UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Hi Guys

I've only done a couple of thousand miles but I really wasn't sure about wheel alignment so took it down to local garage for checking.

The mechanic got it up on the ramp and then came in and asked "What is it?...........Is it a Polo or a Golf?

Anyway, once the model had been established, they said it was "Toeing In by 3mm" and the setting for the Polo is Parallel. So they've altered it.

It actually felt worse while driving 140miles I had to do today, so now I'm wondering whether GTI has its own special setting, which is different from rest of the range. (I suppose the wind could have been bad on my return journey but it did seem to pull badly to left - or is this my active imagination)

Any info on Polo wheel alignment settings would be appreciated?

Thanks

Andy

Maybe your just used to do driving it not properly aligned hence it feeling weird now it is correct?

Yes I suppose there is that. What I should have said was that every bit of straight road between Slough and Swindon, I tried to line up car and let go of steering wheel and every time it pulled left straight away or a few yards.

As I said maybe there was a cross wind but don't remember it

To be honest I wouldn't let a mechanic any where near my car if he had to ask if it was a polo or a golf.

If your not happy take it somewhere else and get it redone, I had mine done on my last service on a beisbarth for £40 at a VW specialist.

I agree with garyuk, I would take it to a vw or audi dealer with 4 wheel alignment facilites or a place that knows vw's as they should have the most up to date settings available to them. How did it drive before ?, I do wonder if they have used the correct setting, as according to my haynes manual there are different settings for standard, sports, or heavy duty running gear, the setting is roughly 1deg30min toe out at 20deg lock/lock.. " which can be displayed as a negative figure on the alignment jig" refering to the vw workshop manual.

My polo has to be constantly steered to the right and will drag to the left badly if not corrected, it also torque steers to the left as well (lot of torque on a diesel ) and it feels "nervous" when cornering. The only wear on the tyres is a small 5mm wide band on the outside of the left tyre. I've had the tracking checked on mine and they said the same thing (spot on mate) and looking at the screen at the time they were parallel. I need the roll bar doing on mine so i will have it done at the audi dealers in Hereford afterwards..

Mine pulls to the left slightly if i let go of the steering wheel - need my tracking done soon!

I've had my tracking done so many times mate, and only one place actually did it right for me.

They say it was out, so they adjust it and its either makes it worser or is no difference at all!

Not sure on the GTI, but assume its the same as any new Polo - You only have one adjustment which is the toe.

You mention Slough, there is a place called Thames Tyres there, have it done by them.

I personally used Feltham Tyres near Heathrow, but they have the Hunter Wheel Alignment machines which are much better than the crap others use like Kwik Fit e.t.c. I can give you my settings but as my car is lowered, the camber and stuff is very different compared to standard and its setup for sport suspension so doubt it would be of any use!

Hi

I had the same question asked by a alignment technician "is it a golf?" lol.

Ensure your fuel tank is full and tires pressure ok before having the alignment checked and set.

He set the alignment to the pre-facelift Polo 2002 Sport suspension specs, but the car wasn't stable at high speeds. So I took the car back to him and he decided to try the Austalian 2006 Sport supsension specs and I told him to set the toe-in to 0. The car is now stable at high speeds.

The alignment was done with a Laser Aligner

GaryUK wrote:To be honest I wouldn't let a mechanic any where near my car if he had to ask if it was a polo or a golf.

Me too, sounds like a right numpty

Being as our Polo's are Front wheel drive, They need a smidge of toe out so the driven wheels will push the set up to where it needs to be perfect as you press go, Its a toe in set up for rwd as the Non-Driven wheels will pull it back to perfect. Theres a lot of flex going on in rubber bushes.

Gixie wrote: ↑Thu Jul 28, 2022 12:15 pm Theres a lot of flex going on in rubber bushes.

This is very true and if the tech doesnt check the condition of suspension bushes first along with tyre pressurers then alignment is pointless because it will not constantly changing under load,cornering etc .