Alignment Question?

**dalmation53** · 02-16-2016 07:55 PM

Hello guys I'm getting very annoyed about this little issue. My car is lowered like 2 1/2 inches basically fender meets tire all around. I went to a shop who had good reviews to get and alignment after 2 years because it was pulling a bit. So now the car is aligned is not pulling anywhere but my steering wheel seems like a bit to the left side when driving straight on the highway or city on flat surfaces. Is bugging me a lot i braught it back 2 times and there machine says is aligned properly WTF. Is there any way i can straighten my steering wheel to the center by rotating my tie rods counterclockwise?

**A4Trico** · 02-16-2016 08:07 PM

Was the steering straight before the alignment?

**Denio24** · 02-16-2016 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by dalmation53

Hello guys I'm getting very annoyed about this little issue. My car is lowered like 2 1/2 inches basically fender meets tire all around. I went to a shop who had good reviews to get and alignment after 2 years because it was pulling a bit. So now the car is aligned is not pulling anywhere but my steering wheel seems like a bit to the left side when driving straight on the highway or city on flat surfaces. Is bugging me a lot i braught it back 2 times and there machine says is aligned properly WTF. Is there any way i can straighten my steering wheel to the center by rotating my tie rods counterclockwise?

Maybe they don't know how to do an alignment? They should not be spinning the outer tie rod, but the inner for fine tuning. Can you post the actual results of the alignment?

**dalmation53** · 02-16-2016 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by Denio24

Maybe they don't know how to do an alignment? They should not be spinning the outer tie rod, but the inner for fine tuning. Can you post the actual results of the alignment?

God kill me I can't find my paper specs -____- I know i'm asking for help but I'm not helping much.... I saw this thread but i'm confused

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=749585

**dalmation53** · 02-16-2016 08:26 PM

uploadfromtaptalk1455679513171.jpg

That's how it looks now

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**Denio24** · 02-16-2016 08:32 PM

Basically that thread is saying you must have a perfectly straight steering wheel before the alignment occurs. The shop must have had the steering wheel at that position in the picture above when they did the alignment, and they didn't take the time to test drive and fine tune it. If you want to do it yourself, you can put the front on jack stands (easier to center & turn the wheels). Remove the wheels, and undo the locknuts for both tie rods. Since at 12 O' Clock position the wheels will be slightly right, you will have to do a slight adjustment to the left so both wheel will be pointing STRAIGHT!. For the right wheel, spin the inner tie rod towards the outer tie rod, wrenching 1/4 turn counter clockwise. For the left wheel, spin the inner tie rod away from the outer tie rod, wrenching 1/4 turn clockwise. Start off with 1/4 turn and see what kind of effect it has on your steering wheel position at cruising speed. One thing, just make sure you evenly make the adjustment on both sides when you do this.

**audihere06** · 02-16-2016 09:55 PM

Mine is also like this. I have H&R sport springs, continental dws tires, and it has always been very sensitive to road crown. I think its just the tendency of this car especially when lowered. It also gets worse with less toe and more camber. Doesn't really bother me anymore I had to get used to it. I wouldn't go tinkering with your suspension. Are your running any adjustable upper control arms or stock?

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**dalmation53** · 02-16-2016 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by audihere06

Mine is also like this. I have H&R sport springs, continental dws tires, and it has always been very sensitive to road crown. I think its just the tendency of this car especially when lowered. It also gets worse with less toe and more camber. Doesn't really bother me anymore I had to get used to it. I wouldn't go tinkering with your suspension. Are your running any adjustable upper control arms or stock?

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they are stock control arms. I thought adjustable were only needed for slammed cars?

