HI all, 

Haven't posted for a long time, but that's because my Octavia 1.9tdi has been so reliable

It was MOT time yesterday, and it failed on a broken rear Coil Spring that I never knew anything about ... anyway it was fixed (replaced) the same day and passed with no advisories whatsoever It was dropped off back @ home by my mechanic friend and not touched until this morning.

I'm driving it to work, and it kept pulling to the right, and to hold it in position I had to forcibly turn the steering wheel to the left (approx 10 o clock position) to drive inn a straight line.  My first thought was puncture or tyre pressure (if only it were that simple).

Anyway - all tyre pressures were fine.  So I rang my mechanic friend (fully qualified, time served apprentice with Ford, has his own established garage) and he collected my car and took it back in.  He noticed it as well ...

Lot's of head scratching, on and off the ramp, second opinion sought from another time served mechanic ... and it was decided to check the tracking (which was slightly out, but adjusted) and swap the front wheels over.  Bit more head scratching, lot's of Googling and no obvious fault found.

Car returned to me, for me to test drive ... now car is no longer pulling to one side, but steering wheel is severely off-centre when driving in a straight line (see picture) .. Mechanic is now thinking about taking steering wheel off (after disconnecting airbags etc) and realigning / straightening it up that way.

Any thoughts ?  Anywhere else I should be suggesting ?

 

Please, no derogatory comments about his knowledge etc, he's in his late 60's has run a successful garage for many years, and works with a couple of other old mechanics - and I'd happily trust all of them.  They've been looking after my Octavia and Fabia for years, and now my daughter mini (yeah I know) ..

Just puzzled and concerned about what's gone wrong ?  Surely changing a single rear coil spring wouldn't throw the steering out of alignment this much ?  It was only 1 coil spring changed, he's assured me that the other is fine.

 

 

 

Edited 11 March, 20206 yr by Cornish_Lad
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You need the road wheels aligning ...........fronts at least but ideally all four.

 

The steering wheel will be placed in the straight ahead position and then the road wheels require adjusting to recommended alignment settings.

 

No idea why it went out of alignment unless someone along the way has kerbed it or something has been adjusted that shouldn't have been, or something like that.

Edited 11 March, 20206 yr by Tilt

Did he have the engine running when doing the alignment as I’m not sure how the electric rack behaves when being pulled about, but I found you get a more precise alignment with the engine on and running as it takes some slack out the system, and I’m guessing he had the steering wheel locked off at 12 o clock?

 

I’d make sure you find the center of the rack first, engine on and go from lock to lock counting how many turns it takes, then turn the steering wheel back to the middle and this is where you need to center your steering wheel.

 

If the wheel is already centered then he needs to check his wheel plates are moving freely when adjusting the toe, and try again with the alignment 👍

 

 

I had to sort my s6 out as my rack was off centered, I had to find the center of the rack, use VCDS to fit the steering wheel at 0* and then get the tracking done so it didn’t upset the ESP and ABS.

 

 

Thanks for the replies folks ...

All sorted now.  As you both advised it was the wheel alignment that was way out - the 2 rear wheels in fact.  The tyre place said it was because the rear coil spring had been replaced, so maybe something to bear inn mind for the next time.

Initial suggestion from the tyre place was that it was the Steering Angle Sensor, but this was quickly ruled out.

Cost me £72 for all 4 wheel to be aligned, but the steering wheel is now perfect, and my Octavia actually drives so much smoother as well !

 

Cheers