Hi, I am probably being a bit 'Picky' but the steering wheel on my 2020 Mk4 Octavia (26,500 miles) is not quite 'Straight' when driving straight ahead.  It is worth noting that the 'Tracking' is fine with no pulling to either side - The steering wheel is just perhaps a degree or so tilted.  The wheels are balanced, the tyre pressures are correct and they have done about 2,500 miles.

 

Ultimately I suppose my question should be 'Is this significant, should I ignore it (After all, tyre wear appears normal as does the tracking)?  Or should I insist that a dealer or third party re-adjusts the tracking, this time with the steering wheel exactly in the straight ahead position?'

Thanks in anticipation, Alan

"Insist" that someone should do something? Why not do it yourself?

Thank you for your swift reply, however, I do not have access to a proprietary laser wheel alignment tool or indeed an inspection lift/ Pit. 

Had the same issue when I got the car. 

Looks like there wasn't a proper alignment perfomed at the factory. 

 

I went to the dealership and they resolved it. 

 

My OCD wouldn't let me alone until my steering wheel was straight if I would be in your shoes.

Edited 13 June, 20223 yr by Jugaroo

9 hours ago, AlanOsborne said:

Hi, I am probably being a bit 'Picky' but the steering wheel on my 2020 Mk4 Octavia (26,500 miles) is not quite 'Straight' when driving straight ahead.  It is worth noting that the 'Tracking' is fine with no pulling to either side - The steering wheel is just perhaps a degree or so tilted.  The wheels are balanced, the tyre pressures are correct and they have done about 2,500 miles.

 

Ultimately I suppose my question should be 'Is this significant, should I ignore it (After all, tyre wear appears normal as does the tracking)?  Or should I insist that a dealer or third party re-adjusts the tracking, this time with the steering wheel exactly in the straight ahead position?'

Thanks in anticipation, Alan

If the tracking is OK, then tyre wear should be ok.

So, does it matter is the steering wheel is not quite centred? Technically, no. But if it feels wrong and bothers you, then yes it does matter.

Personally I’d take back to the depot that did the tracking and ask them to straighten the steering wheel up (have had to do it a couple times over the years…)

10 hours ago, AlanOsborne said:

Thank you for your swift reply, however, I do not have access to a proprietary laser wheel alignment tool or indeed an inspection lift/ Pit. 

You do not need any of those, you tighten the track rod a few degress into one rod end and slacken the other by the same amount then check on a drive if the wheel is now central, if not repeat until you get there.

 

Doing this will not alter the tracking setting that the garage has done, lasers are not needed for tracking, there is still nothing that can beat an old school optical set up, laser or optical they are only as good as the person using them and the care they take to protect and calibrate them.

Hi again, thanks for the tip, however I am retired and am no longer supple enough to do 'Mechanicking'.  A few years ago I would not have hesitated!   The car is due a service within a thousand miles or so, hence my comments about instructing the dealer to do it.

I had the same with my mk3.5 and now with my mk4 vRS. It could be caused by the road camber. What direction is the wheel tilted to - towards the centre of the road or to the side?

My OCD would require it getting sorted, I would take it in to the dealer and get them to sort it..... They may say you have driven into or pot holed it but....

7 minutes ago, matrix2020 said:

My OCD would require it getting sorted, I would take it in to the dealer and get them to sort it..... They may say you have driven into or pot holed it but....

I took my MK3.5 to the dealer to sort it out... They took it to a wheel-alignment place and said the front tracking needed alignment... and charged me twice the amount they'd charge me at the tyre shop, lol... The dealership guy forgot to disconnect my dashcam, so I saw where they went. A week later, went to the same tyre shop, as the wheel was still tilted to the right slightly. The guys there checked it and said everything was fine with the alignment, and the wheel was like this because of the road camber. The tyre wear was even, so in the end I wasn't too bothered about this...

Edited 23 June, 20223 yr by Tishout