Tracking problems

Zascar

I got 4 new tires a while back and I instantly noticed the car pulling to the left after I had them fitted. I needed some new rear coil springs so I wanted to get the tracking done until after they were fitted. A friend fitted the springs for me and when it was done I went to a place locally and dropped it in, but they called me to say there was a problem. I went back and the guy showed me that one of the rear springs was not seated correctly. He said the end of the spring was not seated in the groove as it should be - and the end of it seemed to be sticking up in the air a bit, balancing on the edge of the groove on the plate the spring sits on. He would not touch it, said I need to get it done and come back to him. Now he still did the tracking anyway - he said it should be fine but if after I got the spring fixed, if it was not right, to come back to him and he'd re-adjust it. Thing is, I drove up the road and it was no better, possibly even a bit worse. Hmmm

So I called my mate who fitted it, and today he took another look - but he said there was nothing wrong with it. Now I had a good look myself under the car, and it seemed absolutely fine. It's possible it had just moved itself back into place, I had been driving on some very bumpy roads, it would have got a workout for sure. So today I went back to the other place and they readjusted the tracking, said it was a little bit out and it should be fine now. So I drove up the road, and nope, it still pulls to the left.

This is very annoying. I spent €70 getting it right, and several trips around to get it looked at, but its still not right. Is my car fkd? Is his equipment not right? What should I do here?
Thanks

teediddlyeye

Try swapping the front tyres left to right. What car is it?

Zascar

Thanks that's a good idea. Might it just pull the other way instead? Car is a 2001 Audi TT Quattro.

challengemaster

Zascar wrote: »

Thanks that's a good idea.

Apart from mostly all tyres now are rotational, and if you do a left-right swap, you'll have them on backwards.

jayok

Assuming that the springs are all seated correctly and the suspension was tightened when it was loaded (:cool:) - it's possible just the tracking will need to be done.

I'm surprised that he tracked the car with the suspension not correctly mounted (in his opinion) as and work to the suspension, generally, I'll check the alignment afterwards.

Did you get a before and after reading? I always ask for it - if they say they're out of paper, I'll take a picture with my phone. Possibly the camber is out? Not sure if you can adjust camber in the Audi.

Zascar

challengemaster wrote: »

if you do a left-right swap, you'll have them on backwards.

Ah. I did wonder if they are rotational. Maybe they put them on backwards. I'll have to have a look.

jayok wrote: »

I'm surprised that he tracked the car with the suspension not correctly mounted (in his opinion) as and work to the suspension, generally, I'll check the alignment afterwards.

Did you get a before and after reading? I always ask for it - if they say they're out of paper, I'll take a picture with my phone. Possibly the camber is out? Not sure if you can adjust camber in the Audi.

I was surprised too. He called me to say there was a problem but was half way though doing it when I got there. I assumed he would have told me to come back. I did not think to get a reading, I assumed when he was done it would be back at zero.

jayok

Zascar wrote: »

I was surprised too. He called me to say there was a problem but was half way though doing it when I got there. I assumed he would have told me to come back. I did not think to get a reading, I assumed when he was done it would be back at zero.

Ok, the possible the cheapest option is to bring it to him again and get a before and after picture of the alignment. If he spots a problem with the suspension, ask him to show you.

Kenny Logins

challengemaster wrote: »

Apart from mostly all tyres now are rotational, and if you do a left-right swap, you'll have them on backwards.

Only if you swap the wheels and tyres together.

porsche boy

Return tovthe garage and inform yim the tracking is not right. Ask for a copy of all trackings done so far, if they are reputable they will have saved the before and after information on the alignment machine. Ask him to recheck the alignment and ask if anyone else has returned unhappy with alignment. It is possble for those machines to require calibration.

Some garages are lazy, they will only adjust the toe but not the camber or castor if it is adjustable. Aagain, ask for a print out and compare the results.

Simple fact is you paid for a service, if he has not done the work properly then you are entitled to have him redo the job or refund you your money.

challengemaster

Kenny Logins wrote: »

Only if you swap the wheels and tyres together.

Was assuming that was implied/suggested, rather than getting the tyre place to swap tyres only