Skoda Superb SE L Hatchback '67 plate on 18" wheels.

I should start at 'the beginning', as it were. I perceived my ride quality had become less smooth, so I set out to determine the issue, and here's what followed:

1. A tyre garage diagnosed a buckled NSF wheel; they re-balanced the wheel to 'help' in the short-term.

2. An alloy wheel 'specialist' confirmed the buckled NSF, noting 2 areas requiring repair. They also identified a minor correction required on the NSR. Corrections were made and all wheels checked and re-balanced where necessary. I say 'specialist', as their technique, it would seem, for correcting the buckles was using a heat gun of sorts, a piece of wood and a lump hammer.

3. However, I felt the ride was still rougher than it used to be. Back to the alloy wheel place, where the wheels were checked and running true, with a minor re-balance made on the OSF. I can't say this made any real difference. I subsequently felt the steering wasn't centred, as when held as such the car would move to the right.

4. Next up, a trip for 4-wheel alignment at a place with Hunter kit. They checked against manufacturer spec for my vehicle, and made a small adjustment on the NSR - everything was well within the green. This didn't fix the issue, ride or steering wheel wise.

5. Next, I took the car to a VAG specialist to check the suspension, which they checked visually. He took it for a test drive and confirmed the car was pulling to the right when the steering wheel is centred. I asked if there's anything else he could suggest, and he just mentioned tracking (I asked about steering rack).

6. In my ODB11 tool, I noted a SAS operation, which re-calibrates the Steering Angle Sensor post alignment/tracking, which I did. This made no difference.

7. I went back to the alignment place to have the alignment double-checked; they made a minor adjustment on the OSF. They also believed the tyres to be slightly underinflated, so they added some air to all 4 corners. This did not help re-centre the steering wheel. At this point I'd given up 'correcting' the ride quality (it could just be me).

8. Next, I swapped the front wheels, in case it was an uneven wear issue. If so, you'd expect the car to the pull the other way, but the behaviour remained unchanged.

9. I have spoken to my Skoda dealer where I get it serviced etc., and they seemed to overlook everything I'd tried and suggested £350 wheel-alignment at an approved local facility, which I can't justify and won't be doing.

What can I try next please? I appreciate it may seem like a minor thing, but it's really quite bothersome to hold the steering wheel centred all of the time and I want to get to the bottom of the issue, as clearly something has happened or changed to cause this.

I’ve never owned a car with bang on centred steering, mine is also just to the right, but remember that most roads are cambered slightly to aid drainage.

Mines enough to remember if anyone mentions it like you just have 😁 but I do not have uneven wear on tyres which is the main thing for me as I just live with it but it’s only marginally off

Whatever's buckled your wheel (large pot hole, hitting a kerb, having the wheel hit whilst parked at angle etc etc) has possibly bent a track rod. No amount of wheel balancing, pressure fettling etc will fix it if it's the case. The wheel alignment has likely 'fixed' them all to track true, just no longer true to the steering wheel being centered.
I'd ask a friendly garage to get it on the ramps and have a look, should only cost a packet of decent biscuits.

Damage to the NSF (unless a simple case of 'kerb rash') wheel suggests a strong contact with something - especially regarding the reference to heat and a lump hammer! Almost certainly this could have affected the steering geometry, which is supported by your comment about the steering not being centred - was it centred before you noticed the change in ride quality and/or damage to the wheel?

4 minutes ago, Danoid said:

I’ve never owned a car with bang on centred steering, mine is also just to the right, but remember that most roads are cambered slightly to aid drainage.

Mines enough to remember if anyone mentions it like you just have 😁 but I do not have uneven wear on tyres which is the main thing for me as I just live with it but it’s only marginally off

On RHD roads, the camber will normally make a vehicle pull slightly to the left - assuming OP is RHD, he says vehicle now pulls right.

Hi chaps,

Just to clarify, the steering wheel was still centred before and immediately after points 1 and 2 above. I can't be sure exactly when I became aware of the centring issue, but it certainly wasn't before the alloy wheel repair, or even after it initially. The damage to the alloy wheel that likely caused the buckling occurred several months beforehand.

