Steering wheel off centre...

[Wotsirb]

After having my alignment checked twice on a Hunter System my steering wheel seems to sit slightly to the left while driving. This is especially annoying as it gives me the sense the car is crabbing when it clearly isn't (thrust angle is 0). It's driving me nuts!

Just wondering if anyone has experienced the same? Or whether the hydraulic power steering and larger wheels make this more noticeable?

Before anyone suggests, no I'm not cocking the wheel one spline to the right :p

[audi_do_dat_den]

If it was ok before they adjusted it, then go back and tell them to sort it out.

[rs_fiesta]

It could have been slightly off centre when they locked the steering wheel off doing the alignment,take it back I'm sure they will sort it.

[Wotsirb]

It could have been slightly off centre when they locked the steering wheel off doing the alignment,take it back I'm sure they will sort it.

I've sent it back and it's been thoroughly checked... Alignment on the hunter system is bang on... Bushes maybe?

[asifg]

I'm no expert but isn't the alignment check they're doing based on when they see that the wheels are straight? i.e. What happens to their readings if you have the steering wheel straight?

As mentioned above, I'd say that they need to realign the wheels based on the steering wheel being 100% straight - I've had a similar issue in the past and they were reluctant as it meant that they had to do that whole alignment again from scratch, but it wasn't right so I insisted and they sorted it

[audi_do_dat_den]

It could have been slightly off centre when they locked the steering wheel off doing the alignment,take it back I'm sure they will sort it.

I've sent it back and it's been thoroughly checked... Alignment on the hunter system is bang on... Bushes maybe?

Yes.... of course it will be bang on, theyve aligned it already.
The problem is the wheels are not straight according to the position of the steering wheel.

That means theyve adjusted the track rod ends to straighten up the wheels..... and not kept the steering wheel in line while doing so.
They surely should have straightened the steering wheel and locked it off, then adjusted each track rod end to either toe-in or toe out accordingly.

If they dont sort it, you will end up having the ESP system kicking in when going round the slightest corner.... which is bloody annoying... plus the irritation of seeing your steering wheel off centre (which is enough in itself).

[rs_fiesta]

I use the Hunter system every day.
If the steering wheel isn't straight it's there problem,doubt it's a bush!
It's not easy sitting in the car and locking the wheel straight,the tool to lock it is right where you sit so you cannot sit in the seat and do it.
How far is it out?

[Wotsirb]

On a completely straight as a die road with minimal camber your looking at around 3/4 degrees out. It's enough that it really bugs me!

I thought it would be to do with the alignment of the wheel initially, but I thought the hunter system centred this using OBD?

[toyneg]

I had new tyres fitted yesterday and the Hunter alignment done and noticed the exact issue this morning - will be taking it back for them to sort this

[audi_do_dat_den]

Either go back to them or adjust the track rod ends yourself to correct the angle.

[RichieRS]

Did you guys above having the steering wheel angle issue get it sorted?.

Just noticed after changing to the 20's the wheel is a few degrees out. doesnt pull to one side or the other. Just not straight!!!.

Planning on getting it tracked, just wondered if that's all that was required from you guys?

[toyneg]

Mine went back on the Hunter and improved it 99% but i was sure it wasn't 100% still despite the readout. Anyway I seemed to fix it by going to the garage and putting the right pressures in the tyres, they were all a bit wrong and once i had done that it was spot on

[RichieRS]

Mine went back on the Hunter and improved it 99% but i was sure it wasn't 100% still despite the readout. Anyway I seemed to fix it by going to the garage and putting the right pressures in the tyres, they were all a bit wrong and once i had done that it was spot on

Cheers buddy

Checked my tyre pressures when I first fitted the tyres but not since so will check them again. Think it'll be worth while at least doing tracking for what it costs none the less

[Wavey Dynamicist]

I had this issue a while back. The system i had the alignment done on also measured the rolling radius of the tyre and showed results. I believe the front left (could have been rear, thinking about it) was noticeably - maybe a few mm smaller than the right. Didn't think much of it at the time, just puzzled as to why i still had a slight off-centre wheel. Once i had changed tyres the problem went away.

It seems the Quattro system is quite susceptible to this effect, i guess due to the unusual interaction between the centre diff and the front/rear. Anyway, if you have the recorded dimensions available. Look there.

Edit: Also, don't ignore the effect of road camber. Is it always off in the same direction? If you weren't focused on the steering wheel angle before you got the wheel alignment done, but were looking for it afterwards, you might be noticing something that was always there..?

[Wotsirb]

I had this issue a while back. The system i had the alignment done on also measured the rolling radius of the tyre and showed results. I believe the front left (could have been rear, thinking about it) was noticeably - maybe a few mm smaller than the right. Didn't think much of it at the time, just puzzled as to why i still had a slight off-centre wheel. Once i had changed tyres the problem went away.

It seems the Quattro system is quite susceptible to this effect, i guess due to the unusual interaction between the centre diff and the front/rear. Anyway, if you have the recorded dimensions available. Look there.

Edit: Also, don't ignore the effect of road camber. Is it always off in the same direction? If you weren't focused on the steering wheel angle before you got the wheel alignment done, but were looking for it afterwards, you might be noticing something that was always there..?

It's always off moreso to the left. When the camber is forcing me to input right I have to input noticeably less to make the car go in a straight line.

Also, when accelerating hard, this steering wheel goes back to complete centre but at lower speeds its off on the piss... Maybe it's just me or maybe my paranoia is caused by more experience with electric power steering vs hydraulic?