wheel alignment

[1985VK]

A mate with a VT had a wheel alignment because his steering wheel was at 1 o'clock going straight. The steering wheel is still not straight. He reckons the technician said its because its an old car and the suspension and bushings aren't good enough. Thoughts?

 

[ephect]

I call bullshit.

Centre the wheel, lock it in place.
Undo the tierod locknuts, adjust according to the machine and the lock em back up.

I believe they forgot to do it

 

[crew chief]

Even easier. Park car with wheels facing perfectly straight, remove steering wheel then refit steering wheel but here's the trick, fit it exactly straight. Done

 

[figjam]

He reckons the technician said its because its an old car and the suspension and bushings aren't good enough. Thoughts?

He could have a point there, not just because it is an old car, but in what condition is the front suspension ?
If stuff is worn and wobbling in all directions, fair enough.

But getting the steering wheel straight is a major operation, according to some. I have had enough wheel alignments where the car went in straight and came out off centre. A quick test drive of their completed job would have shown the problem.
Worst was my Crewman. I stupidly gave the Holden Dealer a list of stuff I wanted done after I bought it, which included a wheel alignment. Even wrapped a piece of tape around the rim to show the angle when on a flat road. 3 attempts later ............
Luckily , I had to take it back over the next 2 days for them to fix other stuff which was sorta not done right.

 

[Immortality]

A mate with a VT had a wheel alignment because his steering wheel was at 1 o'clock going straight. The steering wheel is still not straight. He reckons the technician said its because its an old car and the suspension and bushings aren't good enough. Thoughts?

Find a new alignment shop.

If there is something worn effecting steering alignment the shop should have recommended that get fixed before completing said alignment.

 

[Immortality]

Even easier. Park car with wheels facing perfectly straight, remove steering wheel then refit steering wheel but here's the trick, fit it exactly straight. Done

But won't you potentially **** up the clock spring doing this if the alignment is to far off?

 

[the_boozer]

Even easier. Park car with wheels facing perfectly straight, remove steering wheel then refit steering wheel but here's the trick, fit it exactly straight. Done

How about do the front end alignment properly it will steer better. Theres a certain turn out I slap every-time I see for doing that to my old VK it steered better before I got new tyres and let him do a front end alignment on it. As soon as you move the wheel off the mark it never steers the same don't break the clockspring if you move the wheel drive up and down the street and stop dead straight if your going to move the wheel.
Get another alignment some where else

 

[crew chief]

No-one here removed a steering wheel or changed out a clock spring? Not rocket science people.
Does the car drive straight after the wheel alignment, did it drive straight before? Has the steering wheel ever been off in the cars 20 plus year life?

 

[the_boozer]

No-one here removed a steering wheel or changed out a clock spring? Not rocket science people.

Its still hiding from a bad alignment? Every time I've done it the car didn't steer real good compared to how it steers with a good alignment if ones honest about it

 

[1985VK]

Find a new alignment shop.

If there is something worn effecting steering alignment the shop should have recommended that get fixed before completing said alignment.

I don't know jack about wheel alignments but these are the specs on the VT before and after. The car passed a roadworthy about 12 months ago. Left front tyre wore unevenly and feathered on the outside and inside with heaps of tread in the centre.