in the car.

If you are the sole driver and occupant all the time, then I guess the issue is different......

Good point. I'd agree completely if I was planning on bodging my own tracking equipment out of scaffolding and metal ladders but I was just questioning whether a simple quarter turn of a nut at either side would suffice in changing the little pull it's got. I'm outside the garage now waiting to get it sorted.

Well it would have been, hopefully that's what your garage has just done.

 

DB