Steering wheel off-centre after geo

dezzy · Post by **dezzy** » Sun Sep 10, 2006 9:15 pm

Got a geo done on Friday (free of charge as compensation for recent hassle with car and MMC Glasgow). It was done by CLCM through MMC Edinburgh.

It turns out it was quite a bit out as I expected. The car does feel a lot better in corners now, but I've got one wee problem . . .

My steering wheel now sits slightly to the left when the car is going straight. If I try to centre the steering wheel, I end up drifting to the right!

MMC said they'd get it back into CLCM to resolve it, but I want to know how they managed to do that in the first place! Should I let them have it back?! Is it just the steering wheel that's out? Can it be taken off and put back on straight or is it actually the wheels themselves that are out?

Cheers,
D

mac · Post by **mac** » Sun Sep 10, 2006 9:19 pm

It's just the wheel hasn't been held in a true straight ahead position when the geo was getting done so the toe is off when holding the wheel straight.

It happens quite often if your not in the car to hold it in the right position.

Mac

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Sun Sep 10, 2006 9:22 pm

Wheels will be out. The wheel should be centred before they start and then the geo set form there. What will have happened is that have knocked it and not rechecked. When my geo was done by Mark in Banchory we kept checking the wheel was centred as it was easy to push it off centre.

There should be a testdrive at least to see if everything else is ok, how did they miss that!

VXJON · Post by **VXJON** » Sun Sep 10, 2006 9:27 pm

My vx has been doing that since i had my geo done a few months back at clcm and TBH i really dont notice it anymore

Should maybe get it redone

dezzy · Post by **dezzy** » Sun Sep 10, 2006 10:28 pm

Cheers guys. I think I'll make sure I can be there when they redo it so that I can sit in the car.

D

roadboy · Post by **roadboy** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:21 am

Most kits come with a steering wheel lock to stop this happening.

Centre wheel, lock in place, do geo. Easy!

Dan@JPS

Baggy · Post by **Baggy** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:07 am

Willie at CLCM uses a clamp to hold the steering wheel straight ahead. at least he did when he did mine.

More likely to be caused by uneven tyre wear caused by old geo settings.

Geo best done with new tyres and you sat in the car.

robin · Post by **robin** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:17 am

Baggy wrote:Willie at CLCM uses a clamp to hold the steering wheel straight ahead. at least he did when he did mine.

More likely to be caused by uneven tyre wear caused by old geo settings.

Geo best done with new tyres and you sat in the car.

TBH it's a common complaint; whilst the geo is as close as can be achieved using the shims, etc., the steering wheel is often a little bit out. I am not sure if this is caused by the steering not being centred to start with (i.e. they used the clamp, but the wheel wasn't quite straight) or something more subtle.

Ask whoever it is that did it if you can pop back in to double check the toe is right when the steering wheel is center - my guess is you'll find it's slightly out and they should be able to square it up for you.

These days I always sit in the car while the geo is being done and hold the wheel straight myself.

Cheers,
Robin

The_Rossatron · Post by **The_Rossatron** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 10:02 am

I think Shug had the same problem with CLCM.....

Novice Racer · Post by **Novice Racer** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 2:32 pm

I also have the same problem. My geo was also done at CLCM. I also have the steering off centre by about 10 degrees to make the car go straight.

I spoke to Willie at CLCM about a week ago, 1 month post geo set.

He said that the steering wheel was likely not totally straight when the geo was done and to bring it back in.

However, the car is still also pulling to the left when the wheel is let go on straight/flat roads........

So, £50 not well spent.

Hopefully find the time to get this sorted soon.

NR

Post by ed » Mon Sep 11, 2006 2:59 pm

cars often travel towards the left of the road due to the camber of the road. Ive had my geo done at CLCM and i have no problems, guess i was one of the lucky ones

dezzy · Post by **dezzy** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 3:27 pm

Yup, I agree on the camber comment.

MMC have said they'll put it back into CLCM and insist on it being resolved. They said they can't let me go and sit in the car though, because they're sub-contracting it to CLCM. I'm not happy with that comment! It's my bloody car. I can sit in it if I want!

Post by **simon** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 6:53 pm

This is why I will not be taking my car to CLCM ever again. I had a CV joint changed under warranty not long after buying the car. When I got it back, it pulled to the left so it went in for a geo. When I got it back after that, the steering wheel was squint. After getting it done by Mark, it's perfect.

So a cheapo geo at CLCM = a cheapo service IMO.

roadboy · Post by **roadboy** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:14 pm

I can't believe a Lotus dealership don't their own geos. That is shocking!!!

Dan@JPS

dezzy · Post by **dezzy** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:08 pm

roadboy wrote:I can't believe a Lotus dealership don't their own geos. That is shocking!!!

Dan@JPS

I know! Bloody ridiculous!

Think I'll be visiting you when my service is due next year Dan!