Steering slightly off after alignment

[redlineracer]

So I took my car into the dealership for an alignment and on my drive back I notice it being slightly off. Tracks great and all, but I just have to keep the steering wheel to the right very slightly too keep the car straight. It's so small and I read online that it'll never be perfect, should I just take it back?

[treginginco]

Short answer --- yes, take it back.

I just had the alignment done in my Allroad yesterday at an independent shop --- wheel is dead on.

[4ringnut]

How old are your tires?

[redlineracer]

My tires have about another 2 seasons left, don't know the exact tread left is though. My only concern is will they actually fix it or am I just wasting my time and should I just go to an independent tire shop?

[jfo]

You paid for it and you're not satisfied...take it back. Most of us are sensitive to the wheel being not quite right. It was fine before they did it, so it's not your imagination. I had my dealer do mine when I bought new tires and wheels and it was perfect when they were done.

[oshwi]

Yes take it back. Happened to me once in an indy shop, when he was aligning the steering wheel the second time he let me check if it was center before he finalized everything.

[Prof]

Last year when I purchased new tires, I took my A4 to the dealer for alignment. This was the first alignment that I performed and predictably the alignment was off according to the printout. After alignment the printout showed everything was in spec and the car drove very well indeed. The steering wheel was perfect and true. Take the car back to the dealership and have them complete the job properly.

[The Infiltrator]

Is this really a question?

[Jacon]

Short answer --- yes, take it back.

Take it back. The alignment tech is probably blind or bumped the steering wheel while setting it up.

[redlineracer]

Is this really a question?

Well I've heard people taking it back 3 or 4 times and it still never is perfect. So I was thinking maybe if it were better to just head to an independent tire shop or enthusiast shop and maybe they might do a better job because at dealerships it's always just pumping out numbers and taking car after car. The volumes are a lot higher so quality and attention to detail has the possibility to take a hit right.

[redlineracer]

Thanks guys, yeah so I took it back and a senior tech adjusted it. He clearly saw that it was noticeably off when we went for a test drive. The only thing now with my OCD it's maybe like just a hair off, much better but still just a hair off.

[layzie]

I also had this happened, took it back and got it back with it better but my steering wheel still isn't straight. May try the dealer.