A4 tdi Quattro wheel hop, tyre scraping?

[skymaster]

I too am grateful for the replies to this and Glad to hear other people have had the same fault. One of my concerns was that the diff was at fault and thus causing this. It sounds like the 4 wheel alignment might just fix it. Will let you know next week!

[andy2]

How did you get on with this? I think I have a similar problem- moving slowly at full lock (eg parking in car parks) - feels like the wheel is skipping. I have a 2005 2.0T Quattro.

[skymaster]

Hi

It was briefly looked at on saturday. The guy that looked was a VAG master tech whos worked at VW and Audi main dealers for years. He thinks it's unlikely to be a diff issue (thank god). He has said it must have a 4 wheel alignment to see if this cures it. I am going to try and get my VW main dealer to do this this week.

He thinks it could be 'Toe out on turns' that is incorrect. Once I have had the 4 wheel alignment done I will be reporting back on here to let everyone know the results.

Interesting your 2005 quattro is doing it, how many miles has it done?

[skymaster]

Mine is booked in wednesday so by wednesday night I should be able to give you some idea if the Geo cures it. Fingers crossed!!!

[andy2]

Just 10,000 miles (September 05 registered) - so still fairly young to need any tracking adjustments, in theory at least. Currently in the garage to have a scratch repsrayed (see my other post).

[Teutonic_Tamer]

He thinks it could be 'Toe out on turns' that is incorrect. Once I have had the 4 wheel alignment done I will be reporting back on here to let everyone know the results.

That is one of the many adjustments. Make sure you get a copy of the print-outs from before and after.

Rgds

[skymaster]

Hi

Yes, I will do. It's going to have the full treatment done with all 4 wheels. A 2 hour job I am told. Maybe the 05 plate one with 10k on the clock has come out of the factory with poorly aligned wheels / suspension. It's not beyond the bounds of possibility.

It goes in tomorrow so fingers crossed.

[skymaster]

OK all! I am back from the VW garage and £90 lighter! I have had the 4 wheel alignment done and the problem seems to have gone away. I have tried turning round in the road entrances where it really caused it to happen before and it seems to be OK now. Shall I scan the printout of the results? I can post it on here if you like? It's a load of numbers that I cant understand.

Cheers

[skymaster]

Here is the reults of the GEO. If anyone can tell me what this means I would be grateful. Thanks

[Dave Avant]

Basically they have tweaked/checked the suspension in all areas, camber, castor and than main one, Toe. Looks like a good comprehensive check and adjust - you won't get that at Kwik Fit!!!

Castor - the angle of the suspension measured from the upright position. Adjusting this can increase steering feel and load with increasing the turn, making it more positve to feeldepending on which way its adjusted.

Camber - The angle of the wheel's upright position. Positive camber looks like the old beetles you used to see with the top of the wheel leaning further out than the bottom. Negative camber is obviously opposite, with the top of the wheel leaning inwards. Normally its near vertical with if any negative camber as yours. This improves grip when cornering as the car rolls the negative camber counters this by the wheel not going into positive camber with the rolling of the car.

Toe - The direction of the wheels in relation to each other. If they point inwards like going cross eyed thats toeing in or +. This makes the steering more sharper and better turn in (cornering). - (neg) Toe in is when the wheels point outwards, this tends to make it OK for straight lines, but a bit 'lazy' on turning into a corner.

- toe = feathered/worn tyres on insides
+ toe = feathered/worn on outsides.

Hope that gives a 'basic' meaning to it. Most of the adjustment has been to the toe settings.

Teutonic was right when he said there were many adjustments - bit like a rubix cube setting it up!!