Wheel off slightly after Hunter alignment (Inc Picture)

Redgie

Redgie

Redgie

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18 Nov 2008
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Liverpool
So I've just had my wheels aligned at a very reputable garage these forums amongst others know and love. I'm told the steering wheel was off centre (I'd never noticed before, but then I did feel like it pulled slightly), so they've straightened it, all fine.

I head out, and on the way home I realise, NOW I feel like it's off. Not by much, the tiniest bit in fact, but it's definitely off.

Here are the results from the alignment, which also look a bit odd to me for a couple reasons:
1. The caster has remained red, or is caster just not adjustable?
2. Should the front camber really be that different across the axle?
3. Why was the rear left toe red before but green after with the same value (Or does this just mean it lines up with the rest of the car now)?

(Giant) Pic: http://i.imgur.com/x4eGdUb.jpg

The garage is inconvenient to get too as I have to pull a favor and adjust my hours slightly, but I can get back there if needs be. Is it worth it or will the car adjust this over time (I've hear the A5 does this...?).

Thanks in advance :)
 
You sure it's not due to the contour of the road?

Dat camber though. I think it's poor form not to leave it symmetrical. A decent garage will get symmetry and then green boxes rather than if it's green leave it.

Go stick this thread on teh WIM forum.
 
I can't understand the logic behind coming to the internet instead of turning the sucker right around and going back?

Anyway, the cross camber will make it pull left but probs not that much.
 
The steering wheel has been set wrong, simple as that really. It's up to the person looking at the person doing the job to set the steering wheel straight then lock it in that position, so either he didn't set it straight or it moved after.

The caster isn't adjustable or at least not easily. It wont have any effect on pulling to one side or the other anyway.

The camber is within spec both sides, so that's considered ok.

The rear toe isn't the same, it was negative before (out of spec), now it positive and within spec.
 
They couldn't change the camber most likely. Only toe. Which they have. Your cars probably hit a curb or got worn bushes or whatever on the front axel on one side causing it to be off spec.
 
Not us then, phew. :D


1. The caster has remained red, or is caster just not adjustable?
Click to expand...
Depends on the make of car, you've not said..
2. Should the front camber really be that different across the axle?
Click to expand...
No but if it's not adjustable, you're pretty stuffed.
3. Why was the rear left toe red before but green after with the same value (Or does this just mean it lines up with the rest of the car now)?
Click to expand...
Because it's now positive toe, not negative.

Steering wheel not straight is a minor issue and they should, if a decent place, set it straight or tell you why it cant be.
(It could be tyres making it pull one way)
 
Thanks for the recommendation pepsilol...

@ Redgie
I assume your car is a German marque and if yes they should have added ballast to pre-load the suspension so it's at mid point of bump-droop.

Maybe this paper i wrote some years back might help your situation?
................................................
The most common complaint after front wheel alignment is the end position of the steering wheel this is a visual indication that
1: The workmanship was poor
2: The equipment is inadequate
3: Alignment was never the real problem
4: The manufactured cars axle is miss-aligned

Nearly every alignment test in the World is sold to the customer by the shop based on visual wear on the tyres at the end of there life, inevitable history of past alignment problems would still exist on the face of the tyre, born from this visible wear and potential loss of the new replacements a customer could assume a problem still exists and is easily sold.

Taking 1 to 4 here are my thoughts)-

1: No legal responsibility is required to ascertain the understanding of the technician who sets the direction of your £50.000 (theoretical) car with the new £500 front tyres, most common is a 'drive by' smattering of knowledge that involves undoing of nuts and about ten minutes additional time whilst you pay the bill, (so knowledge maybe why)

2: There are many machines on the market that promise different levels of alignment, most common is 'front wheel alignment' this form is the most damaging and by today's standard only suitable for the horse and cart, can i remind you that the car has 'Four Wheels', (so the equipment maybe why)

3: With the magnitude of problems expressed though the tyres during their life span it would be easy to assume alignment is to blame. Current issues with the Geometry or the cars health in general will cause untold affects toward the tyres and handling, this does not dismiss the fact that 'at the time' the alignment may be incorrect, (so maybe the car is why)

4: There are occasional manufacturing reasons that deceives the operator, this is unusual and depends on equipment, this is most times geometrically undetectable (so maybe the construction is why)

Taking all possibilities into consideration the common denominator is the Thrust Angle the cars true centre that most angles depend on as reference......simple as that!

sc06_03.gif (click to re-size)

Any method that attempts to imagine the front wheels forward position relative the the fixed rear thrust angle will result in the need for the driver to compensate and manufacture a new centre line at the steering wheel, if any adjustments made do not respect the true 'Thrust Angle' then the resulting drive will mean the steering wheel is off-line.
 
I called them up and they asked me to bring it back in (Which is a pain as it's out of my way, but that's hardly going to discourage me).

Went back in and they re-did the steering wheel alignment slightly. Guy took it out and road tested it then came out to apologise for me having to come back in, explained what he thinks might have caused it. Also gave me another Hunter printout which shows "No alignment adjustment needed".

Take it out, and now it's off to the left. The amount it's off by however is incredibly small, and considering the state of my tyres (Which although new on two months ago, took an unfortunate battering from the previously bad-alignment prior to me getting it done), I think it's only fair I sit it out a few weeks and see if it settles. If the tyres do go back to normal (They currently hum louder than 100 broken wheel bearings in harmony) and it's still slightly off, I'll give them a call again.

Thanks for the help folks :).
 
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