Was driving quite fast earlier and as i was breaking (not hard, but harder than normal) before a corner the back end felt like i was going to lose it. Felt as if my rear nearside wanted to spin out.

 

Any ideas on what it could be/

Check your suspension and bushes.

 

These can often make the handling a little "interesting" when they have failed.

 

Phil

5 minute & easy check first is the tyres and pressures.

And brakes, discs and tyres for signs of seized brake calliper.

Also, console bushes. Not as much of a big deal on an octy wear wise compared to the fabia. But when they used to go on my old fabia the braking got a little squiffy!

Could be the old anti roll bar issue

Alignment?

"the rear alignment moves out very easily"

Why is this and is there anything, other than driving very carefully, that we can do to minimise this necessity.

Is this down to the Octavia's design or particular type of suspension.

 

Four wheel alignment can be quite expensive, and to be honest you have to take their word for it that it was 'out'. I know you get a before and after printout but if it moves out very easily itself, then it would not be difficult for them to adjust to give false readings on the before printout.

 

I have asked my garage about my A4's alignment, and the reply was my tyres are wearing fine and it drives fine so no problems with alignment in eight years of ownership.

This garage does my servicing and mot's and I trust them, but they do not have the 'Hunter' set up.

 

Having owned many cars in the past, alignment has never been an issue, certainly nothing like it seems to be on Octavia's.

Hi Mike. I do not want this to turn into a silly argument. I am a sensible and intelligent chap, and whilst not assuming you are thinking otherwise, I have my own experiences.

Is it your thinking that no garages, or other companies, behave untrustworthy?

 

A kind note - I don't think I disputed anything you said.

Edited 8 May, 201511 yr by Tilt

Appreciated Mike.

The only place I can find locally with a hunter set up, do a free check now, and then charge for individual adjustments, whereas, I would prefer paying one fixed cost, as the way they charge, you do not know how much it is going to cost until the car is on the ramps and all set up, when they tell you it is 'out'.

 

But the first time I used them, I paid and booked online, but at the end of the work they billed me for rear adjustments, saying that these were not included, and as they had my vehicle and keys, I had no option but to pay.

 

I did take it further and got £40 refunded after a lot of hassle with their district manager.. The website ordering system had gone the next time I required alignment due to replacing the console bushes.

Sticky/Seized rear caliper possibly but I would guess it would light up the ABS warning. Console bushes sound most the likely. Poor alignment in my experience makes itself noticeable with uncomfortably imprecise cornering without braking but if the misalignment is extreme then it can also make the car abruptly switch its track when braking and that might be what you are describing?

"the rear alignment moves out very easily"

While I agree with Mike that these cars are very fussy about correct alignment specs, I don't agree that it moves easily.  I'm aware that UK secondary roads are just as crap as Aussie roads but I haven't known too many issues of them moving once they are set up.  eg: the eccentrics don't slip.

 

edit: re: dishonest "before" readings.  It's easy to give an innacurate reading - just lift or pull down on the vehicle and the reading changes slightly.  I'm unaware of anyone doing this though.  There's no point.  If the reading wasn't far out then you tell the customer & charge them the same.

 

I used to have customers argue that they were being overcharged but it was swings & roundabouts as I charged the same whether it was 10 minutes & no adjustment required or on & off the machine several times in an hour.  For me it was easier to have a sign on the wall "Wheel Alignments = $xx" rather than some operators who charge a base rate for hooking up the machine & an additional charge for each adjustment (which soon can double or triple the price).

 

If a customer didn't trust me to do the right thing by them then they probably weren't somebody I needed to deal with on an ongoing basis and I would recommend other shops they could try there luck at (luck being the key word).

 

I did make exceptions for some of my "rusted on" customers.  If they had a concern I would throw the car on the machine for free just so we were both happy.

Edited 9 May, 201511 yr by brad1.8T

It's only when i turn right that it happens. It's perfect when i'm turning left at speed. Even when i'm not going that fast it just doesn't feel right.

 

Had 4 new tyres fitted and 4 wheel hunter alignment 2,000 miles ago and it's the exact same. The car has had a service and MOT since i've noticed this and nothing was brought up. Got it's service at the end of the month so will mention it but they will just say "it's fine" as Skoda seem to think my car is fine.

The symptoms you describe, particularly turning one way better than the other, just scream out misalignment to me. If it was aligned recently I can only imagine something has moved - clipped a kerb, bushes deteriorated, something not as tight as it should have been etc.

It done it before the alignment too and that and 4 new tyres made no difference. Will get it checked out in a few weeks at it's service.