Just had 4 wheel alignment on CTR

eidolon · 2 Mar 2006 at 19:24

As you know I've had the renowned steering rack issue with the CTR. If you're driving on a road with a long sweeping bend the car just wants to continue turning, the wheels don't centralise after the bend. The steering wheel kinda sticks and you have to yank it to get it to straighten backup. I took the car to Honda on Saturday where a so called technician test drove the car and said there was nothing wrong with it. I provided them with reams of information about other owners with the same problems but they flatly refused to acknowledge that it was a problem and said that I'd have to pay £75 to have the geometry reset. To add insult to injury they then took 2 days to do the tracking (a 20 minute job?) and they insisted that I pay £20 for courtesy car insurance cover!
Begrudgingly I had it done but asked them to provide me with the before and after settings (see below)

Now I'm not an expert at reading these diagrams but it looks to me that the front wheels are prefectly aligned apart from the passenger side one which is fractionally outside of the recommended setting, surely that wouldn't cause the sort of problems I've been experiencing.

Anyone with more knowledge of geometry care to take a look and comment?

Before

After

L0rdMike · 2 Mar 2006 at 19:26

How does the car feel now its been done?

eidolon · 2 Mar 2006 at 19:30

Dunno yet, I'm just about to go out and try it so I'll report back when I get back.

Muncher · 2 Mar 2006 at 19:34

Self centering is controlled by the steering axis inclination and the castor angle.

That geometry setup has only adjusted camber and toe in, which are the 2 easy ones to do.

http://www.procarcare.com/icarumba/...ar_resourcecenter_encyclopedia_suspsteer3.asp

Muncher · 2 Mar 2006 at 19:38

Steering Axis Inclination is also called King Pin Inclination.

Bear · 2 Mar 2006 at 20:07

It looks like they have charged you and have done literally nothing, just a very slight alteration to the toe and rear thrust angle(?)

Muncher · 2 Mar 2006 at 20:28

Just a fraction less toe out on the rear.

eidolon · 2 Mar 2006 at 20:58

Well I've just been for a quick drive in it and it does seem a little better. The steering wheel isn't sticky but it still doesn't centralise properly IMO.

I think I need to go for a proper drive at the weekend on different roads to test it properly.

Gixer · 2 Mar 2006 at 21:07

Does this happen on every bend? My 306 gti-6 sometimes does this kinda thing too, but not on every bend. I put it down to the tyres tracking on the road a bit. Also which bend are you going around? If its a left hand bend then torque stear will come into play too, that combined with positive camber would make it not want to self centralise on its own to easy.

My car is tracking grooves etc on the road worse now too as the tyres are starting to wear low.

eidolon · 2 Mar 2006 at 21:09

It seems more noticable on long sweeping bends. When the road straightens the steering wheel doesn't, it wants to stay turning.

Badgerpoo · 2 Mar 2006 at 22:47

Protyre in Bristol did my 4 wheel alignment when I last had it done, highly professional and they could adjust alignments you dont even know exist. I recommend you take it there if your still unsure...