Steering Wheel is off centre

[Greybeard]

Well, I've just spent the last hour doing the tie rods quarter turn at a time on both sides. See how that goes.

Coming from the same old guy who once had to change, in the wet Winter gutter outside parents house, the shell bearings for the second time after fitting a new crankshaft to my Ford Corsair 2000e.
Much older guy who supervised me didn’t explain half the shells had a hole in the middle!

 

[cy294]

Have you not given it a run up the road?

I did earlier, it improved, so I've just adjusted again, but my stomach was calling. So will be giving it a go shortly.

 

[northanmonkey]

I did earlier, it improved, so I've just adjusted again, but my stomach was calling. So will be giving it a go shortly.

Sounds like you’re on the right track.
Keep the adjustment equal and you’ll be fine.
Oh. And well done.

 

[northanmonkey]

Coming from the same old guy who once had to change, in the wet Winter gutter outside parents house, the shell bearings for the second time after fitting a new crankshaft to my Ford Corsair 2000e.
Much older guy who supervised me didn’t explain half the shells had a hole in the middle!

Oh my god. 50/50 chance please tell me you got the oil feed hole in the block not the caps?

 

[Crazymind]

Coming from the same old guy who once had to change, in the wet Winter gutter outside parents house, the shell bearings for the second time after fitting a new crankshaft to my Ford Corsair 2000e.
Much older guy who supervised me didn’t explain half the shells had a hole in the middle!

Once sorted ill Take my van to you and get it fixed

 

[northanmonkey]

I know I’m an old numpty, but…..
in the old days, 70s-80s…
No, the 1970s-80s before the bright sparks chip in!
If alignment sorted correctly and steering wheel still out, moving the steering wheel one spline on its mounting was often suggested.
And I did say If…
Andy

Depends on the spline pitch, but one spline is usually a huge amount! and never the correct amount.

 

[cy294]

Adjust your tie-rod ends - you need a 12mm and an adjustable spanner

Update! After 3 x qtr turns on both sides, the steering wheel seems to be all good. When the steering wheel is centered whilst driving, the vam doesn't veer to the right. So I can only assume that I have done it right?

So does this mean that the tyres wont wear evenly?

As a side note, thanks for all the replies and to @northanmonkey for his hints and tips which seems to have workerd.

 

[northanmonkey]

Update! After 3 x qtr turns on both sides, the steering wheel seems to be all good. When the steering wheel is centered whilst driving, the vam doesn't veer to the right. So I can only assume that I have done it right?

So does this mean that the tyres wont wear evenly?

As a side note, thanks for all the replies and to @northanmonkey for his hints and tips which seems to have workerd.

If you have adjusted both side equally then the total toe angle won’t have changed because the distance between the two track rod ends hasn’t changed.

 

[Greybeard]

Oh my god. 50/50 chance please tell me you got the oil feed hole in the block not the caps?

I did the second time!
First time I just slid them from the stack, lubricated each, as instructed, and into place.
We made it from Chippenham, up the M4 until nearly Swindon, before the engine decided it didn’t want to work any more!
Fine wet and dry ‘cleaned’ the crankshaft before second go.
I was a day or two late collecting my grandad from Norwich…..

 

[northanmonkey]

I did the second time!
First time I just slid them from the stack, lubricated each, as instructed, and into place.
We made it from Chippenham, up the M4 until nearly Swindon, before the engine decided it didn’t want to work any more!
Fine wet and dry ‘cleaned’ the crankshaft before second go.
I was a day or two late collecting my grandad from Norwich…..

 

[jimbops]

I picked up my new T6.1 a couple of months ago, the steering wheel was slightly off to the right at 1 o’clock. Didn’t pull at all the steering wheel was just off centre.
This sort of thing drives me nuts.
My last T6.1 was perfect so I knew it had nothing to do with road camber etc. I took the sportline wheels off my old van and put them on my new one so it had nothing to do with tyres etc.
My new van was supplied on lowering springs from vdub motors, because of this VW wouldn’t get involved as it had been lowered etc.
I took it to Bram Racing for the hunter alignment, I drove away and it was exactly the same. I took it back and got the same result. Third time I set the steering wheel at 11 o’clock then asked them to set the alignment.
It’s not perfect but it is very close.
I’m a lot happier now.

 

[mrkwats]

Mine was noticeably off centre when I had a flat bottomed MFSW fitted.

I used this method and then had 4 wheel alignment done after. It’s worked a treat and it’s literally a 5 minute fix (as long as you can release the locking nuts)

Thanks for sharing the video on steering wheel alignment. I had my alignment checked this morning (Kwikfit Hunter 4 wheel alignment), and all came out correct - no adjustments needed. So rather than getting the techs to adjust, test drive, adjust, test drive and so on, I quit whilst I was ahead, plus there’s no charge for a check without adjustments. I followed the video (my steering wheel was to the left when driving straight), and adjusted both sides 1/4 turn (left toe-in and right toe-out). Made some marker points as a reference just in case I messed up. Steering wheel now dead centre, and just pleased I can now sort if it happens again. Very simple job, took 20 mins and I was triple-checking everything!

 

[Rfkdemon]

I have had the same issue with my van since new. It was totally standard from VW and the wheel was always slightly to the right and pulled to the left when let go.
Took it back to VW 3 times, who charge me of course, and they just kept trying to align it but the problem was never fixed.

Around 6 months later I put some KW V3+ coilovers on it and set it about 70mm lower than standard, it then went to VW for alignment. Same again, steering wheel to the right and pulled to the left when released.

What was interesting was that a couple months later I realised the van was too low for towing my car trailer so I raised it up about 20mm. Without alignment the van drove perfectly but I was worried the tyres might be scrubbing so took it back to VW for alignment. It came back out with the original issue again.

I drove it for a year like this which was annoying so eventually I thought I would spend the money and take it to a proper company who just specialise in alignment called String Theory in Stratford Upon Avon.
I haven't posted about this yet as I was hoping they would fix it and wanted to give them the opportunity to rectify, however after a couple of trips and around £500 it is worse than it was and now they do not reply to me.
First trip there they completely messed it up. They were really good about it though and just put it down to a mistake on one of the technicians.
The second time the owner did it and it was better but told me it might settle and improve. I was away for a few months with work so couldn't put any mileage on the van but after 6 months it is still the same. Wheel to the right and pulls to the left when let go.
I contacted them but just got ignored so I am guessing they can't be bothered to fix it.

So several 100's of pounds out of pocket and a few years later I still have the same issue.

My conclusion is that one of the steering arms is longer than the other on the T6 and that the bushes are super soft, so depending on how well the van is settled before making adjustments, has a huge affect and with one steering arm being longer than the other, the geometry is effected differently through the suspension travel. This was apparent when raising the van 20mm fixed the issue and on especially warm days the problem is worse for me as presumably the bushes flex more.

My conclusion is that to fix this I need to fit some polybushes and go from there. Are there any on the market?

Mat

 

[jimbops]

I’ve learned there are 3 types of control arm bushes on these vans. I have the open bush that flexes a lot in motion. You can literally push the wheel backwards and forward quite a lot when stationary.
I am now considering fitting the closed solid oem bush, as these don’t have the same amount of movement. I compared my van next to a friends sportline with the solid bush both same age, new vans with low mileage.
His wheels didn’t flex around like mine.
I’m adamant this is the tracking issue.

 

[RobertO2023]

Hi, Any vehicle that pulls left or right indicates a geometry issue. First of get a full geometry re set using laser alignment. If the pulling still continues it will one of the following
Tyre pressures or uneven tyre wear
Worn suspension components ie bottom bushes or top mounts.
Transporters are prone to top mount failure it the suspension has been modified
I Had a 5.1 Sportline with H and R set up ant the left top mount failed causing a pull to the left
A factory new vehicle should not pull. Having said that I have know brand new vehicles that need suspension alignment !
There is a common issue with unequal length drive shafts that can effect the pull on production vehicles which the manufacturers compensate with weight and balances. The test is hand off the wheel at 50mph on a smooth level road

Hope this helps
Ps I have spend a lot of time setting up suspension on race cars.

 

[Rfkdemon]

I’ve learned there are 3 types of control arm bushes on these vans. I have the open bush that flexes a lot in motion. You can literally push the wheel backwards and forward quite a lot when stationary.
I am now considering fitting the closed solid oem bush, as these don’t have the same amount of movement. I compared my van next to a friends sportline with the solid bush both same age, new vans with low mileage.
His wheels didn’t flex around like mine.
I’m adamant this is the tracking issue.

I didn't realise there were different bushes, I would agree this is the likely contributory cause. It is inherently a design issue from the factory given so many people report this same issue on brand new vans and that it makes no difference once aligned.

Mat

 

[Crazymind]

Some Truth there no doubt.
Both my T6 and T6.1 wheels were off centre. It seems most of the dealers technicians are brainless and just apply the standard setup. Muppets.
Took it to a pro and wheel was centred and no pulling left nor right.

 

[Skyliner33]

My T6.1 was slightly off centre (to the left). Due to this thread I put up with it until first service when I mentioned it to the dealer and asked if it could be put right. I wasn't to hopeful as the van is lowered, However it was spot on when I picked it up, and no pulling in either direction.

 

[CRS Performance]

My T6.1 was slightly off centre (to the left). Due to this thread I put up with it until first service when I mentioned it to the dealer and asked if it could be put right. I wasn't to hopeful as the van is lowered, However it was spot on when I picked it up, and no pulling in either direction.

Hi J do you have a print out , ?? maybe share it with me .? We are getting a lot of customers coming through with alignment issues although most of them are too low to really get it sorted nicely

 

[Skyliner33]

Hi J do you have a print out , ?? maybe share it with me .? We are getting a lot of customers coming through with alignment issues although most of them are too low to really get it sorted nicely

Hi, unfortunately I don’t. They didn’t give me a printout, and I didn’t think about asking. Sorry.