Hi everyone, 

Went for an alignment last week and unfortunately the garage said they were not able to complete it as there was some corrosion on one of the arms which meant that they couldn't adjust the alignment from either side because the design of these car's steering columns (I believe) only let you adjust one wheel.

 

The manager said that I could nowadays buy a replacement column or other part which would bring the Polo up to the standard of every other car where you can adjust both wheels in a front-end alignment.

 

Has anybody done this or has any experience of this?

 

Thanks 

He's totally out there and making stuff up to cover what he doesn't know - don't go back to that place. I told someone like him how to track these cars up once and he was insistent that you couldn't do it like I said because of the airbag.... What f'n airbag? 😆

 

The car is designed as single-side adjust. Basically - turn the steering wheel so the offside wheel is pointed straight forward, track the nearside up to it, then take the steering wheel off and put it back on so it's straight.

 

The offside (curved) track rod can't be adjusted, and anyone who tells you it can be replaced with an adjustable one isn't right. If they think they can order a straight adjustable offside one, they're actually ordering one for a left hand drive car. I can pretty much guarantee that they'll have found it on GSF. 

 

The nearside (straight) trackrod is a clever thing. You don't need to disassemble it or remove it from the strut to adjust it. If you work across the arm, you'll see a smooth peice of rod, with two threaded peices going into it. Undo the lock nuts (much release spray, leaving it to soak in over night, much more release spray, and possibly some heat needed). The threads are left-handed in one end of the rod, and right handed in the other, so leave the rod ends in place, and turn the centre piece. From memory, if you turn the centre section of the rod so the top goes towards the back of the car, you will make the steering toe in, turn it towards the front, and it'll toe out. Or it might be the other way, but you get the idea. 

 

If the nearside track rod is seized, just take it off, get it in the vice, and give it some love with the blowtorch. New inner and outer ends are really cheap, so you might as well put a pair of them in while it's apart. Be sure to apply about a metric shit tonne of copper grease to the threads on each end. 

 

 

Edited 22 June, 20233 yr by Yeti

On 22/06/2023 at 22:06, Yeti said:

He's totally out there and making stuff up to cover what he doesn't know - don't go back to that place. I told someone like him how to track these cars up once and he was insistent that you couldn't do it like I said because of the airbag.... What f'n airbag? 😆

 

The car is designed as single-side adjust. Basically - turn the steering wheel so the offside wheel is pointed straight forward, track the nearside up to it, then take the steering wheel off and put it back on so it's straight.

 

The offside (curved) track rod can't be adjusted, and anyone who tells you it can be replaced with an adjustable one isn't right. If they think they can order a straight adjustable offside one, they're actually ordering one for a left hand drive car. I can pretty much guarantee that they'll have found it on GSF. 

 

The nearside (straight) trackrod is a clever thing. You don't need to disassemble it or remove it from the strut to adjust it. If you work across the arm, you'll see a smooth peice of rod, with two threaded peices going into it. Undo the lock nuts (much release spray, leaving it to soak in over night, much more release spray, and possibly some heat needed). The threads are left-handed in one end of the rod, and right handed in the other, so leave the rod ends in place, and turn the centre piece. From memory, if you turn the centre section of the rod so the top goes towards the back of the car, you will make the steering toe in, turn it towards the front, and it'll toe out. Or it might be the other way, but you get the idea. 

 

If the nearside track rod is seized, just take it off, get it in the vice, and give it some love with the blowtorch. New inner and outer ends are really cheap, so you might as well put a pair of them in while it's apart. Be sure to apply about a metric shit tonne of copper grease to the threads on each end. 

 

 

Thank you very much for the advice, I won't be going back there again!

Hey dude, Yeti is 100% correct. Take it elsewhere, preferably someone that deals with older motors. Most run of the mill tyre centres/alignment places have no idea when it comes to these man, and they don't want to take your word for it when you try and educate them. I'm more fortunate that others in the sense that I do all of my own work, and luckily don't have to deal with these garages, but yeah, total bollocks mate, take it elsewhere!

36 minutes ago, Rhys Durham said:

Hey dude, Yeti is 100% correct. Take it elsewhere, preferably someone that deals with older motors. Most run of the mill tyre centres/alignment places have no idea when it comes to these man, and they don't want to take your word for it when you try and educate them. I'm more fortunate that others in the sense that I do all of my own work, and luckily don't have to deal with these garages, but yeah, total bollocks mate, take it elsewhere!

Thanks! 

It's a really strange situation as the reason I had chose that garage was due to the fact that the owners have old VWs, JDM cars, old Fords and the like. 

Guess I'll have to do some more hunting around. Luckily the car isn't too out of alignment and tracks straight which is good but I'll keep looking.

you will find much the same at most garages they either dont know or hate old cars and make up some rot about why it cant be done

 

spend an evening on youtube looking at how to diy trackign and have a go yourself , ive been doing all our cars a good 15 years now ...saves all the lies and damage 

 

you only need some string and a ruler , or if you have £££ a track ace 

maybe he is thinking mk2 golf which came the same with one side fixed , when you needed to replace parts you could fit adjustable to that side on those