I'm no expert on the subject but I firmly believe that to carry out alignment / tracking of a vehicles wheels then the steering wheel should firstly be 'centred' and fixed / locked in place, and then the aligning adjustments done on the four wheels..........

@Netman .... F1 by any chance???

Mine is slightly off centred to the left and always has been one-way or the other. I had Hunter 4W alignments done in the 1st year of ownership on at least 1/2 doz occasions. It could be off to the left, then the right then left again. I gave up. But it is bloody annoying as I’d love to have it centred properly.

13 hours ago, Tilt said:

steering wheel should firstly be 'centred' and fixed / locked in place, and then the aligning adjustments done on the four wheels..........

This should be the case. I'd suggest getting an alignment done. Maybe the 350 one is better and will solve the issue.

What caused the damaged wheel?

Certainly sounds like a damaged suspension component/s are the likely cause.

The problem is that most garages only adjust one tie-rod end to get the wheels aligned and this leaves the steering wheel off-centre. They should then make equal adjustments on both tie-rods to centralise the steering wheel. It is difficult to judge the centre position of the steering wheel when you're not actually driving so a road test is needed to check it's right.

@netman82 What happens when you drive along a straight, flat road with your hands off the wheel? Does the car go straight with the steering wheel off-centre, or pull to one side or the other?

That needs to be done driving on the crown of the road straddling the centre line or the road camber will have an affect.

Obviously this should only be done when road conditions and a lack of other traffic allow it to be done legally and safely.

On 17/03/2025 at 16:50, Tilt said:

I'm no expert on the subject but I firmly believe that to carry out alignment / tracking of a vehicles wheels then the steering wheel should firstly be 'centred' and fixed / locked in place, and then the aligning adjustments done on the four wheels..........

@Netman .... F1 by any chance???

@Tilt Not on this occasion! It's a local place that did the wheel alignment (same for the wheel repair).
P.s. both readouts for the alignment state that the wheel is centred, for what its worth.

Edited 18 March, 20251 yr by netman82
Missed remarks.

On 17/03/2025 at 20:19, numskull said:

Mine is slightly off centred to the left and always has been one-way or the other. I had Hunter 4W alignments done in the 1st year of ownership on at least 1/2 doz occasions. It could be off to the left, then the right then left again. I gave up. But it is bloody annoying as I’d love to have it centred properly.

In a way I'm glad it's not just me :)

14 hours ago, BlueWagon said:

This should be the case. I'd suggest getting an alignment done. Maybe the 350 one is better and will solve the issue.

What caused the damaged wheel?

Certainly sounds like a damaged suspension component/s are the likely cause.

I can't be certain what caused the damage, but possibly a roadside pot hole. However, as I say, the car drove fine for months after that and I don't believe I've had any others incidents since.

11 hours ago, D402 said:

The problem is that most garages only adjust one tie-rod end to get the wheels aligned and this leaves the steering wheel off-centre. They should then make equal adjustments on both tie-rods to centralise the steering wheel. It is difficult to judge the centre position of the steering wheel when you're not actually driving so a road test is needed to check it's right.

@netman82 What happens when you drive along a straight, flat road with your hands off the wheel? Does the car go straight with the steering wheel off-centre, or pull to one side or the other?

@D402 Hmmm, that's a good question, I'm still trying to find a suitable stretch of road.

36 minutes ago, netman82 said:

In a way I'm glad it's not just me :)

Mine’s ever so slightly left. Barely noticeable but now I know it’s there, it’s definitely there.

You will never get a car aligned perfectly! This is speaking from experience with a custom built R32 GT-R - we tried everything. Not to mention of course, that you then go over a speed bump and it's thrown off again.

You might have damaged steering components, or you might have a front subframe that's shifted slightly. I had to redo mine after I bought the car. A buckled wheel won't cause alignment issues. The alignment machines are only as good as the operator - Hunter included.

