Rear Axle / Back Left Wheel Misaligned

[skimobeats]

Hi guys,

So, had a puncture, took my 1.1i Desire to have the tyres changed, they suggested a wheel alignment. Drove out and the steering wheel was off center, sat approximately 10 degrees down to the right while going straight.

Took it back the garage the next day and they have said the alignment is good, but the rear axle is possibly bent. The reason why the steering wheel was dead center previously is because the previous owner must have had the alignment done to try and hide the rear left wheel being out (back right is bang on).

So, I just want some advice really, is it still safe to drive the way it is? Im only going to keep it until my insurance goes down anyway. Which is about another 6 months or so.

Is the garage just chatting shit to try and get out of realigning again? Not sure what to do really.

[welshpug]

did they say what exactly was bent? they usually give you a printout showing what it should be and what your car is then what they managed to get set it to.

[skimobeats]

did they say what exactly was bent? they usually give you a printout showing what it should be and what your car is then what they managed to get set it to.

No print out what so ever. They showed me the computer screen which clearly showed the rear left was considerably out while the rear right was fine.

They just said, the axle is bent and the problem wheel is the rear left.

From what I have read so far, there should be some kind of vibration at speed if any of the axles are bent?? Is this correct?? Because there is no vibration what so ever. In fact, ive often thought that it handles high speed a lot better than some of the cars my mates had when we were younger.

[stevo67]

At a guess the stub axle could be the culprit.

[skimobeats]

At a guess the stub axle could be the culprit.

Any reason why you think that? It kind of makes sense to me, as like I said before, most of what I have read has said one of the main symptoms of a bent axle is vibration at speed.



Basically, I need to make the decision to either scrap or repair. Stub Axle, definitely repairable. Id rather have some kind of informed info before I take it to the garage. Whole new axle on the other hand.... its going to the scrap heap.

[stevo67]

The axle bearings let in water,which eventually wears them out & leads to the camber often seen on saxo's.

[welshpug]

which way was it out?

[Ben_SaxoForte]

it could be that the car is slightly crabbing down the road if the axle is bent.. basically your alignment isn't correct because the rear wheel is bent so in order to solve it you need to fix that. It would probably be fine to drive for a while but it is worth getting the axle checked over is its most probably damaged in some way possibly hit a curb or something or the axle bearings are just knackered.

Saying that its also possible for your alignment to be spot on and have your steering wheel wonky so it could be both..

[VeiRoN]

Either the wheel pin is bent or the bearings have gone in the trailing arm.