Steering wheel off centre after tracking done ...

[shadowsun]

Greetings,

I recentley had my tracking done after I had some replacement alloy wheels fitted to the car. Basically I moved the two rear alloys to the front of the car and fitted two brand new wheels to the rear, had them balanced and the tracking done.

The car has been in 3 times now to have the tracking altered and everytime the steering wheel is slightly off to the left (ie not straight) and it's really off putting when driving.

They said everything that they can see looks in good order and can't understand why it's doing this. It wasn't like it before - but the tracking was out. They have set the tracking according to their data and also the data I got from the forum here.

Really need some help with this one!

 

[Blarno]

Mine was doing this despie having the tracking done. I booked it in for a full alignment check and it turned out the front toe angle was slightly out.

I paid 41 quid for the full alignment check at Demon Tweeks, and that inlcuded them readjusting the toe angle.

Well worth getting it done, fella.

 

[shadowsun]

Would they not set the toe angle when doing the tracking?

 

[Blarno]

Not when they did mine, they told me the tracking was perfect. A full alignment will check everything.

 

[shadowsun]

I will make some calls on Monday, any other ideas as to a cause meanwhile?

 

[Blarno]

That's my only idea at present. I thought I'd bent my rear beam after crashing at Oulton Park, so finding out it was the toe angle was a relief.

 

[shadowsun]

I wonder if I should take it to Renault in Norwich, maybe the best people to check it over since they are dealers?

 

[Blarno]

Depends if they have a laser alignment set up.

I suspect you'll have to drop your pants and accept a rogering, knowing what Renault's prices are like!

 

[shadowsun]

They had all the laser alignment stuff at Kwik Fit I'm sure. Just seems odd

 

[JD]

Mine came back from tweaks, had the tracking, camber and castor done after new top mounts. My steering wheel is miles off and the car shakes at 70mph. Going straight bloody back!!!

 

[Coby.]

In the Good ol days people would just unbolt the Steering Wheel straighten it and tighten it up again

Ren - Take it to Autotest - http://www.autotest.org.uk/

 

[davebem]

If the steering wheel is off centre it means they havnt done it right. Even if one side is out they need to spend time adjusting both sides (to compensate the other) with the wheel centred to get it just right.

 

[shadowsun]

See I don't want to go back to kwik fit for obvious reasons and a friend on here reccommended a place to have it all done properly but I don't want to go there if it ends up having to go back to Renault for something more serious!

 

[shadowsun]

Spoke to Autotest today Coby, they were who I was thinking of going to - just didn't want to go there if they can't sort it since I seem to spending lots on the car at the moment!!

 

[Munson]

Toe angle is exactly what is adjusted when you get the tracking done. No?

 

[DannyR]

Toe angle is exactly what is adjusted when you get the tracking done. No?

100% correct Roy, Blarno knows nay!

 

[Jaff]

sounds like the havent put the wheel in the dead ahead posisiton and locked it in when they dont the tracking. your supposed to wedge this contraption that looks like a crook lock between the steering wheel and your seat to lock it straight. then they adjust the tow in or out at the track rods. that is getting your tracking done/front wheel alignment.
Now they could recommend a full alignment/4 wheel alighnment, but becareful as you cant do that on alot of cars, like fiestas only have adjustment in the front wheels not the rear. Not sure if clios are the same, doesnt mean they wont sell you it even if it cant be done. front wheel tracking should be about £30 to get done and 4 wheel about £75 (thats what we charge as a ford main dealers, but k-fit or national may verywell be cheaper)
but the tracking only sorts tow in or out.
camber and castor adjustment needs proper specialist stuff that even renault wont have

 

[shadowsun]

K-fit said the the rear axel is fixed and not adjustable. It was fine before K-fit touched it and added my new wheels (which are standard spec), I just don't get why it's so out. I'm hoping this other company can fix it cos it feels weird to drive.

 

[shadowsun]

Update: Just taken the car on a long drive to my parents - abouts 30 miles and the car is HORRIBLE to drive. It's now snaking under breaking, the streering wheel is out as I've said and when positioned straight its pulling hard over to the left, it just doesn't feel connected to the road like it did. WHAT the hell did Kwik fit do to it!!!!

 

[Henry]

sounds as though they've just mucked up the tracking. they'll not have adjusted anything else, as nothing else is adjustable.

just take it somewhere else (have you a local Protyre?) and explain that you're particularly keen on seeing the wheel's dead-straight once they've done. it's also worth checking the toe specs on here to be sure they correspond with the garage's data.

from Jaffa's point, it's actually fairly difficult to adjust the tracking and be left with a dead-straight wheel; shouldn't be so, but that's it really. you can ask them to be particularly careful, but the act of hufting on the tie rods is likely to move the wheel, even if it's being 'held' in place by one of those spring loaded things that sits on your seat. you obv. can't tell them how to do their job (!!) but they need to slacken off the TRE lock nuts first, check the wheel's dead straight, then carefully adjust the tie rods to give you the best chance.

 

[shadowsun]

I am taking an afternoon off work next week to get it sorted, it wasn't messed up before so i don't know how they've got it so wrong. What SHOULD the settings be? I even gave them a print out for the settings off here. It's a Clio 182 with both cup packs.

 

[Henry]

just had a look in the 182 workshop manual (PM your email-addy if you'd like it), and it suggests it's 12min toe out (+/- 5min) - a minute is a 60th of a degree.

it doesn't differentiate between Cup/non Cup, so it might be worth a read to be sure there's nothing else in there.

what were you quoted previously? does that tie-in?

 

[Blarno]

100% correct Roy, Blarno knows nay!

I can only tell him what they told me.

 

[shadowsun]

Cheers lads, being done on Thursday. Fingers crossed.

 

[Cupster]

All the best, let us know how it goes.

 

[shadowsun]

Update: All sorted. Autotest of Norwich put everything right. Kwik fit had set the tracking NO WHERE NEAR where it needed to be. Very poor. To think they probably get away with it to...

Thanks for all the help guys, case closed!