Steering wheel not straight after alignment

[MilgeS]

Hello, I wondered if you could advise on whether I can complain about my steering wheel not being in the perfect position when the wheels are straight after alignment work?

Quick explanation, car failed MOT on a track rod end gaiter split, been replaced and had alignment done but when driving in a straight line, the steering wheel isn't in the "T" position like it was before, please see attached picture.

On a previously owned car I had a similar issue and they told me that they couldn't do anything about it, I didn't moan then because I was selling the car shortly after, I just wanted to find out if it's true or not, thank you.

[SRGTD]

I would certainly complain - IMHO that’s some way off-centre and far from being in the perfect position. I’d be very surprised if it wasn’t possible to rectify it, otherwise there’d be lots of posts similar to yours on this and other forums.

I had something similar back on a car in the early 1990’s; had the wheel alignment checked and adjusted when I had new tyres fitted and the steering wheel ended up off centre like yours. It felt very unnatural when driving straight ahead with the steering wheel at an angle. I took it back and was told there was nothing they could do about it, so I took it elsewhere for a second opinion. It was soon sorted and adjusted back to normal.

Needless to say I’ve never been back to the place that messed it up in the first place.

[MilgeS]

I would certainly complain - IMHO that’s some way off-centre and far from being in the perfect position. I’d be very surprised if it wasn’t possible to rectify it, otherwise there’d be lots of posts similar to yours on this and other forums.

I had something similar back on a car in the early 1990’s; had the wheel alignment checked and adjusted when I had new tyres fitted and the steering wheel ended up off centre like yours. It felt very unnatural when driving straight ahead with the steering wheel at an angle. I took it back and was told there was nothing they could do about it, so I took it elsewhere for a second opinion. It was soon sorted and adjusted back to normal.

Needless to say I’ve never been back to the place that messed it up in the first place.

Thank you for taking the time to reply and good to hear you had yours fixed, I will certainly take my car back. My previous experience was a Fabia vRS, they said that they could fix it because the rear end was out of line and could only get the front inline with wonky steering, otherwise the car would be out of line if the steering wheel was straight! This time it's my main VW dealer so I must admit I'm disappointed it's like this, hopefully they will rectify without a fuss! Thanks again for your reply, gives me confidence to complain

[Johntheo1]

They probably didn't do a 4 wheel alignment check, or didn't do it properly after installing the new track rod end.

[MilgeS]

They probably didn't do a 4 wheel alignment check, or didn't do it properly after installing the new track rod end.

I looked on my dashcam and it was in for alignment for best part of an hour (they'd done the TRE the previous day), I'll ask if they did 4 wheel alignment though, I just assumed they did, thank you for highlighting that.

They only done a 3 minute test drive, I think they must have realised but it was late on a Friday, we all know they wanted to go home and hope I wouldn't say anything!

[Swain_M]

Sounds to me like the garage have made a total hash of the alignment and are refusing/don’t have the expertise to put it right.

In my experience a lot of tyre garages can mount the tyre to the rim and not much more. Even garages who specialise in tyres and nothing else still manage to mess up the balancing and tracking.

I found a good tyre place that do everything perfect and I’ve never gone anywhere else for tyres since.

On my last MOT I booked it into a place I’d never been before and I needed two new tyres. I thought it would just be easier to get it all done in the same garage, what’s the worst that could happen?

I was very much mistaken, they totally cocked up the balancing. It’s worth noting that this place had the word ‘tyres’ in the name of the garage too.

[grazuncle2]

They only done a 3 minute test drive, I think they must have realised but it was late on a Friday, we all know they wanted to go home and hope I wouldn't say anything!
[/quote]

I'll bet they wouldn't like it or accept it if they had paid for the work either.

[MilgeS]

It’s worth noting that this place had the word ‘tyres’ in the name of the garage too.

I'm guessing they're a 'national' company too from that! I've just called the dealer and they're going to get the service person who dealt with it to call me on Monday to discuss this situation, I'll see what they have to say and if it's unsatisfactory I'll suggest that they take it to a specialist centre to get it sorted and get some advice on how they can improve their side of things too.

[MilgeS]

I'll bet they wouldn't like it or accept it if they had paid for the work either.

Absolutely they wouldn't!

[MilgeS]

Dealer called today and they're collecting the car to correct it on Friday, hopefully no fuss, thank you all for your help and advice.

[Harrihealey02]

I had the same problem with the pre face lift polo which I took it in for a noise issue and they replaced the shock absorber, but upon reattaching the wheel they did an alignment and did it with the steering wheel like yours. I ended up getting it sorted in the end by taking it to another garage and it was just adjusted from underneath the car near the wheels with a spanner and took about 10 mins. If they say it can't be done it's because they can't be bothered to do it lol

[grazuncle2]

When i was taught in the 'old days', (70s) to do wheel alignment.. meaning toe in or toe out adjustment you were to adjust both sides of the track rod ends equally, no just one side. or you get the result that the OP is rightly irritated by.

it is probably just laziness really...

ps.. you can't adjust for worn track rod ends for obvious reasons but doubt this is the case here.

[MilgeS]

All sorted today, car collected, taken away to what I am told was a specialist this time for alignment and returned free of charge. No idea why they attempted this themselves first time when they usually take it to the specialist, as I guessed previously, probably because it was last job on a Friday and wanted to go home!

Thank you all for your help, advice and own experiences, it's been interesting reading your replies