What can cause steering tracking to be off?
Discussion
2019 VW Golf GTD.
Steering goes in a straight line but to drive in a straight line the steering wheel has to be turned 20 degrees to the right.
Just had 4-wheel alignment done at a specialist who I trust and he said the alignment wasn’t far off to begin with and that there’s something else causing the issue.
Any ideas? The tyres have tons of tread so I don’t think it would be those.
Steering goes in a straight line but to drive in a straight line the steering wheel has to be turned 20 degrees to the right.
Just had 4-wheel alignment done at a specialist who I trust and he said the alignment wasn’t far off to begin with and that there’s something else causing the issue.
Any ideas? The tyres have tons of tread so I don’t think it would be those.
Because someone did the alignment without centering the wheel.
To correct that, you need to adjust both track rod ends by the same amount in the same direction. 20 degrees is quite a lot - it might even be that the steering wheel needs to be moved on the spline (dependent on how fine the spline is etc).
To correct that, you need to adjust both track rod ends by the same amount in the same direction. 20 degrees is quite a lot - it might even be that the steering wheel needs to be moved on the spline (dependent on how fine the spline is etc).
ScoobyChris said:
If the car drives straight and true when the steering wheel is at 20 degrees, are yuo sure it isn't just that they didn't lock the steering wheel in the straight ahead position before making the adjustments. Can you take it back and ask them to check it?
Chris
Chris
Yeah, he assured me the alignment was fine and that something else was causing the steering to be off.
the wheels all might be pointing in the right direction but if it doesn't line up with the steering wheel is straight then the alignment is off.
The process of alignment should be that the steering wheel is set to straight ahead and then the steering geometry are changed to match it.
Best guess would be that a big whack to a curb or pothole has moved something, if you are sure nothing is bent then the alignment needs to be re-done with the steering wheel in the right place, or the steering wheel moved on the spline to be correct to the wheels.
The process of alignment should be that the steering wheel is set to straight ahead and then the steering geometry are changed to match it.
Best guess would be that a big whack to a curb or pothole has moved something, if you are sure nothing is bent then the alignment needs to be re-done with the steering wheel in the right place, or the steering wheel moved on the spline to be correct to the wheels.
If someone doesn't understand how steering wheel position and tracking relate, I really don't think they should be doing alignment.
OP - depending on how it has got out of line either
a) the steering wheel needs to be centered, and then the tracking re-done with the wheel in the correct position (it will be way out before they start)
b) with the tracking in spec, the steering wheel needs to be removed from the splines, centered and re-attached.
OP - depending on how it has got out of line either
a) the steering wheel needs to be centered, and then the tracking re-done with the wheel in the correct position (it will be way out before they start)
b) with the tracking in spec, the steering wheel needs to be removed from the splines, centered and re-attached.
Specialist you trust ??
First thing is to set the steering wheel at the straight ahead position and lock it in place whilst you sort the wheels out.
I'd suggest your specialist isn't very special.
It could be caused by someone having removed the steering wheel for whatever reason like an air bag fault etc etc. And it ot being put back on straight. Even so , your specialist should have sorted it as part of the alignment
First thing is to set the steering wheel at the straight ahead position and lock it in place whilst you sort the wheels out.
I'd suggest your specialist isn't very special.
It could be caused by someone having removed the steering wheel for whatever reason like an air bag fault etc etc. And it ot being put back on straight. Even so , your specialist should have sorted it as part of the alignment
Moving it on the spline doesn't sound right? I did this once but didn't feel comfortable with it so moved it back before I got tracking done. To be fair, I've had it done twice now and it's still off... I've just learnt to live with it now, although it does annoy me from time to time. I've only had front wheel alignment done as my car is FWD - Would four wheels make any difference?
CharlesElliott said:
If someone doesn't understand how steering wheel position and tracking relate, I really don't think they should be doing alignment.
OP - depending on how it has got out of line either
a) the steering wheel needs to be centered, and then the tracking re-done with the wheel in the correct position (it will be way out before they start)
b) with the tracking in spec, the steering wheel needs to be removed from the splines, centered and re-attached.
Go for a)OP - depending on how it has got out of line either
a) the steering wheel needs to be centered, and then the tracking re-done with the wheel in the correct position (it will be way out before they start)
b) with the tracking in spec, the steering wheel needs to be removed from the splines, centered and re-attached.
The OP is claiming the wheel is 20 degrees out... so assuming the wheel hasn't been pulled off and repositioned on the splines, one would assume that it is on the right spline.
Ideally the rack should be centred, the wheel on the right spline, then the tracking adjusted.
