Golf VI - Wheel Alignment

[Grover]

Well, the saga of my stupid lemon of a car continues... I have had this tyre noise develop since swapping the rear and front tyres around at the last service. I have checked everything I can think of (re-swapping wheels, re-balance and check), had the local dealership check transmissionm, axles, wheel bearings, etc etc. yesterday. The mechanic and I went for a drive so he could understand what I was complaining about and before I even said anything, he looked at me with that look of surprise at the terrible noise it was making (and the slight vibration that could be felt from the drivers side).

We disgussed a few theories, bouncing ideas off each other as we drove. He pulled over to the side of the road and turned the wheels full lock so he could check the tyres. The tyres were feathering badly on the inside which basically means "toe-out" so I get home and do a quick check with string line and spacers (taking into account the difference in front to rear track measurements) and it turns out the the front and the rear appear to be toe-out, dispite the wheel alignment surposedly being done as part of the pre-delivery. So I am left (yet again) in a situation resulting from dealer negligence (not my local dealer) where my tyres are half screwed and I have to sort this out.

My question is: Is there toe adjustment on the rear for the Golf Mk VI?

I have booked it in tomorrow for a wheel alignement but if the rear cannot be adjusted then what? Another phone call to the original dealer I surpose and another frustrating exercise in Dealer - VW politics.

[pologti18t]

The first thing i do with any new car is a wheel alignment. My Polo GTI was way out when I got it (new).

[Idle]

My sister got a new Yaris late last year — it handled like a nervous mouse.

At the 1000K service I took this up with the service boss, they did what they termed "a very small adjustment" & it now handles quite nicely.

Re the rear axle adjustment, it ought not to be necessary but can certainly be done — if there's no built-in adjustment there's always brute force (bend it.)

[prise]

Given its a multi link IRS at the back it would be surprising if toe isn't adjustable. Looking under the back of the car it looks like one of the links is on an adjustable bush centre (whatever the correct term is) which would change the toe if it was rotated.

Unfortunately your experience is not unique. Two of the new cars I've owned have had had poor wheel alignments on delivery. The problem is that by the time you notice the tyre wear it's been long enough they can claim it happened after delivery. Fortunately my Golf appears to be OK so far, but I'm checking the tyres regularly for the first few months.

[Cossor]

Oh Boy!
Thanks Grover for your input
One to remember when I take delivery.
After all, what happens on the ship, and on the delivery truck?!!

[WhiteJames]

With all the rough roads I've been driving on sampling the various Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) tunes, I'm going to need a wheel alignment sooner rather than later. Keeping an eye on tyre wear for now.

Rear toe is adjustable - from memory, you're after about 1.5mm toe-in at the rear.

Cheers
WJ

[mr gee]

If you have the Bridgestone 050s, they are noisy as after about 20K. Like you, I did a wheel alignment though I was told, my car was within limits. slight improvement. I have changed to Michelin PS3s since. Silence at last.

[SMCC]

when i picked up my gti brand new (april 2010) dealer told me i can get a free wheel alignment up to the car being driven 1,000k's. The steering seemed to be just slightly out but had no problems in getting the free alignment and the dealer processed it as a "warranty" claim - and they said it was "out" and required alignment. I recommend all owners get their new cars wheel aligned under "warranty" even if you feel its not required - piece of mine for future tyre wear.

[Stoney!]

If you have the Bridgestone 050s, they are noisy as after about 20K. Like you, I did a wheel alignment though I was told, my car was within limits. slight improvement. I have changed to Michelin PS3s since. Silence at last.

OOOH thats interesting. I got RE50's on the 118tsi and it's annoyed me how loud they are. I often wondered why Australias quietest small car had so much bloody road noise, specially on NSW's coarse chipped road. So u think I should give the michellins a go?

Stoney!

[Frankenstrat]

For what it's worth, the Pirellis on mine aren't particularly quiet.

[hooba]

Wheel Alignment - what a difference

I'm kicking myself that I had postponed the wheel alignment for this long - today I had it done at the tyre place that the local VW dealer uses. The toe was slightly out both front and rear, with most of the other settings within tolerance. The owner confirmed that almost all new cars on delivery still require a wheel alignment.

Driving away from the tyre shop and with no expectation that I would notice the difference, I was amazed by the change in feel. The turn in is a lot more eager, and the communication through the steering wheel like it the volume has been turned up.

Best $ I've spent on the car so far.

[Schwarta]

That's not done as part of the dealer delivery?!!

[SilvrFoxX]

That's not done as part of the dealer delivery?!!

You mean you actually think you get something for dealer delivery

[Idle]

That's not done as part of the dealer delivery?!!

Not always — although it most certainly should be.

We have a Yaris shopping jeep, new last year. As delivered it felt like a nervous mouse — darted all over the place.

After re-alignment (done by the dealer, BTW, so there's obviously no reason it couldn't have been done in pre-delivery) it now holds the road very nicely.

Maybe VW dealers rely on the car's computer reading for alignment check? My Mk6 TDI has always needed to be held straight — if I relax concentration a bit I soon find myself on the lane markers, so maybe it could do with a checkup as well.