how easy is it to knock rear wheel alignment out ?
#1
03-11-18, 11:26 PM
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how easy is it to knock rear wheel alignment out ?
When I first got my car I did something a bit stupid while driving... one night while driving I went to switch lanes and hadn't noticed there was plastic dividers, when I went to fully cross into the next lane my took a beating as I passed over them and the result was my front and rear alignment was knocked out.
I took it first to see if it could be shimmed and it worked but was only a temporary fix as after a few bumps on the road I felt the car handling as it had before being shimmed.
So I decided to just bite the bullet and get the rear axle replaced I noticed the difference right away when driving, but after a few bumps nothing major It feels off again.
Is it likely to be something else ? or can mini potholes throw the back out easy enough ? I mean if it this is the case I will need to replace my rear axle once a month the roads are covered in tiny potholes.
thanks for any feedback
I took it first to see if it could be shimmed and it worked but was only a temporary fix as after a few bumps on the road I felt the car handling as it had before being shimmed.
So I decided to just bite the bullet and get the rear axle replaced I noticed the difference right away when driving, but after a few bumps nothing major It feels off again.
Is it likely to be something else ? or can mini potholes throw the back out easy enough ? I mean if it this is the case I will need to replace my rear axle once a month the roads are covered in tiny potholes.
thanks for any feedback
#2
03-12-18, 02:27 AM
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Modern day vehicles are harder to knock out of alignment than the older ones. What type of vehicle do you have? Not all alignment shops are equal - some do a lot better job than others. A few bumps shouldn't move shims around.
Modern day vehicles are harder to knock out of alignment than the older ones. What type of vehicle do you have? Not all alignment shops are equal - some do a lot better job than others. A few bumps shouldn't move shims around.
#3
03-12-18, 04:37 AM
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My wife has hit potholes big and hard enough to crack rims and it still hasn't knocked it out of alignment. I'm wondering if something else is going on.
#5
03-12-18, 10:36 AM
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hey thanks for the replies, its a seat Toledo 2017 plate less than 20.000 miles on clock.
when I got the car I did the silly thing I mentioned above and afterwards it felt like the back and front were out of alignment and pushing the car in different directions according to the garage I took it ( he suggested shimming it as a cheaper alternative to replacing the rear axle and I agreed to it) however after driving for 1000 miles or so I felt it go back to how it was pre shim) so then I opted to replace the rear axle.
I have took it for 2 wheel alignments since then and both times the rear has been different on the print outs which has led me to think it has gone out from printout 1 to print out 1... but I know so many things can make a difference on alignments like tyre pressure and how they set it up etc...
when the garage shimmed it he did mention shifting the subframe, so I don't know if maybe that's the issue more than the rear axle ?
when I got the car I did the silly thing I mentioned above and afterwards it felt like the back and front were out of alignment and pushing the car in different directions according to the garage I took it ( he suggested shimming it as a cheaper alternative to replacing the rear axle and I agreed to it) however after driving for 1000 miles or so I felt it go back to how it was pre shim) so then I opted to replace the rear axle.
I have took it for 2 wheel alignments since then and both times the rear has been different on the print outs which has led me to think it has gone out from printout 1 to print out 1... but I know so many things can make a difference on alignments like tyre pressure and how they set it up etc...
when the garage shimmed it he did mention shifting the subframe, so I don't know if maybe that's the issue more than the rear axle ?
#6
03-12-18, 10:39 AM
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Anyone checked the balance on the rims? I had a particularly bad winter for potholes a few years ago and three of the rims were out of balance and the fourth was bent and got replaced. The alignment was fine.
#9
03-12-18, 03:34 PM
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the dividers were massive they are the ones used to divide car lanes from the tiny bike lanes, they have just been newly installed so having driven up the same road plenty of times before I would use the bike lane ever so slightly to go round a car turning right ( when there was no one using the bike lane ) however this time I went round and without knowing the dividers were there and ended up with the dividers between left and right wheels, so when I came back into my lane both left wheels had to cross over it and did some damage to the alignment... the bang was big enough to send my left rear wheel cover flying.
