Car pulling to one side intermittently after tracking done

[oOTomOo]

Hi Guys,

Just had new tyres and tracking done on my girlfriends clio sport.

Problem is, now when driving in a straight line, the steering occasionally tugs to one side (feels like the power steering is pulling the car to the middle of the road) Also, the steering wheel is slightly of center, maybe 5 degrees towards the side of the road.

After much googling, i've found some stuff about speed sensitive power steering racks and self centering, that can cause the car to veer if the tracking was set with the steering rack not dead center.

So, before I go down to the place that did the tracking and ask them (politley the first time) to do it again with the steering wheel straight. I was wondering if anyone had any similar problems? or anything to add??

Cheers,

Tom

 

[c__w]

I'm not 100%, but I don't think the Clio Sport has the same positive-centre steering like the non-Sports do, it's a traditional hydraulic setup I tink (vs the electronic PAS).

I'd take it back to the place that tracked it and explain that the wheel is off-centre (it's amazing how just this visual "problem" can make the tracking feel out) and get them to recheck it (they will have to to centralise the wheel anyway). Normally they lock the wheel in position with a clamp but it doesn't always work spot on (it should do though) and probably requires a 2nd attempt (but make sure they lock the steering in the dead ahead position).

 

[DannyR]

did it do it on a main road and is it lowered at all?

My car seems to pull a little on main roads when it gets stuck in the lower bits that lorries make if you get me

 

[Gstar2006]

Same boat here. New alloys and tires. Kwik Fit tracking FTL.

Going back in on Wednesday so they can have another go. Wheel is about 5degrees to the offside and it pulls to the nearside

G

 

[dan555clio]

Same boat here. New alloys and tires. Kwik Fit tracking FTL.

Going back in on Wednesday so they can have another go. Wheel is about 5degrees to the offside and it pulls to the nearside

G

Exact same as mine. But wheel is about 5degrees to the nearside.

 

[oOTomOo]

Going to take it back there this morning, It's not the tracking feeling out, or being out I know what those feel like.
djroberts; it was main roads, and it's not been lowered.

When it was done we got about 100 yards out of the tyre place before my girlfriend said, this doesnt feel right. being a bloke i didnt believe her and explained it was cause the car was now set up correctly and it was tracking 'as it should'
then I drove it for myself. and it feels like the PAS is pulling on the steering wheel trying to straighten the wheel, which makes you steer into the middle of the road.

When a car tracks in lorry tracks you can feel it pulling from the wheels, this is a more direct pull on the steering column. and it only pulls every 5-10 seconds or so..

Feels very ropey when driving.

I'll let you know how i get on.

Cheers for the replies

 

[Millsy]

^^ mine this exact thing and i had it tracked at Kwik fit too!!

they managed to shear the bolt off the track rod end when doing mine, so had to replace that, then it still wasn't right so they did they track rod inners, then they did the bottom ball joints?? dont ask me why lol, it feels better than when they first gave it back to me, but no way as good as it was before it went to them. i know the guy put neg camber on my front wheels by 2 degrees to combat most of the pulling, but its still not right. when they first did it everytime i lifted off the throttle it veered to one side.

mine feels like the power steering rack wants to pull the car the opposite way to the wheel sometimes which makes entering corners fun! not!!

i think its my power steering rack that they f**ked trying to get the track rod end off in the first place tbh, the reason i say this is because it now creaks occasionally when i turn the steering wheel on the spot when parking etc.

 

[DannyR]

Sounds like play in the steering column or fucked track ends

This happened on my Valver and I would recommend you getting it done ASAP as I ended up in a ditch when they finally broke and suspension collapsed

 

[Millsy]

the track rod ends are fine as they've both now been changed, i think its more down to the PAS rack tbh.

 

[Nomad]

CV joint maybe? It will make a noise however.

 

[oOTomOo]

It's better now, but i dont think it's totally sorted it. I'm starting to suspect it's a track rod end that has a bit of play in it, i'll jack it up tonight and see if I can wiggle anything.

What are track rod ends? like.. £9

 

[Millsy]

bout £19 iirc

 

[oOTomOo]

bout £19 iirc

:dapprove: o well, dont suppose it'll break the bank.
A wiggle of the wheel tonight and a call to the renault dealers tomorrow methinks..

Is it worth doing both if i'm doing one side? dont suppose there's a discount for buying two?

 

[Jonny1*2]

I'm not 100%, but I don't think the Clio Sport has the same positive-centre steering like the non-Sports do, it's a traditional hydraulic setup I tink (vs the electronic PAS).

Hydraulic in 172/182, but not in the 197

 

[matty J]

What about on a r26 meggy as mine occasionally pulls to the left??

 

[PCironmike]

Tom , yes do both of them , they are simple to do so do them yourself and count the turns off and then mirror it when replacing the new one , do this both sides and make sure that the amount of turns / thread showing is roughly even , tighten everthing up and shoot to somewhere that you know will do a 4 wheel alignment properly , its common knowledge in the motor trade that tracking or alignment is a rip coz its 100% profit for the garage , try to watch them and make sure that the laser lights are the same position on both back wheel flags and that the front numbers add + to - , this number should add up to what the manufacturer recommends the setting for the car , this will be on the chart on the wall or you can ask what it should be and there will be a tolerance of + or - an amount so make sure you get alligned not mugged off.