Tracking - why can't garages get it right!

[electricfurnace]

Taken my car to three different garages now (local/Sh*t Fit/Nationwide) of varying sizes to sort my tracking out, as my car is pulling to the right.

Had everything else checked out so it's only a tracking problem. Each time the garages have said "Oh it's pretty out, we've sorted it now" and each time it's either been the same or worse before I took it in!

Figured I'd have to bite the bullet and take it to a hunter-system equipped garage to get it done properly once and for all!

Rant over.

 

[AhmedRSi]

Maybe bent wishbone/lower arm?

 

[electricfurnace]

Nah dude, had all the necessary's checked out and it's a simple case of alignment!

Bloody garages!

 

[iimushroomzii]

I guess somethings bent on it if you've taken it three different places with no luck

 

[Dave..]

Get it laser aligned.

 

[Henry]

i hate getting the tracking done and am glad we've a Protyre in Bristol, as they're the only outfit i've used who've yet to muck it up. it's such a simple thing, but people just use the wrong values, knackered equipment, or simply don't take the basic level of care required to get it right. i'd buy my own Dunlop gauges if i could really justify it

have you cleaned the pads/calipers up as well? as that can also cause probs

 

[Slammed172]

I would keep taking it back to the same garage until they get it right, so you've paid three times now ?

'Most' garages won't charge you twice to get it re-done.

As said you need 4 wheel laser align.

 

[iimushroomzii]

i hate getting the tracking done and am glad we've a Protyre in Bristol, as they're the only outfit i've used who've yet to muck it up. it's such a simple thing, but people just use the wrong values, knackered equipment, or simply don't take the basic level of care required to get it right. i'd buy my own Dunlop gauges if i could really justify it

have you cleaned the pads/calipers up as well? as that can also cause probs

Thats a very good point. Could be a sticky caliper?

 

[electricfurnace]

Yeah, pads and calipers have been sorted. Going to have a trip tomorow morning to Autostop who have a Hunter system, fingers crossed itll be sorted!

 

[Gally]

It wouldn't align if anything was bent if they keep aligning it saying it's right and the next place say it's way out then you have suspension bent... fact.

Oh and wheel balance is one of the worst underlying problems for cars pulling to one side, if the alignment is really okay then get your tyres balanced.

 

[Cup_Phil]

Hrmmm my car needs doing - since i fitted my new OMP steering wheel the whole thing is a few degrees out (yes the wheel is in the right place on the column!)

There's a place in lincoln with a hunter system - are they really that good?

 

[Sir_Dave]

(local/Sh*t Fit/Nationwide)

This is your problem.

Try Protyre.

 

[Tom]

A certain Protyre said my rear tracking needed to be sorted.

They could do it for £80. Which is interesting.

 

[Henry]

you don't need fancy equipment - all any of them do is set the toe between the front wheels, as that's all that's adjustable. the relationship is between the two front wheels and involving the rears is irrelevant

bunch of things that could be affecting it but really wouldn't surprise me if all three you've tried so far have just tried to set the wheels parallel

you can do it yourself with string, but it's just one of those things that most (including myself) take to have done 'properly'

 

[broster@JAM-Sport]

something to check would be the tyres, if they are worn unevenly it can give problems.

 

[MonkeyKnifeFight]

mine does the same, pulls to the right even after having the tracking done but im almost certain something is bent but cant be arsed to sort it lol

Its handy when i wanna turn right but cant be arsed to turn the wheel

 

[Triki]

Get a fourwheel alignment done on the car.

You will have a print out of what the alignment is set at then.

 

[TimR26]

It only needs to be a tiny bit out to pull, probably just needs adjusting a fraction.

 

[Adz]

check to see if you have bent the wheels i had the same problem new wheels fix it

 

[Tunst]

4 wheel lazer alignment

 

[White16valver]

www.alignmycar.co.uk

 

[electricfurnace]

Yep, found my local alignmycar place, going in tomorow to have it sorted.

 

[White16valver]

Sweet

Could be worth asking while it's up on the ramps about what changing the settings slightly will do - could make it more twitchy or more relaxed, depending on your driving style

 

[mini-valver]

You can use all your laser alignment or Dunlop guages until your hearts content but the only properly accurate way is to use strings. Individual toe FTW.

 

[The Boosh!]

You can use all your laser alignment or Dunlop guages until your hearts content but the only properly accurate way is to use strings. Individual toe FTW.

Set me mine up sometime Dave? Understeers a little atm (not to bad though) think i need to raise the rear and lower the front more lol

 

[mini-valver]

Yeah no worries lad. What set-up you running now?

 

[The Boosh!]

Il PM you lol