Hi,

I had alignment done to my 2016 Škoda Fabia 4 times, because the car was pulling to the right, and no change. I went to 2 different mechanics, both said that the steering components looked fine, and did the alignments. Last week I changed all four tyres, and the pull still remains...

What could I do next to resolve the issue?

 

Thanks!

Could the brake caliper be binding on the side it pulls towards?

1 hour ago, Boki02 said:

What could I do next to resolve the issue?

Do you have a printout of the Alignment results?

Were all four tyres exactly the same and with the same correct tyre pressure?

Are the lower front arm, rear bushes good? 

 

Thanks. AG Falco

Front wheel alignment only?

 

Had any work done recently which would involve dropping the front or rear subframes? Clutch, steering rack etc?

 

A misaligned front or rear subframe (they have huge clearances around the fixing bolts for alignment) will cause the vehicle to crab and pull to one side yet the toe angles (so called wheel alignment) of both front and rear axles will remain correct and unchanged.

 

Sadly many of the operators of the 4 wheel alignment rigs are lacking a proper understanding of the basic principles.

Edited 9 May, 20242 yr by J.R.

@Boki02   Do we assume that you are in a right hand drive car and driving on the left, like in the UK.

 

It is just that usually the posts are ' My car pulls left'  as to the kerb / verge.

 

?

How long have you had the car, has it always pulled to the right?

 

Are you paying money to these people to check the alignment and make any adjustments required and are they actual mechanics or Tyre & Exhaust fitters.

 

Tyres come with run out stripes.   (Not a lot of people know that #Michael Caine)

Edited 9 May, 20242 yr by Ootohere

12 hours ago, Stonekeeper said:

Could the brake caliper be binding on the side it pulls towards?

I didn't think that that could be the issue, but now that you mentioned it, during a bit heavier braking (going down from 130 km/h to 60 km/h), I think the steering wheel was pulled to the center for a brief moment, and returned slightly left when I stopped braking, but I will have to test that again (if that is an indication of a brake caliper issue).

8 hours ago, J.R. said:

Front wheel alignment only?

 

Had any work done recently which would involve dropping the front or rear subframes? Clutch, steering rack etc?

 

A misaligned front or rear subframe (they have huge clearances around the fixing bolts for alignment) will cause the vehicle to crab and pull to one side yet the toe angles (so called wheel alignment) of both front and rear axles will remain correct and unchanged.

 

Sadly many of the operators of the 4 wheel alignment rigs are lacking a proper understanding of the basic principles.

Yeah, front wheel alignment only. 

Didn't have any work involving dropping the subframes.

@Boki02  Is the car right or left hand drive, and what country are you in? 

12 hours ago, AGFalco said:

Do you have a printout of the Alignment results?

Were all four tyres exactly the same and with the same correct tyre pressure?

Are the lower front arm, rear bushes good? 

 

Thanks. AG Falco

I have from the first three alignments, they are in Serbian, so I translated them using Google translate, hope it makes sense. 😅 The fourth alignment was done a week before I bought new tyres.

All four tires where the same, with the correct pressures, yes.

And the lower front arm and rear bushes should be good.

Edited 10 May, 20242 yr by Boki02

8 hours ago, Ootohere said:

@Boki02   Do we assume that you are in a right hand drive car and driving on the left, like in the UK.

 

It is just that usually the posts are ' My car pulls left'  as to the kerb / verge.

 

?

How long have you had the car, has it always pulled to the right?

 

Are you paying money to these people to check the alignment and make any adjustments required and are they actual mechanics or Tyre & Exhaust fitters.

 

Tyres come with run out stripes.   (Not a lot of people know that #Michael Caine)

It is a left drive car (I'm from Serbia), I have it since 2021, I noticed the right pull about a year ago when I had my first alignment. The first shop was a real mechanic shop, and the second one was a tyre shop.

12 hours ago, Boki02 said:

I think the steering wheel was pulled to the center for a brief moment, and returned slightly left when I stopped braking,

This could be brakes, but could also be play in the rear bushes on the lower front suspension arms.

 

 

12 hours ago, Boki02 said:

I have from the first three alignments, they are in Serbian, so I translated them using Google translate, hope it makes sense

Figures look good. A slight thrust angle from the rear axle but well within tolerance.

 

Since it has been pulling from before you had new tyres this would make me think it is not a tyre problem.

 

 

12 hours ago, Boki02 said:

And the lower front arm and rear bushes should be good.

I have had to replace mine on a 2016 Fabia. The rubber had separated from the metal outer rings.

 

See here:-

 

Does the car drive straight ahead if you hold the steering wheel straight?

Does the car pull left when you drive in the left hand side of a two lane road? EG when you are overtaking on a dual carriageway. 

 

Thanks. AG Falco