Wheel Question...

[Neth]

Hi folks. Once again my lack of knowledge about all things cars leads me to ask you dependable people a quick question...

I recently had new front shocks put on my '96 1.8ST, and since then the steering hasn't been centering properly. I questioned the garage who installed the shocks, and they tell me it's due to my wheels being too big and them rubbing against the arches.

The car's got 17.5 Fox R5 alloys on it (which were on when I bought the thing) with 215/40/17 ZR tyres. So my question is... Is Mr Garage Man right? Are these wheels too big for the Celica, and is that what's causing the steering to not centre straight away after sharp turns?

Any thoughts / info would be very, very appreciated.

[cfc1]

After fitting new suspension parts it is possible that the wheel allignment might need done, if it is aftermarket suspension, then you would need to get a geometric check done as tha standard tracking settings won't apply as these settings are only applicable to the standard set up. Wheel allignment problems can cause the steering not to centre properly (as can a good few other things).

Not sure what you mean by 17.5 size wheels.. do you mean 17"x7.5J?

If so these shouldn't be a problem at all as 17x8J wheels will fit the Celica provided the offset (et number) is between 35 -45. The tyre size of 214/40x17 is correct.

[adamgt]

Hi folks. Once again my lack of knowledge about all things cars leads me to ask you dependable people a quick question...

I recently had new front shocks put on my '96 1.8ST, and since then the steering hasn't been centering properly. I questioned the garage who installed the shocks, and they tell me it's due to my wheels being too big and them rubbing against the arches.

The car's got 17.5 Fox R5 alloys on it (which were on when I bought the thing) with 215/40/17 ZR tyres. So my question is... Is Mr Garage Man right? Are these wheels too big for the Celica, and is that what's causing the steering to not centre straight away after sharp turns?

Any thoughts / info would be very, very appreciated.

The garage people are talking out of their ****! them wheels are not to big, you could even lower it too and they wont rub. They probably did something that knocked the tracking out i recon.

You have nothing to wprry about with the wheel size

[Neth]

Thanks muchly guys (or gals). Yeah, I meant 17x7.5's, sorry.

I suspected it wasn't that the wheels were too big, because it never had much problem centering before they did the shocks.

Will get the tracking done asap... Can't afford to fork out for new tyres yet again.

[Neth]

Well, I've had the Celica in to three different garages now and nobody seems to want to repair it. The tracking has been done twice and it hasn't rectified the problem, so I took it back to where I had new shocks fitted (the problem only occured after they did this) and they're adamant there's nothing wrong with it.

I'm giving up and taking it directly to Toyota this week, I'm sick of fearing ninety-degree turns. I suspect it might be something to do with the power steering - either that, or the garage have incorrectly fit the shocks (or, even worse, put the wrong ones on). If that's the case, they can expect the bill for any further work that's needed.

[Cexy_Ratt]

I am having a similar problem at the momment, but i am goign to get the car 4 wheel aligned, i have been told by the wonderfull guys off here, that this will help to solve this problem ..

maybe u should try the same, a

+ are they setting it up as standard, ? this could ber the problem

[Neth]

Man, I hate to keep dragging this up again...

Took the car into Toyota today. Probably not the most financially sound idea, but I'm sick of having it tossed back to me by other garages.

Lately, upon start-up and the first few miles, there's been a hideous clunk from the front of the car. I had a suspicion it was related to the springs and also something to do with the lack of steering centralising after turns.

Mr Toyota Rep confirmed that the clunk is definitately related to the spring coils, and vowed to investigate it further.

Seeing as these problems only started after the new shocks were put on, I have a feeling that whoever fitted them didn't re-assemble the parts properly. They will, of course, deny this.

I'm still awaiting the verdict from Toyota themselves...