Wheel alignment done but steering wheel still not straight!
Discussion
Hi guys,
I have a E60 535D, I put some new tyres on it and went to get the tracking done, they couldn't do it as the rods had seized, so I went and bought some Lemforder inner and outer track rod ends and had them fitted, now went back and had it tracked, took it for a drive steering still not straight, it is 15 degrees slanted to the left, if I hold it straight it will pull to the left. Took it back and tracked it again, however same thing happened again! Did it 4 times, this is using a Hunters machine to do the tracking.
Out of ideas on what could the be the cause?! The garage advised its because its aftermarket track rods? surely that shouldn't matter?! They told me to get them from BMW which are 200 a side, I don't want to keep wasting money as I do not think this will solve the issue?
Anyone experienced this before? Any help would be appreciated
I have a E60 535D, I put some new tyres on it and went to get the tracking done, they couldn't do it as the rods had seized, so I went and bought some Lemforder inner and outer track rod ends and had them fitted, now went back and had it tracked, took it for a drive steering still not straight, it is 15 degrees slanted to the left, if I hold it straight it will pull to the left. Took it back and tracked it again, however same thing happened again! Did it 4 times, this is using a Hunters machine to do the tracking.
Out of ideas on what could the be the cause?! The garage advised its because its aftermarket track rods? surely that shouldn't matter?! They told me to get them from BMW which are 200 a side, I don't want to keep wasting money as I do not think this will solve the issue?
Anyone experienced this before? Any help would be appreciated
Thanks guys,
Had two different guys from the same garage track it but still the same, will try another garage but its just having to pay another garage again and if the same happens i'm gonna be a loss again. Just thought is it something else that could be causing this that needs looking at?
Had two different guys from the same garage track it but still the same, will try another garage but its just having to pay another garage again and if the same happens i'm gonna be a loss again. Just thought is it something else that could be causing this that needs looking at?
It could be that everything has been sorted and it's tracking straight; but if the tie rods aren't even, then the wheel will be off centre
It's a simple case of loosening off the tie rods and winding the relevant one in and the other out. Take it back to the garage that did the tracking/alignment for you and tell them that the wheel is still off and they'll soon sort it for you
It's nothing major, just a pain
FYI I've had a lot of cars sorted on a Hunter system; tracking/alignment perfect, but steering wheel still off due to the tie rods etc
It's a simple case of loosening off the tie rods and winding the relevant one in and the other out. Take it back to the garage that did the tracking/alignment for you and tell them that the wheel is still off and they'll soon sort it for you
It's nothing major, just a pain
FYI I've had a lot of cars sorted on a Hunter system; tracking/alignment perfect, but steering wheel still off due to the tie rods etc
d_a_n1979 said:
It could be that everything has been sorted and it's tracking straight; but if the tie rods aren't even, then the wheel will be off centre
It's a simple case of loosening off the tie rods and winding the relevant one in and the other out. Take it back to the garage that did the tracking/alignment for you and tell them that the wheel is still off and they'll soon sort it for you
It's nothing major, just a pain
FYI I've had a lot of cars sorted on a Hunter system; tracking/alignment perfect, but steering wheel still off due to the tie rods etc
Having recently done a front suspension overhaul on my MX5 (rear starting soon..), that would've been one of my first thoughts. Is it common for a garage to not have a clue when the numbers are right? Just surprised that the professionals haven't tried it I guessIt's a simple case of loosening off the tie rods and winding the relevant one in and the other out. Take it back to the garage that did the tracking/alignment for you and tell them that the wheel is still off and they'll soon sort it for you
It's nothing major, just a pain
FYI I've had a lot of cars sorted on a Hunter system; tracking/alignment perfect, but steering wheel still off due to the tie rods etc
You straighten the steering wheel, then sort the wheels.
How hard can it be.
Unless the rack is offset and the steering wheel previously offset to counter it.
But you think they’d say the TREs are at the stops on one end and would right out at the other.