All of that being said, you have to try reasonably hard to buckle an OE VAG wheel. I would first confirm that nothing is out of whack (steering, subframe, etc) as this is most likely the case.

A car will always pull to one side. Even if the road is somehow perfectly flat, something will always be a bit out. I've had my car at the limiter on a very smooth airfield, and even with fresh rubber and an alignment, it drifted to one side.

UPDATE

Ok, my local Skoda garage took it for a test drive and inspected the suspension and steering components and found nothing. They said it drives fine. Sigh.

Next up, a second opinion on the alignment, and quote "it's way off". The right rear especially, with the left front only just within tolerance, supposedly. They did not give me a print out, unlike the other place. They wanted to up sell, but I asked them to speak to me beforehand. As it turns out, they weren't equipped to do the job anyway, and suggested another branch. They said it all needs doing from scratch.

I have now consulted a third garage, and booked it in for a full inspection and 4-wheel alignment. After speaking to them in detail, I feel quietly confident. I'll update again next week, after the appointment.

It depends what is 'way out'. I think your Superb has independant rear (?) but even then you can only really adjust a few things. For example, the caster on my car was out, which is not adjustable. Do you have a print out you can send here? Rather than a third garage, I would suggest an alignment specalist. There aren't any by you, but ATEC-ALIGN in Huddersfield are the sort of place you're after.

Regrettably I have nothing positive to report. After my mentioned third opinion, the garage were stumped. They had it on the ramp for alignment twice, and both times everything checked out (after adjustments the first time), but upon test drive the car pulled to the right. Unfortunately, the offset is now now even more pronounced. They checked the suspension and steering components, and found nothing of concern. However, they did find that the rear adjustment for alignment/tracking was fused and had to be freed up, so they found it hard to believe that a previous adjustment had been made to the rear, as I'd been told was necessary by the first wheel alignment place. They are intrigued by the issue, and are keen to investigate further (which I am hugely grateful for), so I'm taking it back the week after next for an overnight stay, when the owner of the garage can take a personal look and hopefully figure it out. So far, I've just been charged an hour's labour, albeit a fairly expensive one 😬

Edited 1 April, 20251 yr by netman82

Could it be a brake binding and pulling it slightly to one side ?

It seems that numerous alignment checks are saying it’s ok but it is pulling right against the camber of the road.

Does it have lane assist which needs recalibration ?

Edited 1 April, 20251 yr by classic

After 2 failed allignaments when the car was still pulling right I checked the OE procedure and first 2 things shown are the fuel tank must be full and the subframe must be alligned.

3rd garage was way better and got the subframe alligned and now is perfect.

9 hours ago, classic said:

Could it be a brake binding and pulling it slightly to one side ?

It seems that numerous alignment checks are saying it’s ok but it is pulling right against the camber of the road.

Does it have lane assist which needs recalibration ?

They did check the brakes etc., which I neglected to mention. However, I doubt this would be the cause though, as the car drives straight i.e. it doesn't actively pull to the right. It only does so when the steering wheel is centred. If I let go of the wheel when driving straight the steering wheel is offset to the left. I hope this clears things up a little.

2 hours ago, IulianE said:

After 2 failed allignaments when the car was still pulling right I checked the OE procedure and first 2 things shown are the fuel tank must be full and the subframe must be alligned.

3rd garage was way better and got the subframe alligned and now is perfect.

Good thinking on the OE procedure, I'll have to take that to them when I return. I wonder whether they'd be up for a subframe alignment though! What part of the country are you in @IulianE (assuming the garage you used is in the same location)?

54 minutes ago, netman82 said:

They did check the brakes etc., which I neglected to mention. However, I doubt this would be the cause though, as the car drives straight i.e. it doesn't actively pull to the right. It only does so when the steering wheel is centred. If I let go of the wheel when driving straight the steering wheel is offset to the left. I hope this clears things up a little.

Ok, could it be as simple as the steering angle sensor needing to be recalibrated ?

If the alignment has been done correctly with the steering wheel centred it may now need the steering angle sensor to be calibrated so the traction control and steering systems know the steering wheel position.