GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: JoeGTI on 14 April 2008, 20:59
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Hi folks,
Just looking for some ideas here before I go taking my car back to the tyre fitters. I had my front passenger-side tyre replaced a few weeks ago, as the original tyre had some sidewall damage after hitting a pothole.
Anyway, ever since, I'm not sure if its all in my head or not, but I think the car has a noticeable "pull" to the right, i.e. into oncoming traffic(!), when I put the boot down. Its not noticeable at all in normal driving, only under heavy acceleration. Neither is there any steering vibration, so I don't think there's a wheel balancing problem.
I know a certain amount of "torque steer" is to be expected in a FWD turbo'd car, but I'm sure this wasn't so apparent before! I always felt the GTI felt well planted, but mine seems a bit keen to pull right now when you give it beans!
Would this be down to the alignment needing a slight adjustment do ye reckon? The new tyre is an identical brand, tread, etc. as the old one.
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so you just had the one on the front changed ?, thats probably your issue, because you have a new tyre that needs wearing in, and you have a used tyre on the other side, you could have also knocked the tracking out in the bump too
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As Blue said, if your other front tyre is alot lower in tread that could make a difference to the balance at the front. Would be worthwhile getting the front suspension and alignment checked or you'll scrub that new tyre pretty quick!
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Yeah, I just had the one tyre changed. Not ideal I guess, but the fitter reckoned there was no way I needed to replace the other. The one on the other side still has plenty of wear left on it though (only 8000 miles on it).
I'll probably get the alignment checked. I'm thinking this "pull" is classic symptom of mis-alignment?
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Yeah, I just had the one tyre changed. Not ideal I guess, but the fitter reckoned there was no way I needed to replace the other. The one on the other side still has plenty of wear left on it though (only 8000 miles on it).
I'll probably get the alignment checked. I'm thinking this "pull" is classic symptom of mis-alignment?
try putting the two backs on the front, see if that cures it
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I used to work at a tyre shop for 3 years, and from experiance you should always replace 2 front tyres at the same time to avoid this type of issue. If you cant affors to replace 2 at a time, put the 2 rears wheels onto the front and the new one on the rear. I would also get an alignment if you have hit a big pot hole, as mentioned by JoeGTI. If your alignment is out it will make the car "scrub" the front tyre and make the cars handling less than perfect.
With a front wheel drive car I normally swap the rear wheels over to the front when the fronts get worn down to half tread. Then when the fronts are bald, replace them as a pair, or depending how the rears are replace all 4. Make sure that all 4 are balanced as well otherwise when you put the rears up front you will get speed wobble which sucks !
When you are swapping them over (doing it yourself as opposed to the garage) make sure you use at least a 2ton axle stand to hold the car up if you are taking both wheels off one side. DON't use the standard jack to take 2 wheels off at once as I've seen a car slip off. It just missed seriously injuring a friend of mine, and it did damage to the underside of the car and both disks. While you have both wheels off use something like Meguiars Hot Rims to clean the wheels up, and give them a good coat of any wax you have all over the rim, makes them look a lot better and easy to clean for quite some time. I use tech wax then coat it with Klasse Sealer. Brake dust just rinses off...!
:nerd:
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Thanks lads, appreciate the advice. I might try swapping rears to front so, see what effect that has. I'm still not 100% sure there's anything actually wrong, driving in to work today it felt ok, it seems much more noticeable on certain roads.
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As stated by other above, you should replace the front tyres at the same time (rather than just one) or swap rears to front.
If you replace just 1 of the fronts then ecause of the thread differences, the car will have better grip on one side which can cause the car to drift.
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is there anything to watch for when swapping back to front? Sounds like an easy enough DIY job (even for me :grin:) The rears are already balanced so I'm assuming its just a swap with no balancing/adjustments needed?
Will give me a chance to clean the calipers properly if nothing else :grin:
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Clean the wheels as well while they are off!
Do you have an axle stand? Dont try to do it with the single jack :embarassed:
I put some "copperslip" or whatever its called on the hub part and on the threads of the wheel bolts to stop corrosion and make getting them on/off easier, its a high melting point grease.
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Yeah, I have access to axle stands alright, I agree, it would be very risky to attempt it without them!
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Do you have an axle stand? Dont try to do it with the single jack :embarassed:
Quick question... where should one position the axel stands safely? I jack the car up at its jacking point, but where's best to position the axel stand so it bears the car's weight and I can lower and remove the jack? Don't wanna risk any damage to the underside of the car!
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Result! Swapped the front to the rears and vice versa, and it solved the problem... the car's as straight as an arrow now :smiley: Thanks all for the advice!
One hell of a tedious job, as I cleaned and waxed the inside of the rims while I was at it (if any of my neighbours saw me they'd be sending for the men in white coats!). Was worth the effort though, this steering pull was annoying me. Moral of the story, replace tyres in pairs!
Damn monzas are so easy to mark though... managed to scuff one of them a small bit with the wrench whilst removing the nuts, just inside one of the "holes". Hardly noticeable I guess!
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glad u got sorted :-)
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Good work on cleaning the rims, and i bet next time you wash the car they come up clean easily :smug:
If you have taken the paint off inside the hole, do you have a little touch up brush to cover it, as if water gets inside it might peel the lacquer off?
I took off all 4 wheels when my GTI was brand new and cleaned them on the Saturday. On the Sunday one of my neighbours did exactly the same thing across the road.... :rolleyes:
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That's good news Joe, and it didn't cost you a penny :grin:
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That's good news Joe, and it didn't cost you a penny :grin:
Yeah! Delighted with my efforts!! The car drives so much better now. I'd imagine 9 people out of 10 would never have noticed the problem was even there, but I'm a fussy fecker :smiley:
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That's good news Joe, and it didn't cost you a penny :grin:
Yeah! Delighted with my efforts!! The car drives so much better now. I'd imagine 9 people out of 10 would never have noticed the problem was even there, but I'm a fussy fecker :smiley:
Don't worry, your not alone on that front :wink:
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Get a EZ detailing brush, then the backs of the wheels will always be clean, people always wonder if I have new wheels
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^^^ agreed