tracking

monkeyspank · 22 Sep 2006 at 11:25

I noticed my work van pulling to the left quite badly and also the front left tyre is wearing badly on the outside.

I mentioned it to someone at work to get the tracking checked. They came back saying they took it somewhere but didn't get anything done as he was told that new cars are designed to pull left in case you fall asleep :confused:

There's me thinking that they are meant to go in a straight line.

Also the tyre has about 2-3mm of tread on the outside edge of that wheel. I know roundabouts can wear them out but there's a good 8mm left on the rest of that tyre and also all the other tyres.

Does this sound right? I mean the van really pulls to the left, say at 60mph you it would change lanes in less than 5 seconds if you let go of the wheel.

ramirez · 22 Sep 2006 at 11:29

no that does sound like the wheel alignment is off mate. take it to a reuptable place and get laser alignment performed - that'll tell you how far out the alignment is.

monkeyspank · 22 Sep 2006 at 11:30

Yeah thought so, thanks mate.

-westy- · 22 Sep 2006 at 11:32

monkeyspank said:
They came back saying they took it somewhere but didn't get anything done as he was told that new cars are designed to pull left in case you fall asleep There's me thinking that they are meant to go in a straight line.

what a load of crap. On most A roads cars will seem to pull to the left because of the camber of the road. On a perfectly flat road a car should go where you point it.

4T5 · 22 Sep 2006 at 11:33

monkeyspank said:
I mentioned it to someone at work to get the tracking checked. They came back saying they took it somewhere but didn't get anything done as he was told that new cars are designed to pull left in case you fall asleep

Does this sound right? I mean the van really pulls to the left, say at 60mph you it would change lanes in less than 5 seconds if you let go of the wheel.

Never heard anything so daft for ages. Only NASCARS' are designed to pull to one side and that is because they Only race on Ovals.

Your problem is caused by either your wheel bearing on its way out but you would hear and feel a slight rumble when going round certain bends.
It will be either a track rod end or a Bush worn.
Of course it could be your tracking but there is No reason for your tracking going off unless you have kerbed the motor recently.

monkeyspank · 22 Sep 2006 at 11:38

I would imagine that it gets kerbed quite a bit looking at the wheels on one of the other driver's brand new Audi. Ouch.

The van is quite new, done about 8K. I'm guessing even one kerbing when it was carrying half a ton of cable could knock it out quite a bit.

I was a bit surprised when it came back, not even been on the rollers :rolleyes:

4T5 · 22 Sep 2006 at 11:43

It's a good idea to take a Van empty when you want it looked at as it will more likely be fit in.
Nobody likes working on a van when it's loaded as it makes the whole job Much more hassle.

monkeyspank · 22 Sep 2006 at 11:52

It was empty when they took it and it sounds like the garage couldn't be bothered. I mean even if there is nothing wrong, if someone brings a vehicle to you and asks you to check the tracking then you do it because if nothing is wrong then you make £20 whatever on putting on the machine and doing a printout. I said take it to the place where I always go and they took it somewhere else because it was nearer.

oh well, it's not my money that will be paying for new front tyres