V70: Tracking: am I being unreasonable?

[JumboBeef]

For the MOT on my 1998 TDi V70, I had a front wheel bearing replaced, together with a couple of track rod ends. Because of this, it was tracked.

When I got the car back, everything was fine but the steering wheel was off centre, the top was at about 11 o'clock when driving straight (it was pretty much straight before the work was done, maybe slightly off but not so much you'd notice). I contacted the garage and they had it back. Then it come back with the top at about 1 o'clock.

I spoke to the owner of the garage who said to bring it back again and he would do it personally. I know he spent a long time on it, with numerous test drives. But the top is now back at 11 o'clock. He said it was very difficult to get the wheel straight.

Now before I talk to them again, am I being unreasonable to expect the wheel to be straight? Does an off-set wheel bother anyone else?

Thanks.

[dieselderv]

I don't think you are at all I've never had a problem with the steering wheel being off centre after a track up..did he use the little tripod thingy to hold the steering wheel central when he did it..if not it is hard to do

[canis]

An offset wheel would bug me no end!

Besides, if the wheel was straight before, then it can be considered to be unchanged and representitive of something else being wrong - such as the trackrod end they changed. Can't just move the steering wheel to compensate for improper tracking, although I've known mechanics who do and will talk at length about why it makes no difference. I don't agree, I want the steering wheel in the middle of the rack, and I want the rod ends equidistant from the centre. It's perfectly achievable, and definitely not asking too much.

[DaveNP]

I don't think you're being unreasonable. It hacks me off to be driving with the wheel out of straight, and it is part of the basic spec of the car. That said when I changed a wishbone on mine it took several attempts to get the steering wheel back to central, with repeated road tests and a sixth of a turn on on this side and a sixth of a turn off on the other until it was right. I did find that if they were not done up to tight and the track rods were free in the track rod ends it was possible to do the little adjustments through the wheel arch with the car on the ground, just needs lifting up when it's right to fully tighten the lock nuts.

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by JumboBeef

For the MOT on my 1998 TDi V70, I had a front wheel bearing replaced, together with a couple of track rod ends. Because of this, it was tracked.

When I got the car back, everything was fine but the steering wheel was off centre, the top was at about 11 o'clock when driving straight (it was pretty much straight before the work was done, maybe slightly off but not so much you'd notice). I contacted the garage and they had it back. Then it come back with the top at about 1 o'clock.

I spoke to the owner of the garage who said to bring it back again and he would do it personally. I know he spent a long time on it, with numerous test drives. But the top is now back at 11 o'clock. He said it was very difficult to get the wheel straight.

Now before I talk to them again, am I being unreasonable to expect the wheel to be straight? Does an off-set wheel bother anyone else?

Thanks.

Similar happened to me at Kwik-fit last year.
My local branch has the Hunter system which by most accounts is the dog's danglies and my steering wheel was dead straight when going straight before letting them loose on it.
They gave me the before and after report and adjustments had needed to be made but driving home, my wheel was clearly slightly off centre.
I didn't do anything about it and it bugged me constantly.

I needed new tyres this year and fitted all matching. Previously front's were different brands.

Hey presto, steering wheel now dead centre.

This is a long way of asking whether your front tyres are matching and evenly worn?

[TDIvolvo]

Originally Posted by JumboBeef

For the MOT on my 1998 TDi V70, I had a front wheel bearing replaced, together with a couple of track rod ends. Because of this, it was tracked.

When I got the car back, everything was fine but the steering wheel was off centre, the top was at about 11 o'clock when driving straight (it was pretty much straight before the work was done, maybe slightly off but not so much you'd notice). I contacted the garage and they had it back. Then it come back with the top at about 1 o'clock.

I spoke to the owner of the garage who said to bring it back again and he would do it personally. I know he spent a long time on it, with numerous test drives. But the top is now back at 11 o'clock. He said it was very difficult to get the wheel straight.

Now before I talk to them again, am I being unreasonable to expect the wheel to be straight? Does an off-set wheel bother anyone else?

Thanks.

Not at all unreasonable, I helped change the wishbones and steering arms on a friends (McPie on this forum) S60 at the weekend, he went straight to get two new front tyres and the alignment all done. I drove the car for ab out 30 odd miles last night and it was spot on. Wheel sat at bang on 12:00 position and there wasn't even a hint of vibration or anything from the car. Perfect really - as good as new.

Left or right hand down steering wheel indicates the tracking has not been done correctly because they have got one side of the steering inner/track ends longer or shorter than it should be.

[Luxobarge]

Not in the slightest bit unreasonable. I get real OCD about the wheel being central, and because of how rarely tyre places get it right I always set my tracking up myself with a Gunson Trakrite - good bit of kit and quite accurate actually. So that's why you are not being at all unreasonable - if I can do it (usually fairly quickly) then there's no reason any garage shouldn't be able to do so as well.

[ITSv40]

Not sure about the wheel being at 11 or 1 o'clock. I get paranoid if it sits at 11.59 or 12.01. To me a wheel has to be spot on straight and level. So in answer to your question, no you are not being unreasonable.

If the tracking is done correctly the wheel should sit at 12 o'clock and drive in a straight line. If it doesn't it is not right and if it is not right it is wrong.

[volvoid]

You did well at KwikFit - they may buy good kit but very few of their people know how to use it properly

OP-if its not correct, why not ? Needs to be sorted

[4v6]

Another vote for "not being unreasonable" here.

What theyve done is, theyve not preset the steering wheel in the straight ahead position and locked it prior to altering the tracking, basically with them winding the track rods in/out it causes the steering wheel to change position as although the cars wheels are now running correctly, it has the effect of shifting the wheel slightly.
The issue with it being at either 11 or 1 oclock is simpoly down to them removing the wheel and attempting to set the wheel straight ahead, but its obviously the spline on the steering column isnt allowing the wheel to be fitted as it ahould, theres too much shift from one spline to the next hence the too much too little issue youve had.
Theyve not done the job right.