Wheel alignment 4motion lwb

[Franco]

Howdy.
After a year and a half reading all the threads on tyres, lift kits, and wheels i finally bought a new set of kumho tyres so i can tackle a bit more off road with a bit of extra lift and traction.i settled on the new krugen kl33 235 65 17. So far so good. For ages i wanted an all terrain tyre but wasn't keen on giving up too much fuel economy and noise etc.
The last two weeks I've racked up nearly 2000 kms over a good mix of terrains and I'm stoked at how well the van has behaved.
From coffs to brissie and coffs to port Macquarie on freeway, dirt track, mud, gravel, corro, beach and dunes.
I've noticed that the dsg holds longer in 4th 5th and 6th gear. My speedo is out by about 1 percent - gps says110 kms, speedo says 112kms. Fuel consumption about the same, and cabin a bit noisier on certain asphalt.
i had an absolute ball driving the point plummer rd from crescent head to port Macquarie: air down from 49psi to 32 psi and then sand traps, dunes, bogs, tree roots and mud. All easily handled.

So back to my topic.. wheel alignment. I paid the $79 for the 4wd wheel alignment which they recommended, and after driving along the freeway noticed a slight pull to the left, regardless of road camber, and the steering wheel when held level the van tracked left.
The tyre place checked it again and said the alignment was good but they swapped the front wheels with each other and said this fixed the problem as sometimes a tyres chord can need bedding in. I asked if they adjusted the camber or caster amd they said there is no adjustments for this and only toe, and asked that it seemed logical that the tyre is a dud which they said its normal and not a faulty tyre.
So with the little kms ive racked up since the alignment check it seems to have sorted itself.. but it all sounds like like a bit of bs to me.. any thoughts or knowedge to share?

Thanks frank.

[REVHE4D]

Mine has pulled to the left after about 6 to 12 months of owning it, I had had my t5 since new and it is now almost 8 years old.
It is rather annoying my steering is always a little to the right when driving straight...

When I drive my wifes Corolla it is like heaven steering is dead centre even when taking hands off the wheel...

Each wheel alignment, or Tyre change I hold my breath hoping it will be fixed, but it is always the same, I have just learned to love with it...



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[BrianJ]

My 2006 kombi beach from new pulled badly to the left, which made me suspect they are all built with such a bias so they go straight when driven on the opposite camber in Europe. That's still a theory, but what I did find was that the left front was nearly 10mm lower than the right side. I suspected the springs, and although it is improved after having the two front springs swapped, the real culprit I suspect is that the internal load in the van is not the same for each wheel. I have now moved some of the junk that was under the drivers seat and used that space to hold all the heavy things I carry like my tool box, wheel brace, pump and battery chargers etc. This helped a lot to the point where my van runs about straight when on a road with no camber, like in the centre of the road. Keep in mind that the kombi beach comes already loaded with beds and cupboards and two batteries mostly on the left side, and I have added a fridge on that side as well as there isn't any alternative without redesigning the entire internal layout. So its worth measuring the distance from the front wheel arches to the wheel rim on each side to make sure your van is actually level, it only takes a difference of about 5mm to make the steering pull.

[Franco]

My michelin tyres tracked really well, the lower profile probably helped. The van runs pretty straight now, good enough for the bush so they say, but I've got another free check if i need it. I still don't understand why the tyre place tells me to pay $79 for a 4wd wheel alignment but all they can adjust is the toe in, which is a $49 alignment, and still totally stuff it up and add some bs story to keep me quiet.��

[oldbiker]

I have the drifting left gremlin in an otherwise great 2016 4 motion Multivan. It has had the latest VW steering software fix, two VW alignments and steering wheel adjustment but the problem persists. I am gathering web imfo and taking video of driving van to present to VW.

The best imfo I have seen on the web is this from a Tourag site

Collected the TREG later to find it had been fixed and now drove as expected and as per all my previous TREG's!!

Part of the problem is that the dealer's alignment equipment appears to have been out of calibration, however there is also a difference of opinion as to the alignment procedures.
The Independent VW repairer's procedure was to carry out the alignment with the engine runnning (which presumably takes into account the power steering running and also any electrical steering position sensors). They also ensure that after the rear wheels are aligned to spec and set the correct zero thrust angle, the steering wheel is then re-centralised and locked before the front alignment is set.
I can only can advise that in my case it certainly did the trick and the car has been fine.

Had a meeting with the dealer afterwards and to cut a long story short, they did make an 'exgratia' goodwill gesture for all of my costs and inconvenience etc..

[Sunny43.5]

Really software for steering and alignment , what the hell is going on with car makers these days . I can remember the days when a piece of string could be used to alighn wheels . Now it seems they have gone to the next level with technology in a bid to extract more money from us .

[oldbiker]

The steering issue has been fixed. VW NZ Giltrap had it for a week. They rang me every day with an update. They can make adjustments in "the subframe" which they did and road tested several times. They fitted new tyres (no charge) and did many wheel alignments. It worked. How good is that ? best service Iv'e seen in a long while. Thanks VW

[BrianJ]

The subframe could be used to balance out or make equal amount of camber on each front wheel, but I have been told by people who often remove the front subframe that there is not much adjustment available in the bolt holes. Has anyone got any experience with the subframe mounts and could comment.