So I got the car shimmed to get the rear back into spec but it didn't last long... so ended up just getting the rear axle replaced and they needed to replace rubber mountings and wheel hubs, things felt great until the other night when the rear passenger hit what I would class as minor pothole while I was turning into a street, so couldn't have been doing anymore than 5mph...
and since then the rear has felt off, when I say off I can feel it through the car seat almost like the drivers rear has a flat.... I have checked tyre pressures and I've also rotated the tires left to right, back to front etc and I still feel it off...
is there any reason despite having a new axle on the rear that rear toe/camber can still be knocked out of spec easily ?
So I got the car shimmed to get the rear back into spec but it didn't last long... so ended up just getting the rear axle replaced and they needed to replace rubber mountings and wheel hubs, things felt great until the other night when the rear passenger hit what I would class as minor pothole while I was turning into a street, so couldn't have been doing anymore than 5mph...
and since then the rear has felt off, when I say off I can feel it through the car seat almost like the drivers rear has a flat.... I have checked tyre pressures and I've also rotated the tires left to right, back to front etc and I still feel it off...
is there any reason despite having a new axle on the rear that rear toe/camber can still be knocked out of spec easily ?
#11
03-27-18, 01:57 PM
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funny you should ask that because this is now where I'm leaning towards and was hoping you may fill me in with some advice.
everytime I take it for an alignment the rear has moved... could be too much toe in on the left rear side then the next alignment too much toe in on the right rear side and movement with the camber also.
as said I even tried shimming it and it never worked, then I got the whole rear axle replaced and since then I've had toe alignments both showing the rear toe being different so I am completely stumped....
when the guy shimmed it before replacing the axle he mentioned shifting the subframe or something... so I don't know if that helps.
everytime I take it for an alignment the rear has moved... could be too much toe in on the left rear side then the next alignment too much toe in on the right rear side and movement with the camber also.
as said I even tried shimming it and it never worked, then I got the whole rear axle replaced and since then I've had toe alignments both showing the rear toe being different so I am completely stumped....
when the guy shimmed it before replacing the axle he mentioned shifting the subframe or something... so I don't know if that helps.
#12
03-27-18, 03:56 PM
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I worked a alignment Rack for many years. You have something moving probably damaged when you hit bumps. If they can't find what it is it might be time to replace car. A body shop with a with a body alignment rack might be able to help.
#13
03-27-18, 04:15 PM
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car is less than 20000 miles and is financed so I have to pay half off before I can hand it back... I used it for taxi driving so I couldn't even sell it on to pay off the finance as it loses value the moment you put a taxi plate on it...
the car feels so strange to drive almost like it is leaning on my side... the tire pressures are all good and from what I can see the ride height is okay from top of tire to wheel arch... but there is a visible lean which may be the excessive toe on one side and too much negative camber.
I'm taking it into Arnold clark for a service tomorrow what should I ask them to check for ? I will show the rear changing on the alignment printouts... it's under warranty but unfortunetly not alignment or anything related as when I had it shimmed it voided that part of the warranty...
the new rear axle installed however should be under warranty only got it done last month
the car feels so strange to drive almost like it is leaning on my side... the tire pressures are all good and from what I can see the ride height is okay from top of tire to wheel arch... but there is a visible lean which may be the excessive toe on one side and too much negative camber.
I'm taking it into Arnold clark for a service tomorrow what should I ask them to check for ? I will show the rear changing on the alignment printouts... it's under warranty but unfortunetly not alignment or anything related as when I had it shimmed it voided that part of the warranty...
the new rear axle installed however should be under warranty only got it done last month
Last edited by fendertele; 03-27-18 at 04:31 PM.
#14
03-27-18, 04:37 PM
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Here is something you can check. Make sure the front tires are straight . Roll car forward and backward to be sure. measure from edge of front wheel (not tire) to edge of rear wheel. do this on both sides Measurement should be within 1/8 inch. Also measure the wheel well fender on each side to ground should be the same. Do this on all 4 wheels front should match also back.
#15
03-28-18, 10:06 AM
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Have your mechanic look for a broken weld or cracked frame that allows movement of the wheel linkage. Also, you may have damaged a bushing that is allowing movement. Does your mechanic do four-wheel alignments? If not, take it to a shop that does.
