The short version:

After 2 trips to the alignment shop (Wheel Works, Gilroy, CA) my steering wheel is still off to the left.

The long version:

I got new tires installed last Saturday for my 2003 WRX Sedan; 205/55/16 Kumho Ecsta ASX's from Tire Rack.

When I picked up the car and drove home I noticed the steering wheel was about 10-15° off to the left. Also the SAI and Included Angle measurements on the alignment printout were WAY out of spec. The shop was closed so I could not take it back until the next day.

I learned from:

http://www.familycar.com/alignment.htm

that SAI is not seperately adjustable and that, if it is off, it is usually due to bent parts. This car has never been in any accidents and the previous alignment was fine, even with two different sets of wheels.

However I read here:

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/sho...4&highlight=sai

That problems with the steering rack can cause the SAI to be off as well so I was hopeful that my readings had to do with the steering wheel being off.

So I took the car back in and they aligned it again. Again I picked it up late, again the steering wheel was still off (although by maybe 5-10°), and again the SAI and Included Angle were off (although better).

Here are the alignment specs from the first alignment:

Front:
-1.0°....Camber...-0.1° (range -1.2° to 0.3°)
3.5°......Caster.....3.9° (range 2.8° to 4.3°)
-0.01°.....Toe......-0.02° (range -0.13° to 0.13°)
10.2°......SAI......6.2° (range 13.8° to 15.3°)
9.2°........IA........6.1° (range 12.7° to 15.7°)
Cross Camber: -1.0°
Cross Caster: -0.5°
Cross SAI: 4.0°
Total Toe: -0.02° (range -0.25° to 0.25°)

Rear:
-1.9°...Camber...-1.6° (range -2.3° to -0.8°)
0.11°.....Toe.......-0.03° (range -0.13° to 0.13°)
Cross Camber: -0.4°
Total Toe: 0.08° (range -0.25° to 0.25°)
Thrust Angle: 0.07° (range -0.33° to 0.33°)

And the second (current) alignment:

Front:
-0.6°....Camber...-0.8° (range -1.2° to 0.3°)
3.4°......Caster.....3.8° (range 2.8° to 4.3°)
0.00°.....Toe......-0.01° (range -0.13° to 0.13°)
12.1°......SAI......13.7° (range 13.8° to 15.3°)
11.5°........IA........12.9° (range 12.7° to 15.7°)
Cross Camber: 0.2°
Cross Caster: -0.5°
Cross SAI: -1.6°
Total Toe: -0.01° (range -0.25° to 0.25°)

Rear:
-1.4°...Camber...-2.1° (range -2.3° to -0.8°)
-0.06°.....Toe.......-0.12° (range -0.13° to 0.13°)
Cross Camber: -0.7°
Total Toe: -0.19° (range -0.25° to 0.25°)
Thrust Angle: 0.03° (range -0.33° to 0.33°)

I understand, from what I have read on the 'net and from experience, that most roads are crowned such that a car will tend to pull to the right. Thus you compensate by turning the wheel left but I never noticed the wheel being off before.

I also notice that the car has a definite pull to the right when accelerating. Not sure if this is normal but I never noticed it before.

I also noticed tonight on the way home that the car feels "floaty" at freeway speeds on "grooved" roads, where there are parallel grooves running in the same direction you are driving...this may just be the new tires?

At this point I am pretty frustrated. I don't have time to take the car in every day to get them to do the damn alignment right. Not to mention, for the second alignment, they put the wrong car in (non-turbo Impreza). Sure, the ranges are almost the same but I mean, if someone brings a car back to you because you did it wrong once maybe make sure and do it right?

So, I am looking for a little advice on how to proceed. Wheel Works is a chain, and their alignments are guarenteed so I can try taking it to a different location but, to be honest, at this point I am not sure that will do any good. Am I better off going to a repair shop? (I know one that I trust, but it is pretty far away). Plus I paid $95 for this alignment so I am really not interested in forking out another $100 somewhere else. I have a hard time believing Wheel Works would give any sort of refund.

Am I just being too ****? I mean, on some roads the wheel appears straight but most (90%) of the roads I have driven on it is off to the left.

Help (and thanks in advance)!

 

I dont know anything about the shops up in gilroy so I dont know if its something up with your car or the shop. I'd suggest taking it to another shop that will do a free alignment inspection and then ask if they are able to realign it within the correct specs. If they say it is possible go back to the first shop and tell them the info you got from the other shop and ask to talk to the manager. Tell him/her what has been going on and that you know it CAN be put within the proper specs and that you want it done for free or a reduced cost, otherwise you'll go back to the other shop to have it done.

oh yeah, and the grooving/floating is most likely the new tires. I have the AVON Tech A/S M500's (I think??) and I know that they track on grooved roads...kind of sucks. other than the problem witht he alignment, how do you like the tires?

 

Thanks for your feedback. There is a repair shop I went to the first time I got the car aligned (after installing my Eibach springs) that I like. I may go there and do as you suggest to see what they say.

Regarding the tires, I really haven't had a chance to "experience" them in the twisties. In the few corners that I have taken briskly they seem adequate, better than the stock tires.

To be honest, I did not buy these tires for performance. I bought them because they were cheap (and rated decently on TireRack). I'm planning to sell my Rex in the spring but I needed tires bad.

 

well hopefully it gets sorted out before it comes time to sell. If it was stock I know someone who'd be interested in buying it depending on the color. good luck with the alignment stuff

 

It's Midnight Black Pearl, about 36,000 miles at the moment.

The mods are:

Stereo (which I willl probably return to stock)
Eibach springs (I have the stockers, I can re-install if needed)
Cobb short shifter and bushings (as above)
STI tranny mount (as above)
Intake elbow (as above)
K&N air filter (not really a mod )

The only outstanding issue (aside from the alignment) is I need to get the front bumber worked on. My gf rubbed someone at like 3 miles an hour so there's white paint on it and one decent scratch. Just need to find a body shop I can trust

I will be looking to get near KBB "good" for it when I sell.