Forums Forums Enthusiast Forums A - Z Autowirral Stearing Wheel Not Straight/Car Shaking

Not sure if anyone can help, I had 2 part worn tyres fitted on the back of my car at Top Gear Tyres. When they were replacing them the said my wheel alinment was out and they could fix it for £20. I said yes. After they had done it driving home i noticed that stearing wheel was not straight and car was shaking. I took it back and they said they would try to fix it but they could not and said that is was right like it was. I have had wheels tested by someone else to see if they are balanced and they are fine. Can anyone tell me how to get stearing wheel straight and to stop shaking. Thanks

Did they take the balance weights off the rear wheels? thats what they did to my brothers when he took his to get 2 part worns, ended up tellin the fella to rebalance the wheel.

How did they know it was out before putting the laser gear on?

There is a good tyre place on Old Hall Road in Bromborough who do tracking for £25.

Sounds to me as though they didn't clamp the wheel straight before they did the alignment, and messed it up.

Take it into a well known garage (like Kwik Fit), tell them what has happened and then get them to check/do it. They'll give you a form telling you what they had to do and how far out it was, take that to Top Gear Tyres and show them what you have had to pay because they didn't do the job properly, and ask for your money back.

Depending how far you want to go you can either decided that you're glad it's all done and forget it or, if they wont pay and you're annoyed about it, get a local solicitor to send them a letter saying that their negligence (if it did) caused the problem and they should reimberse you for the cost of putting it right.

Just a thought but you say you had the BACK tyres changed, wheel balancing is often only done on the FRONTS, did your friend check those as it's possiblt it's something as simple as a wheel weight being knocked off when the alignment was being done.

The back wheels were not balanced correct, but got that sorted at St James Tyres.

They said they could tell by the wear on the tyre.

Do you know what the place is called that does tracking

Would Kwik Fit be able to set it back to orignal and get the stearing wheel straight

Should be able to yes, all you do is clamp the wheel in the straight position and THEN do the alignment, should take no more than half an hour.

Do you know where Inspirations are near the old Candy? well it's on that road.

Kwik Fit charge £36 for tracking, bearing in mind thats 2 wheel.

What car is it?

Its a Renault Clio 2008

Will that stop the shacking hopefully aswell

Kwik Fit can do it.

I always use Frank Bathers opposite Cammel Lairds for anything to do with tyres/alignment.

Yep I know were inspirations are

Do you mean wirral tyres and commercial

Never knew Batthers did wheel alainment, You never had a problem with them

Can't comment on it stopping shaking but atleast they will be able to look over it and check the tracking.

Still baffle'd why they done the tracking in the 1st place.

They called it 4 wheel laser alignment

4 wheel laser alignment costs £50 from Buckley Tyres, thats the only place local who does proper 4 wheel tracking.

Top Gear are good for part worns but tracking is a no no.

Not sure on the name of the place but it's the 1st garage after the new inspirations place.

Always fine, there was a mistake with the steering centering (clamp fell of when they were checking for loose joints) but the guy spotted it and re-did it all. Its one of the two bays past the far end of the tyre hall, I think the other bay is used for exhausts.

You can watch them do it.

Thanks Will have a look how much bathers want

Just a quick one, Car is still under warranty so not sure if i should act stupid and take it to them, Do you think they would be able to sort it?

Pretty sure tracking would come under wear and tear and would be chargable....

Especially when they noticed it had been recently adjusted.

Yep Thanks for that

Car has been into renault because of fault on ABS, They had a look at the stearing wheel not being straight, They want £50 to fix it.

Having tracking that's off won't normally make your steering wheel wobble but it can:

1) cause the car to pull to one side
2) Wear your tyres on the side
3) Cause your steering to be off-centre

If the steering wheel wobbles it's most likely the wheel balance, damaged tyre or worn steering/suspension parts. The easy way to check at home is to swap the back tyres to the front and see how the car drives afterwards.

I took my car back to topgear today as it wasn't tracked properly last time they did it, but in all honesty I don't think they are any better or worse than any other backstreet tyre shop (including Kwik fit).

For £50 I would probably suggest paying the main dealer for the piece of mind as you've explored other options. At least you'll have good come back if it isn't. Be clear what you want them to do "For the £50 I want the steering wheel dead straight and the wobble sorted". A seized calliper can also effect steering, so I'd take it the dealer for that price.

Tell you what kid, bring it to me and i`ll straighten it for you for £40

Or for £30 i`ll tell you the easy way

Take it to a proper garage son

Buckley tyres is worth every penny..their kit is mega expensive but does a proper job..they can do camber aswell.
you get what you pay for...

Just checked Buckley's website, they have a Hunter Hawk. This is the dogs bollocks of tracking equipment.

Rang Buckley before. They will check the alignment for a mere tenner. If you want it adjusting the prices range from about £20 for the front wheels up to £60 for the back.

Have had it done by renault them selves. Stearing wheel in now straight again, Still god some vibration in car and seems to be very bumpy, someone said it could be rear tyres, I have had the rear tyres balanced. Someone say that they could be damaged

I would try swapping each of the tyres with the spare if you suspect one of them may be at fault. Once you've identified which one it is you can replace it.

If it's not the tyres I would get the car up on a ramp and visually check the suspension; ball joints, reaction bushes, shocks and stearing gear.

Jack the car up in each corner and grip each wheel by the back and check that there is no play in it. Really try and rag it round with your hands and see if it moves in a diagonal motion. The wheel should rotate freely when the brake is off.

Be sure to chock the wheels if you need to release the handbrake or take it out of gear when the car is jacked or on axle stands.

Drive your car about 30mph and hit the clutch to check for bearing noise coming from the wheels.