In the olden days you used to be able to be able to put a centring plug in to the rack in one of the cars I had (Mini).
If they have pulled the wheel off, then that needs sorting first.
As you say, it sounds like the people doing the alignment don't understand the basics.
Before even thinking of removing the steering wheel, please test something for us. Please turn full left until you hit the lock limit and note the position of the steering wheel. Then turn full right until you hit the lock limit and note the position of the steering wheel. Are the final positions of the steering wheel the same but mirrored or are they about 40deg different?
Pretty much all modern cars will have a steering angle sensor somewhere, often on the column although I don't know about Volkswagens specifically, feeding the car's computers some information about what you're trying to do which forms part of modern electronic stability control software.
You need to find out if the steering rack itself is centred when the road wheels are pointing straight ahead and that the garage who did the alignment hasn't got both track rod ends offset making the wheels parallel but the rack displaced off-centre. That could have your car thinking you're trying to turn when you're not, or thinking you're trying to drive straight when you're actually cornering fairly hard in the other direction. Obviously, it would also mean you have a tighter turning circle one way than you will the other. Removing the steering wheel and refitting it rotated on the splines won't fix that but adjusting both track rods again with the steering actually centred before adjusting the track rods to point the road wheels straight ahead would instead be the correct action.
Pretty much all modern cars will have a steering angle sensor somewhere, often on the column although I don't know about Volkswagens specifically, feeding the car's computers some information about what you're trying to do which forms part of modern electronic stability control software.
You need to find out if the steering rack itself is centred when the road wheels are pointing straight ahead and that the garage who did the alignment hasn't got both track rod ends offset making the wheels parallel but the rack displaced off-centre. That could have your car thinking you're trying to turn when you're not, or thinking you're trying to drive straight when you're actually cornering fairly hard in the other direction. Obviously, it would also mean you have a tighter turning circle one way than you will the other. Removing the steering wheel and refitting it rotated on the splines won't fix that but adjusting both track rods again with the steering actually centred before adjusting the track rods to point the road wheels straight ahead would instead be the correct action.
Edited by jamieduff1981 on Wednesday 19th April 14:16
IIRC you can check the wheel is centred on the Rack or Steering box buy measuring the turns from straight ahead to full left lock and from straight ahead to full right lock (in your case the straight ahead start point is wherever the steering wheel is when your wheels are pointing straight ahead and comparing the two???
I had a similar thing after taking a car for alignment, I took it back and they just told me it was all fine but clearly it wasn't, they weren't very helpful.
If the car tracks straight, then the alignment is correct, if the wheel is off centre when the car is tracking straight, it hasn't been tracked with the wheel in the centre position, simple as that.
If the car tracks straight, then the alignment is correct, if the wheel is off centre when the car is tracking straight, it hasn't been tracked with the wheel in the centre position, simple as that.
Evil.soup said:
I had a similar thing after taking a car for alignment, I took it back and they just told me it was all fine but clearly it wasn't, they weren't very helpful.
If the car tracks straight, then the alignment is correct, if the wheel is off centre when the car is tracking straight, it hasn't been tracked with the wheel in the centre position, simple as that.
They suggested it was some/one of the tyres causing the issue.If the car tracks straight, then the alignment is correct, if the wheel is off centre when the car is tracking straight, it hasn't been tracked with the wheel in the centre position, simple as that.
I agree with all of the above. I wasn’t suggesting that anyone remove a steering wheel unless they know what they are doing. Which you would hope a specialist would!
On my race car the first thing I do is mark the rack centre so that I can see what has moved if it goes out of alignment.
On my race car the first thing I do is mark the rack centre so that I can see what has moved if it goes out of alignment.
aceofspades1 said:
They suggested it was some/one of the tyres causing the issue.
Had this with my other half's Astra. Had a pair of ditch finders on it from previous owner. Took it to Kwik Fit who usually do a spot on job. They aligned it but it was still off by a long way. Ended up with a new set of alloys and matching tyres on the front and it's now pretty much spot on. I honestly didn't believe them, but they knew what they were on about. RazerSauber said:
Had this with my other half's Astra. Had a pair of ditch finders on it from previous owner. Took it to Kwik Fit who usually do a spot on job. They aligned it but it was still off by a long way. Ended up with a new set of alloys and matching tyres on the front and it's now pretty much spot on. I honestly didn't believe them, but they knew what they were on about.
I agree. Though everyone above may be right, I am inclined to believe it’s a possibility. I’m going to check all the makes of the tyres and tread depths and see what happens.Gassing Station | Suspension, Brakes & Tyres | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff