Question related to Alignment - 1994 855T

rsmigel · Post by **rsmigel** » 20 Nov 2009, 12:54

Since my last alignment after rebuilding the front end of my wagon, I find that the steering pulls hard back to center, that is, the force required to keep the car in a turn seems to be relatively high.

I'm concerned that I'm wearing my front tires. I normally drive a RWD car so when I get back in my Volvo the steering feels strange.

Opinion?

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 20 Nov 2009, 14:37

Front wheel drive steering will always feel somewhat strange due to what they call torque steer. The harder you accelerate the more pronounced it will be but it should never be a fight like you are describing.

Most tire shops will "check" the alignment for free but then they come back with a list of at least $600.00 worth of stuff that they claim needs to be changed. At that point I have them show me what they think is bad. Sometimes things are bad and sometimes they aren't but then I know what the problems are and fix it myself before I actually pay for an alignment.

If and when you do get an alignment be sure it is a 4 wheel alignment since the cars have passive rear steering and the toe in at the rear wheels is adjustable.

...Lee

daddyk · Post by **daddyk** » 20 Nov 2009, 15:30

Did you check the tires? For what it's worth I redid the front end on my 96 new struts,spring seats, strut mounts,tire rod ends, control arms end links. It pulled a bit to the right so I took it up to a good alignment shop. They set up everything in spec even though the raw numbers weren't as far off as I thought they'd be. Still pulled to the right, rotated the tires. Pull went, away tracks straight.

rsmigel · Post by **rsmigel** » 22 Nov 2009, 20:27

Well, the shop can't come back with a request to replace any parts, as I've already done all that! Any my condition isn't related to torque steer as the strong tendency to "center" even happens when coasting through a turn.

The car does not want to pull either right nor left. It really, REALLY wants to track straight!

I own a 2009 JCW Mini and that FWD steering feels very natural until you get onto the throttle.

turbotim2 · Post by **turbotim2** » 23 Nov 2009, 06:53

You should get an alingment after replacing almost any of the front suspension parts. Especially tie rod ends, ball joints and struts. I replaced my ball joints last weekend and immediately took it in for an alignment, the toe was out significantly. Its worth the money considering the cost of tires and gas.

FCPEURO · Post by **FCPEURO** » 23 Nov 2009, 09:02

He already had it in for an alignment, that is when the issue started.

I am thinking that it is an issue with your tires more then anything else. I would rotate them and see if that helps anything.

rsmigel · Post by **rsmigel** » 24 Nov 2009, 09:03

I will try to rotate the tires this long weekend, but I'm somewhat sceptical since I've never felt such a centering tendency before I did the front end work (tires were not rotated after the front end work).

If the "centering" tendency does not change, I will visit my Goodyear tire center where they did the work under a lifetime alignment contract and have them look at it again.