#16
03-28-18, 10:22 AM
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Originally Posted by Mad Scientist
Have your mechanic look for a broken weld or cracked frame that allows movement of the wheel linkage. Also, you may have damaged a bushing that is allowing movement. Does your mechanic do four-wheel alignments? If not, take it to a shop that does.
Today I dropped off the car for it's first service with Seat, I mentioned that everytime I take it for an alignment the rear shows different specs and the toe is different each time...
4 hours later they sent me a prinout with the car all back within spec and equal toe in on each side... they said it wasn't out and all they did was tighten things up.
So I'm obviously a bit suspicious as the printout from last week showed one side toeing in a good bit more than the other side.... so how has it miraculously managed to resolve itself... and as the car is under warranty have they just gave it a temporary shunt to get it back in and as soon as I go over any bump or take a knock it will go back out.
I will see how it drives as I can normally tell if the alignment is out be it toe or camber just by how the car handles on corners and the contact patch when driving... if I feel it going out i'll need to get it inspected further but hopefully i'm wrong and they have actually done something lasting but according to the report all was good and nothing was needed doing.
#17
03-28-18, 10:29 AM
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If the problem persists, check the tires. It's possible going over the dividers broke a belt loose inside a tire.
#18
03-28-18, 10:50 AM
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yeah I thought it could be tires but they are all new... I put them on when I got the car shimmed prior to replacing the rear axle, they also did a tyre check with the service and all got good condition... there is uneven wear though... which would point to alignment yet they have a print out showing everything within spec and everywhere else has shown the car slightly crabbing with the overall rear toe being out.
#19
03-28-18, 12:39 PM
they said it wasn't out and all they did was tighten things up.
#20
03-28-18, 02:20 PM
Those "few bumps on the road" seem to be pretty substantial Rumble Strips in your picture.
Do European Countries typically protect the Bicyclists with such substantial barriers ?
They appear to discourage the bicyclists from leaving their lanes too (lanes which appear to be gynormous) 1
Do European Countries typically protect the Bicyclists with such substantial barriers ?
They appear to discourage the bicyclists from leaving their lanes too (lanes which appear to be gynormous) 1
#21
03-28-18, 03:03 PM
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So collected the car tonight all the alignment was in spec looked good to go. The reason they put for my problems was must be wrong tire pressure which is bull I check hem everyday using a tire trek pressure gauge.
Straight away I notice car is driving straight but still has this award feeling any uneven road and the car is all over the place when the front goes over it wants to go one way then when he rear goes over it wants to go another way...after driving around for a while longer and a few u-turns the car feels like it's shifted again!
If I had to describe it's like the cars weight distribution changes even when driving in a straight line I can feel it through the tires how they make.contact with the road and of course I have to slightly adjust the steering wheel depending on how the weight shift's.
Straight away I notice car is driving straight but still has this award feeling any uneven road and the car is all over the place when the front goes over it wants to go one way then when he rear goes over it wants to go another way...after driving around for a while longer and a few u-turns the car feels like it's shifted again!
If I had to describe it's like the cars weight distribution changes even when driving in a straight line I can feel it through the tires how they make.contact with the road and of course I have to slightly adjust the steering wheel depending on how the weight shift's.
#22
03-28-18, 03:13 PM
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I would be leaning towards something being bent frame wise if it wasn't for the alignments being good.. I have no noise or anything just the car feeling twisted of sorts.
Even turning out of a street I need to overthink with how the front end and back feel out of sync
Even turning out of a street I need to overthink with how the front end and back feel out of sync
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03-28-18, 03:51 PM
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#25
03-29-18, 05:07 AM
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id imagine so but then again even if they had felt it would be less work for them to play dumb to it. Another thing I mentioned is the rear left wheel has always looked off to me like it sits out a little further than the rear right when looking at the car from the back.
how does my alignment look ? the issue I'm feeling is mainly at the rear drivers side it just feels off compared to the contact of the rest of the wheels when driving.
how does my alignment look ? the issue I'm feeling is mainly at the rear drivers side it just feels off compared to the contact of the rest of the wheels when driving.
#26
03-29-18, 05:11 AM
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#27
03-29-18, 05:14 AM
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maybe i'm being anal, but after paying 1200 pounds to replace the rear axle i'd have hoped that rear camber was more zeroed in ? or is within spec good enough for them ?
