Tracking a car

Bodhan

Hi Guys,

I got new front tyres recently and while I was there I got the tracking done. It was one of those machines where mirrors are put on the 4 wheels and a computer tells the guy where the tracking is out.
Anyway the sheet he printed said all green so the tracking is perfect, it drives perfect too but the steering wheel is way off centre, so I went back to the garage again.
He put it up on the machine and checked the tracking, all was well so he said that the steering wheel can't be fixed because of the air bag. So now I have a car running straight but the wheel is off centre. I don't really mind but it looks funny.
Can it be fixed?

gofaster_s13

Bodhan wrote: »

Hi Guys,

I got new front tyres recently and while I was there I got the tracking done. It was one of those machines where mirrors are put on the 4 wheels and a computer tells the guy where the tracking is out.
Anyway the sheet he printed said all green so the tracking is perfect, it drives perfect too but the steering wheel is way off centre, so I went back to the garage again.
He put it up on the machine and checked the tracking, all was well so he said that the steering wheel can't be fixed because of the air bag. So now I have a car running straight but the wheel is off centre. I don't really mind but it looks funny.
Can it be fixed?

It was wrongly tracked, he means that you can't take the steering wheel off to correct the wheel which is not the way to do it, bring the car to somewhere that knows what they're doing this can be corrected by tracking.

macplaxton

It's tracked in the sense that the two front wheels are relative to each other, but that alone isn't enough.

Providing the steering wheel hasn't been off before and in the correct place, then it should line up too.

If I was tracking a car, I'd check the steering lock-to-lock and work out where the middle is. Then if there was any doubt about the steering wheel position, I'd check again and reposition it. Finally, I'd adjust the steering track rods.

Erren Music

macplaxton wrote: »

It's tracked in the sense that the two front wheels are relative to each other, but that alone isn't enough.

Providing the steering wheel hasn't been off before and in the correct place, then it should line up too.

If I was tracking a car, I'd check the steering lock-to-lock and work out where the middle is. Then if there was any doubt about the steering wheel position, I'd check again and reposition it. Finally, I'd adjust the steering track rods.

TBH sounds like he made a b0ll0x of it. Go and get it laser tracked.

Anyone know who has the best tracking system in Dublin at the moment.

Lex Luthor

Erren Music wrote: »

TBH sounds like he made a b0ll0x of it. Go and get it laser tracked.

Anyone know who has the best tracking system in Dublin at the moment.

He's fobbing you off. To align it properly, first the steering wheel needs to be clamped in the dead centre position and locked in place. Usually a device between the steering wheel and clutch pedal is used to do this. Then you align from there. It could be way off but thats the way to do it afaik.

Take it to Dave McCann in Blanchardstown. He'll sort you out

gofaster_s13

Erren Music wrote: »

TBH sounds like he made a b0ll0x of it. Go and get it laser tracked.

Anyone know who has the best tracking system in Dublin at the moment.

It doesnt matter who has the best system if they don't know how to use it or understand what they're adjusting, I'd rather use someone who was using chalk, string and a camber gauge but understood what they were adjusting and the principles of steering geometry than someone who had the latest system but didnt know what they were doing and were only trying to get all the boxes on the computer screen green.

Bodhan

Thanks for all the advice guys, I'll go elsewhere and get the tracking done.

Bodhan

Lex Luthor wrote: »

He's fobbing you off. To align it properly, first the steering wheel needs to be clamped in the dead centre position and locked in place. Usually a device between the steering wheel and clutch pedal is used to do this. Then you align from there. It could be way off but thats the way to do it afaik.

Take it to Dave McCann in Blanchardstown. He'll sort you out

You got a phone number for him?

Lex Luthor

Bodhan wrote: »

You got a phone number for him?

8202221

He's up there by Power City, do you know where that is?

Lex Luthor

gofaster_s13 wrote: »

It doesnt matter who has the best system if they don't know how to use it or understand what they're adjusting, I'd rather use someone who was using chalk, string and a camber gauge but understood what they were adjusting and the principles of steering geometry than someone who had the latest system but didnt know what they were doing and were only trying to get all the boxes on the computer screen green.

you're dead right

Best thing about DMcCann is they have all the best equipment yet still know what they are talking about. Usually charges about €45 for the 4 wheel alignment if all the adjustments are able to be done.

mickdw

I most certainly couldnt let that go with the joker who did the tracking. How thick are some of these people? If he locked the wheel in the dead ahead position, all would be well.

