Steering problem?

[Diver944]

The thing with our cars is that everything is adjustable - toe, camber, caster etc and it only takes a really big pothole or bumping up a kerb to knock it slightly out of whack. Most cars are only adjustable for toe so the other two point are solidly mounted, not with an adjuster and locking nut that can be moved with just the right (or wrong) amount of force

 

[peanut]

ORIGINAL: lookingfora944

My car seems very sensitive to naunces of the road. Especially so if there is a particularly steeped camber.
It also has an annoying tendency to pull over to the left. I had new suspension fitted a few months ago with new front tyres and it was also realigned. However, it is started pulling again. Not sure why. But it's going in for some work soon so may get them to have another look at it

next time you find the car pulling to the left on a road with a camber see if you can spot any ruts in the ashphalt particularly in the gutter. Over time heavy goods vehicles will wear a deep trough in the asphalt due to the uneven weight on the inside wheels due to the road camber,

i have several roads in my area where this happens. it was only when i spotted the wear in the asphalt and realised my inside tyres were tramlining in the rut that I realised what was happening.

Naturally if your car is doing it all the time there must be something wrong with the steering, tyres, suspension ,tracking etc
One old car I had, had been run into a kerb and had the inside wheel and strut pushed back nearly an inch. it only showed up when I measured diagonally between all the wheels.!

 

[Hairyarse]

Went for a full geometry check at Formula 1 auto centre in Peterborough. £62 quid later and my S2 is driving like a dream [] They've got the full laser set up gear, apologies for the crap photo!

Steering wasn't straight ahead, toe and caster were out. They said they couldn't sort the castor out, spoke to Rob he thought strange, going to pop around and see him in a mo!

Rear toe on the N/S is very slightly out. Can this be adjusted? The car has had repair done at suspension mount in the past. It has been done professionally and to a good standard but wonder if this could cause the toe being out at the rear if the repair wasn't dimensionally cock-on?

Anyway, I'm happy she's driving straight and true again []

 

[robwright]

Everything can be adjusted by someone with the correct knowledge and tools.

 

[peanut]

so it was toeing out then [] glad it was an easy fix . £62.00 well spent I would say.
How big is that silly grin on your chops today then ?[]


by the way ....crap picture[]

 

[Hairyarse]

I know, think I must have a big greasy thumb print on my camera phone lens []

It is nice to drive now, don't think it's 100% but 99% will do [] It is much, much better though and I am grinning yes

 

[Neil Haughey]

TBH you can get away with slight caster misalignment or rather difference. My own S2 was like this for a long time when I first bought it and successive garages didn't correct it. In my case the adjusters "looked" the same but the 2 different wishbones meant it was way out in reality. It does feel much nicer though when you get it right, the thing you will notice is the cars steering weight and responses will feel exactly the same whether turning left or right. If the caster is out the car will track OK but will feel different turning left or right.