Correcting the steering.

[mluton]

Im going to try and explain this as good as i can.

When at a stand still and i pull away my car turns left ebout 30 degree (steering Wheel that is). I only have to hold the wheel, without any force to stop this. So not a major problem.

When driving i feel as if im correcting the car every so oftern to the left (this is very slight), Play in the steering, im unsure, maybe ??????????

When Driving in a straight line the steering wheel is central. Ive had the tracking checked all is good.

If im pointed up hill or down hill and i start from a stand still the steering wheel does not turn only on a flat surface or slightly angled.

Only thing it stops me doing is pulling away from the lights or parked up without my hands on the steering wheel, is a pain at times.:(

Its a 53 plate octy vRS, Its not a major problem and i have lived with it since i bought it back in august, but now i want it sorted.

Im going to get it checked in a few weeks at my local dealer, just wondering if the world of Briskoda has any ideas to what this could be.

??????????????????????????

Many Thanks, Matt.

[Duggie]

All cars do this, it is in case you fall asleep at the wheel of the car, rather than keeping a straight track or drifting into the oncoming lane of traffic it is supposed to cause the car to drift into the kerb or at least out of the path of other cars in order to keep other road users at a reduced risk. However, 30 degrees does seem a bit harsh, my Fabia does it too though.

[mluton]

Had the front wheel rebalanced today and all is sorted, Both front wheels were miles out on the balancing machine.

Still goes left on pulling away, but i dont have to correct the steering whilst driving no more.

£5.00 to get the fronts balanced up.

[Zetec-S]

Hi

Think I have a similar problem, when driving normally I have to keep the steering wheel slightly to the right in order to keep in a straight line.

I have had it four wheel aligned twice now and it is little better. Both times were done by trusted specialist (i.e. not quicky tyre places).

Was your car sorted once you had the wheels rebalanced, as I have got actually had that checked yet?

[mluton]

Hi

Think I have a similar problem, when driving normally I have to keep the steering wheel slightly to the right in order to keep in a straight line.

I have had it four wheel aligned twice now and it is little better. Both times were done by trusted specialist (i.e. not quicky tyre places).

Was your car sorted once you had the wheels rebalanced, as I have got actually had that checked yet?

I would never have thought it was the balancing of the wheels making me correct the steering, but it was. I only had the fronts balanced and all is good now.

I do get a slight movement to the left if i let go of the steering wheel, but i think this is more camber sesitivity that geometery wise.

[aerodynamic18]

ask to get both the inside and outside rim of the wheel balanced as this makes a big difference. when i had my polo with 16inch wheels if they only balanced the outside (which is what they normally do as its quicker) then the steerin wheel would wooble but once the inside and outside was balanced no more wobble so now i always ask 4 it on the octavia

[bigjohn]

My Octavia has always pulled to the left(very slightly) from new, I even went to the dealer with it - nothing found to be wrong. Then on my first drive abroad I discovered it was pulling to the right!

[Zetec-S]

Mines seems like more than a pull though, the wheel has to be turned to the right about 20 degrees to go in a straight line on a cambered road. I'm sure when I first got it (about a year ago) it wasn't like it is now.

[Zetec-S]

Right.

Now I have had the front wheels balanced, and was told they were out a fair way.

But sadly no improvement in the steering pull, car still dives for the kerb at every opportunity.

Now at a real loss as to what it is???

[Andyroo]

My 54 reg octavia vrs has started pulling left...i've decided i'm gonna have it looked at somewhere where they give a damn soon rather than a skoda dealer....just need to find that place first.

[martziniuk]

Right.

Now I have had the front wheels balanced, and was told they were out a fair way.

But sadly no improvement in the steering pull, car still dives for the kerb at every opportunity.

Now at a real loss as to what it is???

Its not been in an accident has it? my old corolla used to steer left quite badly although the car perfectly straight.I know it had been in a minor wheel bending accident though.It used to really annoy me.Even when fully four wheel aligned it still did it.

[Zetec-S]

No.

When I bought the car last January all was fine. Then since December last year car has just become really pants at going in a straight line with the steering wheel straight. Four wheel alignment doesn't seem to fix it.

[piv34uk]

No.

When I bought the car last January all was fine. Then since December last year car has just become really pants at going in a straight line with the steering wheel straight. Four wheel alignment doesn't seem to fix it.

When you say 4 wheel alignment did you have the rear axle equalised? Can you show me the figures or graphs, i may be able to help

Phil

[Zetec-S]

When you say 4 wheel alignment did you have the rear axle equalised? Can you show me the figures or graphs, i may be able to help

Phil

I know we are currently splitting this over two different threads, but I'll take the print out to work tomorrow and scan it in.

Thanks for your offer of help.

[Zetec-S]

Okay hopefully I have attached the print out correctly here.

Like I say everything appears to be within the manufacturer's specifications.

I have removed the name of the garage that did it as I have nothing against them, and think they did everything in good faith.

Wheel Alignment.pdf

[Morley]

One thing that nobody has suggested looking at is the pressure and condition of your tyres. This will significantly affect the cars ability to maintain its direction. Make sure your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure. A soft tyre will cause the vehicle to tend to drift one way or the other. Significant tyre wear also makes the vehicle want to follow every ridge and furrow in the road especially under hard acceleration.

My brother had a new Vectra a few years ago that continually tried to drive you at the nearside hedge. Eventually Vauxhall agreed to replace it after an independant engineer proved that the vehicle had been significantly damaged before delivery and it turned out that it had fallen off the transporter when it was being delivered. The repair wasn't done very well and as a consequence the wheels never pointed in the same direction. Unfortunately this sort of "accident" won't show up on an HPI check.