There are cases where you would get very unequal length track rods doing this but this would be due to poor crash repair etc. I would bet anything on him just being a clown.

Green Hornet

What is it with all these guys? I'm always having problems getting the steering straight too. Usually end up with it just marginally off after about 3 trips.

In fairness though, I've looked to check that the steering is straight ahead but it's always a little off when driving. I've been fobbed off numerous times with the story that EPS on Civics is difficult to get right. Some rubbish about resetting the ECU means that the car must be stalled during the tracking........:rolleyes:

MONEY_MAKER

theres too many cowboys out there - any one these days seem to think they are mechanics. When your sick you go to a qualified doctor, some one who wknos what they are doing - it should be the same with cars

ytareh

+1 here with the off centre steering wheel ...are they ALL complete g0b****es???!!!In the past I would have to straighten it out meself with a wrench in the car but that isnt really an option with airbags is it?

gofaster_s13

ytareh wrote: »

+1 here with the off centre steering wheel ...are they ALL complete g0b****es???!!!In the past I would have to straighten it out meself with a wrench in the car but that isnt really an option with airbags is it?

Removing the steering wheel was never the right way to do it, it just makes a bad problem worse and makes it harder for the next person who tries to track the car.

Green Hornet

ytareh wrote: »

+1 here with the off centre steering wheel ...are they ALL complete g0b****es???!!!In the past I would have to straighten it out meself with a wrench in the car but that isnt really an option with airbags is it?

Nope! I think most of them also have a spline so they can only go on one way.

biko

Lex Luthor wrote: »

He's fobbing you off. To align it properly, first the steering wheel needs to be clamped in the dead centre position and locked in place. Usually a device between the steering wheel and clutch pedal is used to do this. Then you align from there. It could be way off but thats the way to do it afaik.

That really bugs me when a steering wheel isn't centered. Not that you look at the wheel while driving but you can feel it when turning etc.

Bodhan

Hey just thought, what if the steering wheel was put on in the factory just off centre?
It is the first time I've had the tracking done, its not the first set of tyres though.

punto gt turbo3

trust me it wasnt. steering wheel must be centred then tracked to allign the wheels with steering wheel.

MONEY_MAKER

Bodhan wrote: »

Hey just thought, what if the steering wheel was put on in the factory just off centre?
It is the first time I've had the tracking done, its not the first set of tyres though.

Are you serious !!

mickdw

I know my car has a hole at the steering rack/steering column with a little rubber cover into which you can put a special screw which finds a little slot when the steering is dead ahead. This is how the dealers are supposed to do it and would be very accurate. Im sure most indys would just use a cramp inside the car holding the steering itself straight ahead.

If I was the OP, I would be awful tempted to get under it & adjust this back to straight myself. One or two threads movement on each trackrod being sure to go the right direction & move both by the same amount. Should work a treat.

Bodhan

mickdw wrote: »

I know my car has a hole at the steering rack/steering column with a little rubber cover into which you can put a special screw which finds a little slot when the steering is dead ahead. This is how the dealers are supposed to do it and would be very accurate. Im sure most indys would just use a cramp inside the car holding the steering itself straight ahead.

If I was the OP, I would be awful tempted to get under it & adjust this back to straight myself. One or two threads movement on each trackrod being sure to go the right direction & move both by the same amount. Should work a treat.

Would that not upset the tracking again? I want my tyres to wear even, that's why I got it tracked.

mickdw

Well if its set correctly as in not wearing tyres right now, if you were to shorten on track rod & lengthen the other by the same amount, then it will not change the tyre wear at all.
All you will be doing is repositioning the steering wheel dead ahead position. It would be easy to make sure that both sides were adjusted the same amount by just moving one/two full thread rotations at a time then checking how the steering is when driven.

If you are not into that kind of job, leave it, I just said I would most likely have a go.
I had a brutal job done on an alfa one time and it started to eat the tyres at the back. It was way off so I did some very crude setting up of string lines around the car & with some basic tools like a straight edge & measuring tape, I got it pretty good. not spot on but a million time better than the guy with the fancy machine had done.

Bodhan

I'll give that a go Mick, cheers man

macplaxton

Magnus wrote: »

That really bugs me when a steering wheel isn't centered. Not that you look at the wheel while driving but you can feel it when turning etc.

I'm happy if the rack/box is centred. My single steering wheel spoke is 30degs below horizontal pointing to the outside of the car. (That's where Citroen intentionally placed it )