Clio 3 Steering Wheel

[steve_n]

My fiancé has just bought a 2006 Mk3 Clio 1.4 Dyanmique S and it all seems OK apart from the steering wheel angle. We've had the tracking done and the wheel still sits quite a bit off to the right when driving straight ahead.

The garage said they can't adjust it and it's the rear axle not quite square dragging the rear tyres and causing a counter steer.

I don't believe a word of this, the rear tyres are worn evenly and although he pointed out cracking on the outer edges it's on the inner too so I assume this is just age as they are about 5 years old. Also, the car runs straight and true if you take your hands off the wheel and it centres to the off position.

Can you take the wheel off and move it round a notch or is it like a Mk2 where it has a master notch? Is he talking rubbish and the track rod ends just need to be both wound the same amount one way to move the wheel back?

Finally, when driving the doors and boot lock automatically which is great but when you stop and get out the boot remains locked. Not the end of the world but an annoyance and I wondered if this was normal or can be changed?

Thanks for any help you can give.

Regards

Steve

[daydotz]

my steering wheel is slightly off ive been told thats normal i did look into tracking but was told its fine

cracking on the wheels again is normal as long as they not wearing un evenly then theirs nothing to worry about

as for your boot you can disable the auto locking if you hold the unlocking button for a few seconds

[jagracer]

If the rear axle is out then you need to get it sorted, my Clio 2 has 3 bolts holding the radius arm mount but not sure these can be adjusted, has the car been in an accident? You should be able to adjust the position of the steering wheel by adjusting both track rod ends an equal amount. I'd take it to somewhere that knows what they are doing with the alignment tools, it sounds like the place you took it to don't.
Have you tried reading the handbook for the tailgate lock, there's quite a few pages on it if you have one.

Edited by jagracer on Sunday 27th March 13:59

[steve_n]

Thanks for the replies.

The bloke seemed to think the axle is just like that from the factory, and he's seen a 307 CC that someone made Peugeot buy back off them. I think it's fine as it tracks true and wear is even.

The tracking is spot on but it's just the wheel is off centre so I think you must be right and both ends need winding the other way. Will have a look for the book now...

Regards

Steve

[steve_n]

Forgot to say the car has definitely not been in accident and the rear axle is non adjustable.

[jagracer]

Unless they've made an improvement on them keep a check for wear on the track rod ends as my wife's Clio 2 seems to go through them at an alarming rate, although it's now fairly high mileage I've replaced 3 or 4 of them which to me seems a lot.

[steve_n]

Thanks, I'll get them to check when we get the tracking done again somewhere else. They look alright peering through the wheels.

It really pi$$e$ me off when you pay someone to fix a problem and they don't!

[jagracer]

steve_n said:

Thanks, I'll get them to check when we get the tracking done again somewhere else. They look alright peering through the wheels.

You cant really tell by looking, you need to have the front wheels off the ground to check them.

[SpeedMattersNot]

If they are carrying out a 4-wheel allignment, they will have printed off for you, a sheet with all of the measurements on.

Modern laser allignment systems I confess, are not that great. But if they are being honest, they'll be able to prove to you the rear is out - or their tracking equipment need calibrating. The slightest of knocks to any of the 4 receivers, can put it out by a shocking amount.

Go to another dealership/garage, explain your exact situation and tell them which other local garage you went to have told you. They might be willing to do a free allignment check, in the hope in winning you over as a customer.

Regarding, simple removal of the wheel and straightening up - this is not an option. The wheel will only go on in 360degree increments as it has a master groove in the splines.

Sounds to me, like they have tracked the vehicle correctly - but with the wheel off centre.

[steve_n]

They only did a 2 wheel, I didn't ask for 4 as the rear is non-adjustable.

Thanks for confirming the wheel has a notch.

If they have tracked the car straight but not with the wheel correctly aligned are they obliged to sort it, considering I asked them the first time to do this?

[jagracer]

steve_n said:

They only did a 2 wheel, I didn't ask for 4 as the rear is non-adjustable.

Thanks for confirming the wheel has a notch.

If they have tracked the car straight but not with the wheel correctly aligned are they obliged to sort it, considering I asked them the first time to do this?

So how did they know the rear axle is not square, something I find hard to believe? We tracked a car up this afternoon and aligned the front wheels to the rear and also locked the steering wheel in the straight ahead position before we started, it's not that difficult.

[SpeedMattersNot]

Never have I heard of a 2-wheel allignment!!

I've only ever seen and/or done 4 wheel allignment. It's a pointless exercise...unless it's a motorbike of course.

[steve_n]

Well the lasers went on all 4 wheels but they can only adjust the front so that's why I said 2 wheel, apologies if the correct term is indeed 4 wheel.

I think the bloke just 'deduced' that the rear axle wasn't quite square but his reasons were all not true, tyre wear is even and car travels straight. He was offering to try and jig the front wheels to make it roughly straight thinking he was ironing out a counter steer that doesn't exist.

I'm gonna try again this weekend and tell them what to do with regards locking the wheel straight first, if they'll let me...