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Calling all new T6s - is your steering wheel straight?!

Hi Everyone

I have been pondering if I should ask about this or not but I thought what the hell...

Our new Ocean has come with the steering wheel not being straight compared to when the vehicle is travelling in a straight line. It's more like 2 or 3 minutes past (so slightly to the right).

Usually I'd have just put this down to either camber on the road or a minor factory thing and just got it tracked from a local alignment place. HOWEVER, the loan T6 TSI (was brand new when we got it) also had exactly the same steering wheel alignment issue.

So now I'm wondering if there is an issue at the factory with their alignment jig?

Anyone else had a new T6 in the recent crop had a steering whee alignment issue?

Thanks
My T6 was exactly the same even after tracking. I took it back to Kwik Fit and they tracked it again. Now it’s ok but the wheel is still very slightly to the left
 
My out going Cali was a bit wonky but no strange tyre wear so I lived with it. My new Cali (June19) is just about perfect as to be almost imperceptible - so its hands off!! (not the steering wheel :embarrased)
 
I'll be checking that today, but as we use a steering wheel lock the SW always has to be set at 'to left' angle for lock to fit !
 
Hi all. Same problem but only really noticeable after I had new front tyres at @20000 miles . What is the best way forward with this. I’m being told by my dealer that it is just a characteristic of the California but is that acceptable. I’m curious to see if it effects tyre wear. It is just annoying to constantly having to counteract the drift on long motorway drives. I’ve never experienced this on T2-T4 vans. Has anyone spoken to customer services about this. If not I think it’s worth a phone call.
 
After a few different places for alignments I got my local 4 wheel tracking garage to set it up with tight tolerances.
Front 5' (minutes) Rear 15'. 1/2 load.
My final figures are 5' on both fronts, rear 17' n/s and 14' o/s with the centre line -2' out from 0.

The figures given by their equipment to set was about twice that toe in. It does give more 'thump' on road joints, potholes etc but no pulling either in UK or France. Noticeable longer distance on throttle lift off, I don't use coasting function, on long downhills.

If camber is well out there are poly bushes that are eccentric to adjust this, would be a tedious hit and miss I'd think to get it set. Basically the bush centre is offset and it would have to be removed - rotated - refitted to get in the required position.
I have different camber nearside compared to offside but tracking stopped the pulling.
 
Hi all. Same problem but only really noticeable after I had new front tyres at @20000 miles . What is the best way forward with this. I’m being told by my dealer that it is just a characteristic of the California but is that acceptable. I’m curious to see if it effects tyre wear. It is just annoying to constantly having to counteract the drift on long motorway drives. I’ve never experienced this on T2-T4 vans. Has anyone spoken to customer services about this. If not I think it’s worth a phone call.
I took mine to a tyre place where they centred the steering wheel and then aligned the front wheels accordingly
 
Collected my new Beach last May, steering slightly out of alignment from new.
Steering checked by dealer (4 wheel alignment) and adjusted tracking to correct.
Didn't cure the problem , 8000 miles on it really annoys me.
It's a second car, I'm not the main driver and I know it sounds silly but it really bothers me for a number of reasons.
1.Failure of dealer to notice fault on PDI and then to correct after delivery dispite spending all day at the Centre.
2.Disapointed with VW , is it so difficult to have a steering wheel level when travelling on a straight line.
3. Fed up that I will now have to go through it all again with the dealer or manufacture to get satisfaction,
You would think I had plenty of free time on my hands, don't mind taking a day out from my business day, perhaps I'm expecting to much for 50+k.

Love the van and what it brings, off to Portugal in April and Europe for 6wks in the summer, but at the same time slightly disappointed.
Would love to know a fix?
 
