Front end alignment?

[82Wabbit]

Bought new tires for the Rabbit the day after I bought it, everything was fine, but the more I drive it the more it pulls to the right, now quite obvious and constant. I really have to keep a firm grip on the wheel to keep it on the straight and narrow.

Now, I did notice the day we bought it and I followed my wife home as she drove it, that it appeared to be at a slight angle as it went down the road, pointing slightly to the left (angled about 5 degrees to the left). It does not appear to ever have been in a wreck, but I do think the control arm on the right side has been replaced (when I went to install the sway bars, it already had holes for them and the other side did not, so I think it was replaced).

Given that information, is there anything that sounds suspect? Anything I should be checking first?

[Twocams]

Thats what we used to call CROW HOPPING back in the old days. Usually cased by a wreck of some sort. I would take an alignment shop for further investigation. Just my .02 cents

Rich

[amesghali]

It prolly would be a good idea to spend the $70 and get it professionally aligned.

Most reputable shops will check out the whole front end to see if you have any issues with tie rod, bearings, or steering. Any of those things can cause your issue. But the place to start is with a pro alignment.

You can rough check and adjust toe by using a tape measure. This is not exact and is done only as a temporary measure until you can get pro alignment. To do this, just measure from tread to same treat on the apposite tire - in the front of the tire and then compare with the measurement in the back of the tire.

[briano1234]

1 Take it to a shop. Control arms get bent and have to be replaced, the new replacements are universal to all MK1's the GTI as well as the Cabriolets with had the sway bar.

2. http://www.toplessrabbit.com/forums/...hp?f=27&t=1346

You have to remember that the rear wheels are inset from the front.

[82Wabbit]

Wow, trying to measure the diagonals is really hard! But I did it several times and they always came out equal.

But checking step 3 I found that the rear is 1/8" closer than than the front. I'm guessing this is a big part of why it's doing what it is doing. But when I went out now and measured again, after going for a drive, the rear is about 1/16 more than the front. Hmmmmm?


Time to take it into a professional?

[82Wabbit]

Given everything checked out, does anyone have any suggestions? I'm just clueless as to what I should do, other than take it to a shop that does alignment. Can the control arm be bent and me not see it using the measuring technique described above?

Thanks!

[le0n]

if you are coming that close on the rough measurements, it should not be that bad while driving down the road. did you have the steering wheel clock position at zero when you were measuring and adjusting?

if all that checks out, your caster may be waxed, however, you should find this to some degree in your measurements.

perhaps one of your front legs is shorter than the other. that's the only thing not measured in steps 1, 2, and 3...

[82Wabbit]

perhaps one of your front legs is shorter than the other. that's the only thing not measured in steps 1, 2, and 3...

I'm not going to rule that out, but ended up taking it in to the repair shop I've gone to for 20 years and they were able to fix it. I think everything was off! Here is the before and after report. It drove great on the way home.

[briano1234]

Camber is out, and that is totally adjustable. They loosen both bolts, then push in on the tire at the top and retighten the bolts. The upper bolt is the eccentric that allows the camber to be locked.



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