am I right?

[magpies]

I just replaced the track rod ends on my A4 - measured the threads before taking the old ones off and putting the new ones on to the same. Steering wheel still near enough central (within a couple of degrees)when driving down a straight road. As a precaution I took the car to a national typre tyre company to have it checked and any fine adjustments made. I did ask them what it should be set at and they said +2 I asked was that toe in or toe out - they sad didn't matter as long as the figures added to +2 (and no I didn't believe them). Anyway they set it up and then made some adjustments - they seemed more concerned to make the figures front to back the same on each side and then it ended as something like +2.5 and -.5 so they were happy. As they handed me my keys the chap says your steering wheel is well out and needs to be taken off and put back straight!!. Not particularly happy I stopped on the way home and turning the wheel fully each way to confirm the wheel was central with the rack (it is) but going on a straight road the wheel is at 60deg to straight on and from there I have 1 turn right and nearly 2 turns left. Surely they have well cocked this up?

[tvrgit]

Yes.

The track rods are effectively now different lengths - which is likely to give you "bump steer" - you probably won't notice it, until the one time you do...

Their advice is bks, the toe in / out has to be right. This "as long as it adds up to 2" is pish. Not only have they got it wrong, they've also got it unequal left to right. Complete hash of a job.

[busta]

What they seem to have missed out on is setting the steering wheel straight before adjusting everything else. With the wheel dead straight, each side should be on 1* but the idea of setting it up so the difference across both wheels is 2* does work, as long as you aren't bothered where the steering wheel points...

Nothing more annoying than a wonky steering wheel, I'd take it back and get them to do it again with the wheel straight. They have a tool to hold it straight, it would have come in the kit with the rest of the tracking gear.

[littleredrooster]

Complete amateurs. Take it back and ask for the job to be done properly by someone who is trained.

[Bill]

Take it back?? fk that, take it to someone halfway competent.

[magpies]

must admit it is on my mind to take it back but they are so incompetent

they did have the steering wheel holder in place and only when he reversed the car off the ramp did he notice the change

I realise having toe settings different each side will give handling problems when pushing on uneven roads which is why this post - but not wanting to name and blame this national type company - this last bit can be removed if necessary by the mods