Wheel alignment

[motorbiking]

Son had his Mk7 Fiesta in the garage for new exhaust and steering UJ replacement (MOT failure due to corrosion and nocking UJ.).

Car is fixed and MOT passed by the wheel is now out of alignment. The garage says there's only one way it could go on and they want £30 + VAT to check the alignment. Claim they haven't caused the problem. Is it is possible that the alignment would have been impacted by either of the above work?

I'm happy to adjust the alignment for him. But want to check if any of the above would cause an issue?

 

[blup]

My suspension (drop link) was knackered by some heavy handed work on a coil spring replacement iirc, in other words they might have just missed with the hammer.

 

[Burnerman]

I think the answer lies in the fact that the steering UJ was replaced. They usually have a splined fitting which seems out of alignment. These were always failing on earlier Fiestas so I guess the newer cars are similar.
John

 

[Mottie]

Son had his Mk7 Fiesta in the garage for new exhaust and steering UJ replacement (MOT failure due to corrosion and nocking UJ.).

Car is fixed and MOT passed by the wheel is now out of alignment. The garage says there's only one way it could go on and they want £30 + VAT to check the alignment. Claim they haven't caused the problem. Is it is possible that the alignment would have been impacted by either of the above work?

I'm happy to adjust the alignment for him. But want to check if any of the above would cause an issue?

What’s not in alignment - the steering wheel? If so, that won’t actually affect the steering alignment and the only way to adjust that out is by moving the track across but that will give you more lock on one side of the car. Seems to me they've not bothered lining the splines up when replacing the joint and in any case, if a car goes in with a straight steering wheel, you want it back with a straight steering wheel. It’s part and parcel of the job.

 

[Burnerman]

Its either the UJ or they've had the steering wheel off and got that wrong.
The wheel didn't have to come off on the earlier cars but I don't know about this one.
John

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Car is fixed and MOT passed by the wheel is now out of alignment. The garage says there's only one way it could go on and they want £30 + VAT to check the alignment. Claim they haven't caused the problem. Is it is possible that the alignment would have been impacted by either of the above work?

They would have disconnected the track rod end to do the UJ, so yes, if they were less than careful, they might have altered the tracking, and the steering wheel alignment in the process.

 

[martygturner]

The fiesta has a double ended UJ shaft... The shaft has only a one way fit. All this sounds like is that the unit was failing over time and the tracking hence the steering wheel position has been adjusted to suit the failing component. As soon as they put the new one in the steering wheel returned to the original factory position... hence it needs re tracking.

 

[Mottie]

They would have disconnected the track rod end to do the UJ, so yes, if they were less than careful, they might have altered the tracking, and the steering wheel alignment in the process.

Steering UJ or driveshaft UJ?

 

[carmanmemoranda]

Garage should adjust tracking if needed to get the s wheel straight as part of the job. Especially if it sets off any steering sensors

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Steering UJ or driveshaft UJ?

I would assume - Driveshaft. The steering wouldn't usually knock.. It might fail on excessive play.

Then, how would changing the UJ on the steering affect the wheel alignment?

 

[Mottie]

I would assume - Driveshaft. The steering wouldn't usually knock.. It might fail on excessive play.

Then, how would changing the UJ on the steering affect the wheel alignment?

Changing either UJ wouldn’t affect the wheel alignment. The steering shaft UJ could affect the resting position of the steering wheel though but that still won’t affect the actual wheel alignment or what some people call 'tracking'.

 

[Stivino]

If it's one of these they fitted, they haven't lined it up properly.

 

[motorbiking]

Yep I think it's one of those. and the steering wheel is off by about 20 degrees to the right when driving in a straight line.

I think he's lost confidence in the garage, so we slacken off the nut that clamps the steering rod, adjust the wheel and retighten?

 

[motorbiking]

Changing either UJ wouldn’t affect the wheel alignment. The steering shaft UJ could affect the resting position of the steering wheel though but that still won’t affect the actual wheel alignment or what some people call 'tracking'.

I'm confusing you with my incorrect terminology. All I know is the steering wheel is now off by 20 degrees (i.e. turn slight right to go straight).

 

[Stivino]

You shouldn't have to do that, and using the track rodds to straighten the steering wheel, isn't the way to do it.
I would rather take it out of the splines , than slacken it, and force it round. They should have checked that it was aligned, before doing it up.