Hi everyone,

I've just joined this forum as I need some help with a problem I've got with my car (Focus 1.8 TDCi).

A couple of nights ago I skid on ice and hit a kerb and my rear offside alloy buckled. I replaced it the next day along with the hub and rear arm but since then when I am driving straight my steering wheel is quite far over to the left. The tracking has been done so it's not that.

Has anyone ever come across this before?

Thanks in advance,

Paul

 

did you just get the tracking done or did you get 4 wheel allignment as the rear end on the focus is adjustable aswell and if you just got the tracking done they wouldnt have addressed the back????

 

you need all 4 wheels aligned mate, if you change the rear you may have fitted them up wrong so that the rear end isn't the same as it was

all sorts of things to look out for but you won't be able to measure thrust angles and ackerman steering etc at home with a ruler and a bit of string

if you can find a place they normally cost about 350-60 quid for all 4 wheels to be done

make sure you get a print out of what the before/after angles were to be sure things have been done

 

I had the wheels aligned aswell. Do you know if their is anyway of adjusting the steering wheel to the correct position?

 

yep - go for allignment again and this time make sure they block the steering wheel in the center position before alligning the wheels

 

they blocked the steering wheel aswell, they asked if i was happy with it. everything seemed to be lined up fine on the ramps but as soon as i drove it away it was the same. I took it straight back and he put it the ramps and he said that all 4 wheels were spot on. They checked the arms on the 2 front wheels and they were fine. is it possible that i may have bent the steering column?

 

it.ll be the tracking still...all 4 wheels may be spot on, but thats with a pissed steering wheel. you want them spot on with a straight steering wheel.

 

PJ - when exactly did they block the steering wheel - before work or during, when the wheels are already on this round plates and can turn easily? they should've done the latter and do it very precisely

 

If the steering wheel has not been secured properly before the alighnment is done some garages have a tendancy to overcorrect one side of the car, usually puts the steering wheel out.

 

Did you have the tracking done, or proper 4 wheel alignment? (tracking £20-30, 4 wheel alignment, a lot more expensive) They are 2 different things. If you have bent something, then no amount of adjusting the tracking will make it run straight.