Get one thing sorted then something else!

[Louay]

K. Just got back from r
Audi with 2 brand new Led headlights. Result.

Both front wheels were taken off and replaced during the process.

Upon entering the first roundabout, turning right, it felt ever so slightly harder to turn right that it does left! As if the car wanted to go left!

Why is this? Wheel alignment? Tyre pressure?


Held and advice would be greatly appreciated.

L

 

[snowfree52]

What does Audi say about it ? they caused it obviously

 

[The Challinor]

Not sure what they would have messed with if just replacing lights, depends on what needs to come off I guess.

Tempted say steering rack but can't see why that would have gone wrong after the work you've had done.

 

[leosayer1]

I had this problem on an old Corrado of mine and never got to the bottom of it. It spoiled the enjoyment of the car.

Have a close look at all the wheels and tyres and check for:
-Damage on outside and inside
-Directional tyres on the wrong way round
-Same tyres make, model and all round
-Tyres inflated to correct pressure, same on both sides

They may tell you that turning to the left is natural due to the camber of the road but if it's changed since they did the work then you need to get the car back to them as soon as possible.

 

[Louay]

Not sure what they would have messed with if just replacing lights, depends on what needs to come off I guess.

Tempted say steering rack but can't see why that would have gone wrong after the work you've had done.

I had this problem on an old Corrado of mine and never got to the bottom of it. It spoiled the enjoyment of the car.

Have a close look at all the wheels and tyres and check for:
-Damage on outside and inside
-Directional tyres on the wrong way round
-Same tyres make, model and all round
-Tyres inflated to correct pressure, same on both sides

They may tell you that turning to the left is natural due to the camber of the road but if it's changed since they did the work then you need to get the car back to them as soon as possible.

Steering rack? From what I saw, both front wheels came off in order to get to the lights and the car was elevated on a car platform for some time perhaps it was just the springs and the suspension settling again as I drove it away? May be it was all in my mind....car goes into garage and is driven by someone else therefore it doesn't feel like my car anymore if that makes sense? Did notice the steering column height was adjusted so I adjusted it back.

Perhaps they didn't put tighten the nuts properly.....doubt it.

Having the H&R springs put on next week so I'll get the wheel alignment checked shortly after. Anything else I could get checked at the same time? Tracking? Is that the same as wheel alignment? Wheel balance weights (that would be felt through the steering wheel surely?) anything else guys? It's probably all in my head so sorry to go on.

 

[steeve]

wonder if a spring is out of its seat, though I doubt it.

Why on earth do they have to alter your column setting? I've had cars go in and the mechanic has changed my stored radio stations.

 

[veeeight]

Why did your LED headlights need replacing..?

 

[illingworth22]

Why did your LED headlights need replacing..?

+1

 

[Vertigo1]

Swap the front wheels and see if the problem reverses too. That at least will tell you if it's a wheel/tyre problem or something to do with the suspension/tracking/etc.

 

[Audimad]

K. Just got back from r
Audi with 2 brand new Led headlights. Result.

Both front wheels were taken off and replaced during the process.

Upon entering the first roundabout, turning right, it felt ever so slightly harder to turn right that it does left! As if the car wanted to go left!

Why is this? Wheel alignment? Tyre pressure?


Held and advice would be greatly appreciated.

L

Turn around and go straight back to the dealer.

 

[Louay]

wonder if a spring is out of its seat, though I doubt it.

Why on earth do they have to alter your column setting? I've had cars go in and the mechanic has changed my stored radio stations.

My apologies for the delay in replying, retail on a Saturday is good for sales but a pain in the rectum sometimes.

OEM Springs are being replaced on Thursday so that should eliminate the possibility of the suggested cause.

I had also noticed upon re-entry that both trip computers had reset to zero. Presumably the battery had be discontinued to carry out the replacement? Perhaps the car is settling back to my driving style?

Why did your LED headlights need replacing..?

Manufacturer debris/swarf was found in the passenger side headlight, within the unit, so I requested it be changed. All due respect to Audi because they changed both free of charge under warranty.

Thanks for your suggestions and thoughts guys. I shall ask the company fitting the springs to take a thorough look.

Its probably all in my head! But being so close to our cars we notice everything about them!

 

[steverobertsbbc]

As somebody else has already alluded to, I suspect they wheels have gone back on opposite sides of the car and you're just feeling the effects of uneven tyre wear.

 

[Louay]

As somebody else has already alluded to, I suspect they wheels have gone back on opposite sides of the car and you're just feeling the effects of uneven tyre wear.

Interesting point. However. The wheels were removed a placed on their respective sides of the car. Why would an audi technician swop them over? Is it possible that the alignment could be out if the technician allowed the wheel hub to take most of the gravitational pull as he was placing the wheels back on seeing as the car was elevated about 4-5 ft? Or am stabbing in the dark here? Change wheels around would be the suggested root? All I know is that a when I turn right the steering gives more resistance and feels more heavier than I were to do the same manoeuvre turning left. It wasn't there yesterday morning before I took the car in so?

 

[steverobertsbbc]

Well, if you saw them take the wheels off and are positive they couldn't have swapped them (and I agree, why would they if they had place them at their respective sides of the car?) then I'm sure you can discount that idea. I can't imagine there would have been anything else they would have touched down there simply to get to the headlights though...

 

[Louay]

Well, if you saw them take the wheels off and are positive they couldn't have swapped them (and I agree, why would they if they had place them at their respective sides of the car?) then I'm sure you can discount that idea. I can't imagine there would have been anything else they would have touched down there simply to get to the headlights though...

Thanks Steve.

Perhaps a return trip to the dealers is on the cards.....What would you suggest i actually say to them regarding the monetarily heavier steering point when turning right?

Presumably Audi have state of the art wheel alignment and equipment?

 

[veeeight]

Not all dealers have good 4-wheel alignment equipment.

One of the best on the market at the moment is the Hunter Hawkeye 4 wheel alignment rig.

Wheel Aligner, Wheel Alignment System Hawkeye Elite Wheel Alignment Equipment | Hunter Engineering Company


Usual caveat though, the operator needs to know what he/she is doing.

 

[Louay]

Not all dealers have good 4-wheel alignment equipment.

One of the best on the market at the moment is the Hunter Hawkeye 4 wheel alignment rig.

Wheel Aligner, Wheel Alignment System Hawkeye Elite Wheel Alignment Equipment | Hunter Engineering Company


Usual caveat though, the operator needs to know what he/she is doing.

What would you suggest veeeight return to dealer or have alignment checked elsewhere after springs are done?

 

[veeeight]

Dealer first to sort out why your car steers differently

Then Hunter alignment after fitting H&R's

 

[Audimad]

What would you suggest veeeight return to dealer or have alignment checked elsewhere after springs are done?

See post 10.

 

[warren_S5]

If they took your front tyres off and then put them on opposite sides wouldn't the directional tyre tread be pointing in the wrong direction????

Check to see if the rotational direction is correct, if it is, I suggest you get you r car back to the dealer. If you do anything since they touched it last they won't accept any responsibility.

They may have added more tyre pressure (putting them to regulation pressures), and I found on 19's the car never ran that well at OEM recommended pressures, always dropped them 2-3psi depending on season.

Worst case scenario is they have disrupted something which may be fouling the steering rack / arms, but lets hope it's not that. Check tyre rotation direction, then pressures, then go to dealers, and if they can't fix it wait until you see an indy for the alignment as they may be more use to you than the jester techs.