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Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: DaveN on 17 May 2007, 11:20

Title: Steering Wheel Alignment
Post by: DaveN on 17 May 2007, 11:20
My 07 Gti is great but one thing is driving me a bit mad, has anyone experianced the following;

When on a straight road you need to steer slightly to the right in order to remain straight.
Now it has not been crashed or anything and the dealer says the alignment is correct.
Does anyone know how to adjust the steering "Zero" position in order that the steering wheel is perfectly straight.

The dealer is enquiring with VW as to the issue so I thought I would as you guys.

Dave N
Title: Re: Steering Wheel Alignment
Post by: paulm007 on 17 May 2007, 11:23
Dave

That sounds complete b*****ks to me mate!  Mine is a 07 ED30 and its fine
Title: Re: Steering Wheel Alignment
Post by: Simonet on 17 May 2007, 11:49
so if you let go of the wheel, the car turns left?? or if you go in a straight line the steering wheel is slightly rotated to the right (clock wise)

If you have to turn right to keep straight, then that's either the tracking or camber of the road. Perhaps try different sections of road. Remember the large tyres (wide) do tend to follow all undulations in the road!

Title: Re: Steering Wheel Alignment
Post by: DaveN on 17 May 2007, 12:36
Yeh, I had thought it was the camber, the roads here in Ireland are sh1t.
The car doesn't pull its more subtle then that its only a slight turn to the right is required.
I think am getting very picky with the GTI, yesterday I had the Drivers seat and rear seat latch's replaced, under warranty, due to rattles and squeaks. I just want my machine to be prefect is that too much to ask?

Dave N
Title: Re: Steering Wheel Alignment
Post by: adw555 on 17 May 2007, 18:06
I have the same problem on my car (from N Ireland) ...the alignment is correct etc...seems slightly worse on other roads and seems to get worse as the tyre wear increases...I just put it down to the road camber and Bridgstones....  :undecided:
Title: Re: Steering Wheel Alignment
Post by: RedRobin on 17 May 2007, 21:50
I had the same problem - Steering wheel wasn't 'dead horizontal' when car was driving 'dead straight' (if that makes sense!). My VW dealer fixed it in minutes while I waited. No problem since (thousands of miles). He was aware of such things happening and not exclusive to the Mk5 GTI.
Title: Re: Steering Wheel Alignment
Post by: adw555 on 17 May 2007, 22:08
Oh...interesting. Don't suppose you know what they adjusted. I did ask my dealer but they thought it was ok when it was in for a serive. I'm pretty sure all they did was take it up the road for a thrash  :sad: but it's def not dead center.
Title: Re: Steering Wheel Alignment
Post by: wantmygti on 18 May 2007, 08:37
Isn't it a case of removing the wheel and replacing it one notch round on the splines it sits on? Might be easier said that done with the air bag.
Title: Re: Steering Wheel Alignment
Post by: DaveN on 18 May 2007, 17:21
Just been to an independant wheel/suspension specialist and suprise, suprise his equipment has shown the steering is misaligned, probably from a pot hole.

I'm €80 lighter but its correct now and time and effort put in to make sure it is bang on, approx 2 hrs spent sorting it out.

This makes me suspicious of the local dealer service, they obviously didn't check it at all and just fobbed me off with a "its looks fine to me".

The moral of the story is dont hit potholes or take what a dealer service dept says with a pinch of salt.

Dave N
Title: Re: Steering Wheel Alignment
Post by: Cass on 21 May 2007, 08:05
Sorry but I would have insisted that the dealer sorted this problem on a 07 car when you reported the fault to them. It's is their obligation, period. Notwithstanding that you've now paid £80 to the suspension specialist, I would still write to both the dealer and VW to highlight this issue and poor service. Might be that the dealers equipment has an incorrect set-up or the operator was not qualified to use it :wink: You just might get your money back if you are lucky :huh:

Cass
Title: Re: Steering Wheel Alignment
Post by: DaveN on 21 May 2007, 09:43
Cass, thats exactly what I am going to do this morning.

Dave N
Title: Re: Steering Wheel Alignment
Post by: GTI-007 on 23 May 2007, 14:08
Have the same problem on my Candy White 2006 Golf GTI - Vehicle is a South African Build owned & driven in Australia. 

Didn't notice until I put in a set of KONI-FSD dampers.  Had to steer to the left to drive straight ahead.  No problem with wheel alignment. 

This problem has since been excerabated when a set of Eibach ProKit springs put in, lowering vehicle 18mm front - 14m rear. 

Will call VW service tommorrow to see if job able to be done on the house, or back to steering/suspension specialist when fitting Eibach Anti-Roll Kit soon. 

May have some problems with the airbag and/or the DSG paddles on the wheel. 

Cheers.
Title: Re: Steering Wheel Alignment
Post by: RedRobin on 23 May 2007, 14:40
Didn't notice until I put in a set of KONI-FSD dampers.  Had to steer to the left to drive straight ahead.  No problem with wheel alignment. 

This problem has since been excerabated when a set of Eibach ProKit springs put in, lowering vehicle 18mm front - 14m rear.

....I've got the same suspension setup plus Eibach Anti-roll bars. Surely your car isn't lowered as much as 18mm/14mm ? - KoniFSDs shouldn't be fitted on such low settings as I understand it and I know someone who had quite a major problem when they over lowered with the FSD's - Complete rear failure and big spin!!
Title: Re: Steering Wheel Alignment
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 03 June 2007, 14:02
Regarding the misaligned steering wheel - mine was like it (and still is) from brand new, but not by very much at all, and SWMBO doesn't complain.

If you look in my sticky http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=54324.0, and download the latest pdfs in the steering section, you will see that you can't just remove the wheel and rotate it one spline, as that will move it 15 degrees  :nerd:.

You would also need to recalibrate the G85 steering angle sensor for the ESP.

Actually, any competent mechanic should know how to correct a misaligned wheel, simply by tweaking the tie rod adjustments.

Regarding those who had aftermarket suspension kits fitted - BIG CLUE - take it back to them, and not your main VW stealer!