Collected my new Beach last May, steering slightly out of alignment from new.
Steering checked by dealer (4 wheel alignment) and adjusted tracking to correct.
Didn't cure the problem , 8000 miles on it really annoys me.
It's a second car, I'm not the main driver and I know it sounds silly but it really bothers me for a number of reasons.
1.Failure of dealer to notice fault on PDI and then to correct after delivery dispite spending all day at the Centre.
2.Disapointed with VW , is it so difficult to have a steering wheel level when travelling on a straight line.
3. Fed up that I will now have to go through it all again with the dealer or manufacture to get satisfaction,
You would think I had plenty of free time on my hands, don't mind taking a day out from my business day, perhaps I'm expecting to much for 50+k.

Love the van and what it brings, off to Portugal in April and Europe for 6wks in the summer, but at the same time slightly disappointed.
Would love to know a fix?
The fix is really easy. Just needs the rack centering. All thats need is to shorten one trackrod and lengthen the other. Find and explain to a decent geo place and they will tweek it for you a little at a time until your happy. This is not the same thing as altering your tracking (toe in)
 
Collected my new Beach last May, steering slightly out of alignment from new.
Steering checked by dealer (4 wheel alignment) and adjusted tracking to correct.
Didn't cure the problem , 8000 miles on it really annoys me.
It's a second car, I'm not the main driver and I know it sounds silly but it really bothers me for a number of reasons.
1.Failure of dealer to notice fault on PDI and then to correct after delivery dispite spending all day at the Centre.
2.Disapointed with VW , is it so difficult to have a steering wheel level when travelling on a straight line.
3. Fed up that I will now have to go through it all again with the dealer or manufacture to get satisfaction,
You would think I had plenty of free time on my hands, don't mind taking a day out from my business day, perhaps I'm expecting to much for 50+k.

Love the van and what it brings, off to Portugal in April and Europe for 6wks in the summer, but at the same time slightly disappointed.
Would love to know a fix?
If anywhere near Stamford a garage there set mine up inside tolerances and have no misalignment. Very reasonable charges.
 
So why is it such a problem for my VW dealer in Peterbough to fix?
Surely there equipment should be able to cope with such a job.
If I take it away from the dealer no doubt I will be charged.
 
They will see this as a tracking adjustment and adjustments are chargeable unless the vehicle is brand new. So they are fobbing you off is my guess. Sure they can adjust it. Given it bothers you and a 25 quid adjustment would fix it isnt it worth just paying to fix it ? You can do it yourself as long as you turn each side equal amounts, in on on one side out on the other. I do this all the time on my vehicles.
 
I just have mine checked every time I fit tyres.

So the Cali been done twice ( drumming noise and tyre wear on the rear near side + lowering and changing to 18in) and my Discovery twice (Thought it was a bit sensitive on the steering. Front was toeing in back was toeing out! + changed the rear panrods recently ).

The guy that does mine also does it for the certain dealers and was recommended by Breeze (but I knew him already)

Cost me between £35 and £50
 
Morning all

Thought I would share my experience.

Just had my MY19 199 2wd Ocean into the dealer for the first time with 7k miles on the clock. Pulling to left slightly and noticed tyre wear was uneven on the front left tyre (outside). Dealer advised 3.5m left on outside of tyre (both) and 4m in the middle. Was amazed at the wear for the mileage. He thinks I have about 2.5k left on the front tyres. These are all weather tyres but expect expected a bit more life to be honest.

I was advised might be sensible to wait until new tyres are replaced to do wheel alignment which if a hefty cost seems sensible but surely they will just wear even quicker.

I also got them to check the DSG as mine is so severe when pulling off and reversing and the head technician drove it and was not happy. They have performed a reset and it drove slightly better on the way home but want the van back for 2 days next week to investigate further.

I have never been happy with the way the van pulls off and had a courtesy T6 150 Van yesterday which was like a dream compared to my Cali even with the less power.

Can’t fault the thoroughness of the dealer and the head technician though and am hoping I am in safe hands to sort the DSG out.
 
Also to add mine is on 18in Sportlines with 30mm VW lowering springs
 
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