**dalmation53** · 02-16-2016 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by Denio24

Basically that thread is saying you must have a perfectly straight steering wheel before the alignment occurs. The shop must have had the steering wheel at that position in the picture above when they did the alignment, and they didn't take the time to test drive and fine tune it. If you want to do it yourself, you can put the front on jack stands (easier to center & turn the wheels). Remove the wheels, and undo the locknuts for both tie rods. Since at 12 O' Clock position the wheels will be slightly right, you will have to do a slight adjustment to the left so both wheel will be pointing STRAIGHT!. For the right wheel, spin the inner tie rod towards the outer tie rod, wrenching 1/4 turn counter clockwise. For the left wheel, spin the inner tie rod away from the outer tie rod, wrenching 1/4 turn clockwise. Start off with 1/4 turn and see what kind of effect it has on your steering wheel position at cruising speed. One thing, just make sure you evenly make the adjustment on both sides when you do this.

Ok so since my wheels is slightly to the left when "Centered" I need to get my left wheel to go in more and my right wheel to go out more correct?

**audihere06** · 02-16-2016 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by dalmation53

they are stock control arms. I thought adjustable were only needed for slammed cars?

I mean i dont plan on getting any. $400 just isnt worth it to me. Im not seeing any camber wear anyway. Lowering adds camber which can only be adjusted in the rear. I wouldn't worry about it. If it bothers you, they might help the road sensitivity but some camber helps handling.

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**dalmation53** · 02-16-2016 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by audihere06

I mean i dont plan on getting any. $400 just isnt worth it to me. Im not seeing any camber wear anyway. Lowering adds camber which can only be adjusted in the rear. I wouldn't worry about it. If it bothers you, they might help the road sensitivity but some camber helps handling.

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of cours it bothers me to hell that my steering is like that. it wasn't like that before....and all they do is do everything all over again with no result so i guess i need to pay to get it done right. might as well replace tie rods while i'm at it.

**audihere06** · 02-16-2016 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by dalmation53

of cours it bothers me to hell that my steering is like that. it wasn't like that before....and all they do is do everything all over again with no result so i guess i need to pay to get it done right. might as well replace tie rods while i'm at it.

Are you recently lowered? Ive had audi dealers who couldn't even do an alignment properly. However mine started becoming sensitive when i bought the conti dws, then more so after my alignment and i had them take as much toe out as possible to reduce tire wear.

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**dalmation53** · 02-16-2016 11:06 PM

Originally Posted by audihere06

Are you recently lowered? Ive had audi dealers who couldn't even do an alignment properly. However mine started becoming sensitive when i bought the conti dws, then more so after my alignment and i had them take as much toe out as possible to reduce tire wear.

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yeah i'm lowered not slammed not even close

**audihere06** · 02-16-2016 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by dalmation53

yeah i'm lowered not slammed not even close

Did you recently lower the car or has it been lowered?

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**Charles.waite** · 02-16-2016 11:10 PM

Sounds like the shop just set the front toe with the wheel cocked to the side. Tell them to fix it. AND NOT just take the wheel off and recenter it.

**dalmation53** · 02-16-2016 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by Charles.waite

Sounds like the shop just set the front toe with the wheel cocked to the side. Tell them to fix it. AND NOT just take the wheel off and recenter it.

I have gone 3 times and is been a failure. So my problem here is the Toe i'm guessing?

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**Charles.waite** · 02-16-2016 11:46 PM

Huh. Sounds like their rig sucks. Maybe just cut your losses and find a different alignment shop. I've gotten my audis aligned at a few places and never had this problem. Its nothing mysterious. They're just doing it wrong or their alignment rig sucks.

And yea the problem is definitely toe. Thats the only thing you can adjust up front anyway.

**dalmation53** · 02-17-2016 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by Charles.waite

Huh. Sounds like their rig sucks. Maybe just cut your losses and find a different alignment shop. I've gotten my audis aligned at a few places and never had this problem. Its nothing mysterious. They're just doing it wrong or their alignment rig sucks.

And yea the problem is definitely toe. Thats the only thing you can adjust up front anyway.

LOL yeah i paid $65 I guess i need to pay anothe $65 or 70 else where. ok So i'll just find a shop that can concentrate on my toe. thanks man.