Coil spring replaced, steering now off centre

[northturton]

Hi, prior to having an OSF coil spring replaced my steering wheel was level. Now it's angled at about 3 minutes past. Driving along a road with a long left bend, the steering wheel is straight.

Whats happened?

 

Edited 27 June, 2019 by northturton

[Liger1956]

Could be that after replacing the spring they have re-tracked the car and only adjusted one side. If it concerns you, and it would me, take it back and get them to do it properly.

[northturton]

Will do. Another thing to note. The wheel they had to take off, there's extra tyre noise (and movement?) from it since the spring so it probably is tracking wrong.

[J.R.]

Check that the wheel bolts are correctly tightened before even thinking of driving the car again.

 

Better to be safe than sorry........................

[seriesdriver]

Unless money was very very tight I would want to change both springs at the same time, unless the other one is nearly new its self. Having one old and one new spring isnt going to do the handling any favours.

[Stuart-h]

Im with series on that. Id of got both springs changed and the wheel aliment checked and sorted after the springs have been replaced. 

[northturton]

Sadly money is tight. £800+ 6 months ago replacing an about to go chain, recent service flags rear spring and an oil leak. 2 weeks later during oil leak checkup, and a noise i reported around front suspension, booked in to get coil fixed. During repair, another checkup (2 weeks after service, same Skoda garage) during that now reveals 5 oil leaks and some exhaust pipe things need replacing. 1300 please.... Forget that for a while.

[Tech1e]

In theory nothing adjustable is moved when replacing a spring, odd.

[J.R.]

Sounds like the wheel is about to fall off through them not tightening the wheel nuts, agreed nothing adjustable should have been disturbed.

 

CHECK IT!!!!!

[Guest]

OSF track rod end needs a wee turn in (turning the wheel outwards).

 

Easy to do, turn the steering full left, slacken the track rod locking nut and screw the rod in using a spanner/grips, leave the locking nut loose until you are happy with the steering. Do remember to snug it up when done!

[Tech1e]

16 hours ago, J.R. said:

Sounds like the wheel is about to fall off through them not tightening the wheel nuts, agreed nothing adjustable should have been disturbed.

 

CHECK IT!!!!!

 

I have seen a right muppet miss align the bottom ball joint before. But that’s really difficult on a MK2. 

[J.R.]

Doesn't need to be removed for coil spring replacement but we have to assume they have done something muppet like.

[Tech1e]

1 minute ago, J.R. said:

Doesn't need to be removed for coil spring replacement but we have to assume they have done something muppet like.

 

Some people remove the bottom ball joint to allow the strut to be removed. Don't have too, but can make it easier getting the strut out of the hub.

[FatblokeVRS]

If you only replaced one spring, one side will probably be higher than the other and the old spring will probably break soon too.

 

I would have got both springs on the axle replaced, or a full lowering spring kit fitted and then a 4 wheel alignment done at a specialist.