This sounds like grade A incompetence.
How hard can it be.
Unless the rack is offset and the steering wheel previously offset to counter it.
But you think they’d say the TREs are at the stops on one end and would right out at the other.
This sounds like grade A incompetence.
Both axles' toe-ins need to be in sync - it's a fine balancing act, especially on a BMW.
Example 1: Rear axle toe-in pulls a little bit to the left (within tolerance but borderline) and the front axle to the right (again within tolerance but borderline) the end result is car turning not going straight but right and you need to compensate with your steering wheel hence off centre position.
Example 2: The offside front wheel has less negative camber than the nearside, i.e. it is more vertical, With the toe in being perfectly in the middle there is a probability that the car will pull to the right as the left wheel with more negative camber and having toe-in, will bite more aggressively with the inner tyre edge then the offside wheel, resulting in the car steering right. If not extreme this force can be countered with a toe-in that is offset a bit to the left (within tolerance).
The problem is that some people working with those machines have little understanding of the basic geometry and just aim to stay within guidelines, without having the big picture. You need to find garage who has experience setting up cars for track/rally use etc - they should know their stuff.
Example 1: Rear axle toe-in pulls a little bit to the left (within tolerance but borderline) and the front axle to the right (again within tolerance but borderline) the end result is car turning not going straight but right and you need to compensate with your steering wheel hence off centre position.
Example 2: The offside front wheel has less negative camber than the nearside, i.e. it is more vertical, With the toe in being perfectly in the middle there is a probability that the car will pull to the right as the left wheel with more negative camber and having toe-in, will bite more aggressively with the inner tyre edge then the offside wheel, resulting in the car steering right. If not extreme this force can be countered with a toe-in that is offset a bit to the left (within tolerance).
The problem is that some people working with those machines have little understanding of the basic geometry and just aim to stay within guidelines, without having the big picture. You need to find garage who has experience setting up cars for track/rally use etc - they should know their stuff.
Have a drive to Huddersfield , spirit level on steering wheel then adjusts the car with super attention to detail using Hunter .
http://www.atec-align.co.uk/
http://www.atec-align.co.uk/
Iddz said:
Hi guys,
I have a E60 535D, I put some new tyres on it and went to get the tracking done, they couldn't do it as the rods had seized, so I went and bought some Lemforder inner and outer track rod ends and had them fitted, now went back and had it tracked, took it for a drive steering still not straight, it is 15 degrees slanted to the left, if I hold it straight it will pull to the left. Took it back and tracked it again, however same thing happened again! Did it 4 times, this is using a Hunters machine to do the tracking.
Out of ideas on what could the be the cause?! The garage advised its because its aftermarket track rods? surely that shouldn't matter?! They told me to get them from BMW which are 200 a side, I don't want to keep wasting money as I do not think this will solve the issue?
Anyone experienced this before? Any help would be appreciated
Where abouts are you Iddz? Anywhere near Preston/Blackburn?I have a E60 535D, I put some new tyres on it and went to get the tracking done, they couldn't do it as the rods had seized, so I went and bought some Lemforder inner and outer track rod ends and had them fitted, now went back and had it tracked, took it for a drive steering still not straight, it is 15 degrees slanted to the left, if I hold it straight it will pull to the left. Took it back and tracked it again, however same thing happened again! Did it 4 times, this is using a Hunters machine to do the tracking.
Out of ideas on what could the be the cause?! The garage advised its because its aftermarket track rods? surely that shouldn't matter?! They told me to get them from BMW which are 200 a side, I don't want to keep wasting money as I do not think this will solve the issue?
Anyone experienced this before? Any help would be appreciated
Sardonicus said:
They better not do that or the DSC/ABS light will show up, how can you release a car after wheel alignment with a crook steering wheel? 
the mind boggles
It doesn’t always appear until you’re back on a straight road unfortunately. the mind bogglesUneven tyre wear can cause similar issues too...
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