Z3 - wheel alignment saga

[basic_z3]

I have now been to 4 different wheel alignment specialists and had plenty of parts replaced but my 2000 Z3 still pulls slightly to the left.

What's been replaced since the 1st time wheel alighment has been done:

• Track rod ends (Meyle)
• wishbones (Meyle)
• lollipop bushings (Meyle)
• shock absorbers (Sachs)
• new set of premium tyres (Good Year)
• new brake discs and pads (Febi)

All the wheel alighment specialists claim that only toes (track rod edns) can be adjusted and claimed something else was an issue so I replaced all the above. Howevwer after I did my own research there is still a chance that other than structural damage, the issue could lie with steering rack not being centered.

I could see that the wheel alignment places have centered the wheel or had someone inside holding it straight, adjustments showed in green tolerance on the screen, but as soon as I strart driving, steering wheel turns slightly to the left and the car pulls to the left also. I have to pull the wheel slightly to keep the car driving straight.

Could it be steering rack? Can you recommend someone in Glasgow or the area who could help with centering steering rack?

 

[Duncodin]

I have now been to 4 different wheel alignment specialists and had plenty of parts replaced but my 2000 Z3 still pulls slightly to the left.

What's been replaced since the 1st time wheel alighment has been done:

• Track rod ends (Meyle)
• wishbones (Meyle)
• lollipop bushings (Meyle)
• shock absorbers (Sachs)
• new set of premium tyres (Good Year)
• new brake discs and pads (Febi)

All the wheel alighment specialists claim that only toes (track rod edns) can be adjusted and claimed something else was an issue so I replaced all the above. Howevwer after I did my own research there is still a chance that other than structural damage, the issue could lie with steering rack not being centered.

I could see that the wheel alignment places have centered the wheel or had someone inside holding it straight, adjustments showed in green tolerance on the screen, but as soon as I strart driving, steering wheel turns slightly to the left and the car pulls to the left also. I have to pull the wheel slightly to keep the car driving straight.

Could it be steering rack? Can you recommend someone in Glasgow or the area who could help with centering steering rack?

I'm not sure a steering rack works like that. If the steering wheel and/or rack are not centred the the steering wheel would not be centre but the car would still drive straight ahead if you take your hands off the wheel.

Pulling to the side could be low tyre pressure or a binding brake. (Check heat of disk after a drive). Worst case is bent suspension.

 

[Sully]

I have now been to 4 different wheel alignment specialists and had plenty of parts replaced but my 2000 Z3 still pulls slightly to the left.

What's been replaced since the 1st time wheel alighment has been done:

• Track rod ends (Meyle)
• wishbones (Meyle)
• lollipop bushings (Meyle)
• shock absorbers (Sachs)
• new set of premium tyres (Good Year)
• new brake discs and pads (Febi)

All the wheel alighment specialists claim that only toes (track rod edns) can be adjusted and claimed something else was an issue so I replaced all the above. Howevwer after I did my own research there is still a chance that other than structural damage, the issue could lie with steering rack not being centered.

I could see that the wheel alignment places have centered the wheel or had someone inside holding it straight, adjustments showed in green tolerance on the screen, but as soon as I strart driving, steering wheel turns slightly to the left and the car pulls to the left also. I have to pull the wheel slightly to keep the car driving straight.

Could it be steering rack? Can you recommend someone in Glasgow or the area who could help with centering steering rack?

You have replaced the main parts, the rack is the only thing left, but if there are no leaks and the parts have been fitted correctly then it sounds like the set up is the issue. there is a mark on the rack for the spindle to line up.

Does it pull when hot or all the time? could then be sticking brake.If the steering wheel is off centre then i would take it back to where you had it done as its not right ,also quick check is to count the threads on the track rods roughly to see where if adjusted wrong on the first instance.

 

[Pingu]

It should go something like...

Adjust tyre pressures.

Confirm all suspension and steering components are correct and tight.

Measure vehicle height. This should be done with seats in central position and loaded with 68kg each. 14kg in the boot. Full tank of fuel.

Vehicle height should be adjusted to within 1mm (2mm for M models) of spec by adding or removing weights.

Input data to tracking computer.

Full left lock to full right lock.

It should be equal.

The centre wheel and lock it. There is a mark on the steering gear and the shaft in the engine bay, visible from below, with cover removed.

Check toe, camber and caster.

Turn left by 20 Deg, check.

Centre, check.

Right by 20 Deg, check.

Adjust reds to green.

Recheck.

Tracking is not a 5 minute job, but many try to make it one.

 

[Stevo7682]

Have you had it tracked on a Hunter tracker yet .

They are right only front toe adjustable
But what are the rest of the settings like .

If rear red could easily cause front end issues even if front is correct

Did they weight the car as gary ( pingu ) has said z3 needs suspension preloaded to do a proper adjustment.

If you want to come down to Ayrshire at some point happy to get a look at for you.
Stephen

 

[basic_z3]

Have you had it tracked on a Hunter tracker yet .

They are right only front toe adjustable
But what are the rest of the settings like .

If rear red could easily cause front end issues even if front is correct

Did they weight the car as gary ( pingu ) has said z3 needs suspension preloaded to do a proper adjustment.

If you want to come down to Ayrshire at some point happy to get a look at for you.
Stephen

Yes, the second to last shop had the Hunter equipment for wheel alignment. I could see the toe values becoming "green" on the screen as they were adjusting it but yes, they did not check any other things listed above by Pingu. The next shop adjusted tyre pressue, they have locked the whel straight and then did the wheel alighment using some kind of laser system, probably less accurate than the Hunter one. No weights have been added anywhere, nobody has been inside.

I took the picture of the screen during the adjustment so it doesn't show the final result (I did not get a print).