Wheel Alignment - Some Questions

[Zetec-S]

Hi

Was having some problems with the handling of my Octy vRS, as it was feeling relatively unstable at speed, needing small steering inputs to keep it going in a straight line. Had the tracking looked at and that made no real difference. Also at the same time in high winds I was having real problems as well.

As a result I decided to get four wheel alignment done last week. As a result the car now feels much more stable, but a side effect appears to have been that on most roads I now need to steer ever so slightly to the right.

When the guy was setting my car up, he did say that my car appeared to be going to the right and therefore he would adjust it so that it pulled to the left just a little bit. However I seem to now have to spend the whole time keeping the steering wheel at a slight angle in order to go straight.

The problem I have is that the car is now more stable, just that the steering wheel is apparently not straight. Not sure if I want to get the steering wheel straight if it is going to lead to some of the stability problems coming back.

At the same time, I am starting to thing that some of these problems are most likely to be due to something wearing out (bushes etc). When the wheel alignment was done, he had to adjust the rear axle in order to straighten that out, which reading on here appears a sign that a bush at the rear is worn.

Your advice on the best way forward would be most appreciated, as this is starting to drive me mad, and at £80 a throw for wheel alignment, its not cheap.

[KenONeill]

So you had a 4wheel alignment done by someone who didn't set the steering up properly as part of it?

[Morley]

First things first. What state are your tyres in. Are all four the same make model and size. Are all tread depths similar and of more than about 3mm. Is there any uneven wear. My vRS feels a lot less stable now that I am due a new set of tyres (<3mm). They tend to follow the cambre or any other grooves or ridges in the road.

Has your vehicle been in any sort of accident or heavy kerbing incident?

Once you are happy with the tyres and are sure of the history, check all steering and suspension components for wear and certainly before having any 4 wheel alignment done. The steering wheel can always be put straight once you are happy with any alignment work, but beware of the airbag!

Let us know how you get on.

[Zetec-S]

Originally Posted by Morley

First things first. What state are your tyres in. Are all four the same make model and size. Are all tread depths similar and of more than about 3mm. Is there any uneven wear. My vRS feels a lot less stable now that I am due a new set of tyres (<3mm). They tend to follow the cambre or any other grooves or ridges in the road.

Has your vehicle been in any sort of accident or heavy kerbing incident?

Once you are happy with the tyres and are sure of the history, check all steering and suspension components for wear and certainly before having any 4 wheel alignment done. The steering wheel can always be put straight once you are happy with any alignment work, but beware of the airbag!

Let us know how you get on.

The tyres are generally in a good state, 6mm on the front and about 4/5mm at the back.

I had the car checked over at its last service in January and was told all the suspension was in order, apart from some slight wear in the front anti-roll bar.

Is it possible that it is just a case that the steering wheel wasn't straight when they aligned the front wheels? If so I not sure if just to get it put straight by someone more local to where I live, that just does tracking?

[Stuart_J]

Sort of stating the obvious but didnt you notice the wheel was not straight when you drove it away, you should have taken it straight back, if you go back now they could say youve kerbed it, it might be hard to argue.
All roads are cambered slightly so that water runs to the edge, this is more noticable on B roads & your car will have a tendancy to turn left anyway. Find a long straight on a B road WHERE YOU CAN SEE ITS CLEAR & there are no side roads coming onto it. Then drive on the wrong side of the road, if alls OK it will pull to the right but MAKE SURE ITS SAFE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! & as I said no side roads coming into it just in case someone pulls out without looking

[vRSLen]

The fact that it feels more stable but pulls to the right sounds like there is
wear in the stearing. Loading it up just makes it feel more stable.

I would try a dealer that knows what they are doing TBH.

[KenONeill]

Quite; the steering wheel should be "straight" with the steering in the straight ahead position after a 4-wheel alignment.

[Zetec-S]

Originally Posted by Stuart_J

Sort of stating the obvious but didnt you notice the wheel was not straight when you drove it away,

I did notice it but as I was happy the car felt more stable, just thought at first is was due to the camber of the road.

I haven't been back because the place I went to was in Liverpool and I like near Manchester. If I can get this sorted without having to go all the way back there, I would much prefer it.

[Zetec-S]

Originally Posted by vRSLen

The fact that it feels more stable but pulls to the right sounds like there is
wear in the stearing. Loading it up just makes it feel more stable.

I would try a dealer that knows what they are doing TBH.

The first place I tried was a dealer. When it was last serviced, I told them to take it out and drive it at Motorway speeds as I felt the car did not feel right.

Guy that drove it, told me he had driven loads and it felt fine to him.

All the dealer could find was a slight worn front arb. But said it was still fine.