Crook steering after getting alignment

[Maverickgear]

Hi guys, I have a mystery on my hands and I was hoping maybe you guys could help me shed some light on it.

I recently got a set of coilovers, got them installed, and did my alignment. Found it had crooked steering even though I had it aligned. So I assumed they might not have centered the steering wheel properly while doing the alignment, however, they told me they did and if I wanted to get up the alignment rack again I had to pay another fee for it.

So I left and headed for my frequent alignment shop. I went up the rack and they locked down the steering wheel. But we found that the toe was at neutral position already.

But the car is veering to the right when the steering wheel is straight. What gives?

I had to do something like this, http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=749585 , to get the steering wheel centered. Second question would be, is it safe doing this to get the car to go in a straight line? What's in the article is adding more toe on one side and removing some from the other to "compensate" while keeping total toe the same. I believe after doing such a fix, the static toe would be all over the place.

Eventually I went back to stock and everything was dead center after alignment. I would like to find out if this is a problem with the coils? Or just an alignment issue. As if it's the coils problem, I can confidently push for a warranty or refund.

TL;DR after installing and aligning new coilovers, had crooked steering. When returned back to stock, was back to normal.

[Clipdat]

This happened to me as well after getting an alignment after a lowering spring install.

I've just been living with it, as the car still tracks perfectly straight and doesn't pull in any direction - it definitely feels aligned.

It's just a visual thing with the steering wheel being slightly off center when driving straight. It's a somewhat annoying and nagging thing.

[wparsons]

Is there camber adjustment in your coilovers (slotted hole or camber plates)? Was camber even L/R? If camber is off a bit then it'll pull as well.

[cnk]

Roads have a natural slope to the right for water drainage. Are you sure you're not just noticing that now because it's after a mod? Some alignment shops will account for the road crown.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

[Maverickgear]

Originally Posted by wparsons

Is there camber adjustment in your coilovers (slotted hole or camber plates)? Was camber even L/R? If camber is off a bit then it'll pull as well.

Yeah, camber and toe was even on both sides. Front and rear axles as well. The only thing left unmeasured was the caster, but I doubt casters would be affected Ya?

Originally Posted by Clipdat

This happened to me as well after getting an alignment after a lowering spring install.

I've just been living with it, as the car still tracks perfectly straight and doesn't pull in any direction - it definitely feels aligned.

It's just a visual thing with the steering wheel being slightly off center when driving straight. It's a somewhat annoying and nagging thing.

I see.. Yes it is very annoying and it just won't do with my OCD for straight steering :p

I wonder what's the cause of it though.

[Maverickgear]

Originally Posted by cnk

Roads have a natural slope to the right for water drainage. Are you sure you're not just noticing that now because it's after a mod? Some alignment shops will account for the road crown.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

I have heard alot of techs and mechanics giving me that reason. But the angle of the cooked steering is just too much for me to accept it as a measure to account for the crowns on the road.

When I center the wheel, I will have to immediately correct it else I will be in the other lane within the next second. The veer is quite severe in my opinion.

[df.dima]

My steering wheel was off and took a whole 5 minutes to align it straight. Find someone who knows what they do. Don't accept it as is.

[Maverickgear]

Originally Posted by df.dima

My steering wheel was off and took a whole 5 minutes to align it straight. Find someone who knows what they do.

Did u check your toe alignment after getting it fixed?

[MyEvilMonkeys]

Take it back.

[Turdinator]

Originally Posted by MyEvilMonkeys

Take it back.

Originally Posted by Maverickgear

...I recently got a set of coilovers, got them installed, and did my alignment. Found it had crooked steering even though I had it aligned. So I assumed they might not have centered the steering wheel properly while doing the alignment, however, they told me they did and if I wanted to get up the alignment rack again I had to pay another fee for it...

[Maverickgear]

Originally Posted by MyEvilMonkeys

Take it back.

I would gladly love to if they'd stop giving me a run around and tons of excuses on how it's normal for a coilover set to do that

[pantdino]

toe, camber, and caster are all standard alignment variables


I haven't had to have many cars aligned, but the tech usually drives the car a bit to see if the wheel is centered and the car drives straight


Pay another fee for what? If they couldn't get it right the first time, what makes them think they can get it right this time?


Take it somewhere else and file a complaint with your state's consumer protection agency or auto repair board or whatever. The tech is incompetent and wants you to keep paying him while he learns.

[pitstops]

if your tires are non-directional swap the front tires left to right. if your car was pulling to the right and now its pulling to the left after the swap you have tire pull.
if your tires are directional you would need them dismounted and swapped.

uneven caster can make it pull. it will pull to the side with least caster. when i do alignments i usually put less caster on the driverside to compensate for road pull.

the directions on e90post is exactly what i do after a test drive if the steering wheel is off center. no problem in doing that, have double checked it back on the machine.

[Poodles]

Originally Posted by Maverickgear

So I assumed they might not have centered the steering wheel properly while doing the alignment, however, they told me they did and if I wanted to get up the alignment rack again I had to pay another fee for it.

This is straight up bullshit. I'd be getting a refund and going elsewhere as the work is not done correctly and services where not rendered.