so another problem with my car (not done well this week)

I fitted new track rod ends yesterday as the boots on the old ones were worn out, and i threaded the new ones to the exact position of the old ones.

I knew the tracking was out as the tyres had wear on inside edges

So this morning I took the car to local tyre place to get it done and they said they've sorted it.

Upon driving car home I noticed that, 1, the steering wheel had to be turned right to keep the car straight, and 2, the car still pulled to the left quite significantly (it did this before i had the tracking done)

 

I'm not too concerned about the left pull as it did this before and i think is due to worn console bushes. The steering wheel alignment really annoys me though.

I think i am going to take the car back in on Monday and get them to have a look at it again.

Should they have checked the steering wheel position when doing the tracking?

Is there something else wrong with the car itself to cause such an issue?

 

I have replaced/checked the following things recently:

Track rod ends replaced

Droplinks replaced

ARB bushes checked and no play

Wheel bearings have no play

No creaks or bangs when driving

tyres exact same make on the fronts and are both worn out on the outside edge (from previous owner of alloy wheels)

They were just lazy when sorting the alignment. It would have taken a bit longer but they could have done it and left the steering wheel straight. Take it back and get them to fix it.

Yeah will do monday i think

will see what they say

Just keep an eye on what they do, they may try and take the steering wheel off refit in a straight position.

 

NO WAY, it needs the wheel setting straight, then the tracking resetting.

 

DB.

It's because they haven't turned both steering rods equally.

 

Just keep an eye on what they do, they may try and take the steering wheel off refit in a straight position.

 

NO WAY, it needs the wheel setting straight, then the tracking resetting.

 

DB.

 

Absolutely right. They have obviously adjusted the tracking by turning one steering rod more than the other instead of turning them equally. Adjusting the steering wheel to suit the misalignment would be a total bodge.

Edited 19 November, 20169 yr by TMB

will keep an eye on them doing it 

 

Unfortunately they were extremely busy today hence why I didnt get a chance to see what they were doing.

Both track rods have been adjusted I cant tell by where they have been moved with a spanner

I paid £32.50 so I'd expect it to be done properly especially considering its a 15 min job

If you use somewhere that has new up to date tracking equipment the first measurement they take is lock to lock steering distance,the machine then tells them once the steering rack is in its true middle/straight ahead position.

If the steering wheel is not bang on straight at that position of the rack it has been removed before and ideally needs removing and fitting straight before setting the tracking.

Once the rack is centralised and the steering wheel is straight they should then clamp the steering wheel to stop it moving whilst they set the tracking.

Well they clearly didnt do it properly as the wheel is quite considerably out and the car pulls to the left slightly still

A lot of fabias pull to the left,including mine,even with the alignment bang on and uprated bushes etc :(

A lot of fabias pull to the left,including mine,even with the alignment bang on and uprated bushes etc :(

Communist tendencies!

Communist tendencies!

I caught my Fabia trying to subscribe to The Morning Star.

Try measuring the threads from the track rod end locknut to where they end on the steering rod. They should be roughly equal on both sides of the car. If they are not they've done a crap job of it and I probably could have done better with my Gunson Trakrite.

 

Edited 21 November, 20169 yr by TMB

Am taking it in this morning so will see what happens

Took it back this morning and they did the tracking again so took out for a test drive.

Wheel still isnt straight although i did watch them put the steering wheel locking device on and they seemed to track it properly using their machine

Im wondering if the rear axle isnt aligned properly so the front wheels are in fact straight but the rear is causing it to want to go to the right, hence the steering correction to overcome this.

I'm not too concerned tbh as its only a tiny bit out so will just put up with it

The main thing is hopefully tyre wear will be even from now on

{Not entirely sure why you would track a car with worn console bushes anyway}

{Not entirely sure why you would track a car with worn console bushes anyway}

I dont know if they are worn, but im saying they might be causing the car to pull to the left.

but other people have said its to do with the rear wheels so there might be nothing wrong with the front suspension

I dont know if they are worn, but im saying they might be causing the car to pull to the left.

but other people have said its to do with the rear wheels so there might be nothing wrong with the front suspension

Ah, but if the bushes are worn then you probably can't track it accurately, and even if you can it's a waste of time/money because you'll put the tracking out when the bushes are replaced.

Ah, but if the bushes are worn then you probably can't track it accurately, and even if you can it's a waste of time/money because you'll put the tracking out when the bushes are replaced.

well i dont intend on replacing the bushes if they are not worn. They were replaced 2 years ago 20000 miles so i hope they arent worn out. I initally thought they might have been causing the car to pull to the left but since i tried driving on the other side of the road it pulls to the right so maybe just the camber of the road as opposed to worn out bushes

Either way, i got the tracking done to stop the uneven tyre wear so if it stops that them im happy

Maybe a good time to get that car a full four wheel alignment check as mileage on the new TCA rear bushes is very low - are the inner steering/track rod joints still okay/tight?

the inner rod joints don't have any play so I think they are fine

The rear bushes look ok and don't knock and tbh I cant really be bothered getting them changed. 

They were an advisory on the MOT so maybe they are due replacing but Im only planning owning the car for another year or so

had a thought about the wonky steering wheel, could i not just wind the track rods on each side by the same amount to compensate for the steering wheel not being straight?

i wouldn't be changing the toe just altering where the rack sits in relation to the track rod ends

Why bother, you are just walking around another problem, 20K and 2 years out of replacement TCA rear bushes, that is not good as any replacements of that vintage should be the later "better" ones?

Why bother, you are just walking around another problem, 20K and 2 years out of replacement TCA rear bushes, that is not good as any replacements of that vintage should be the later "better" ones?

the main thing i want to be right at the moment is the steering wheel to be striaght which it was before the alignment was done