Steering Pull
 

After being driven off the road a few months back by an idiot in a country lane who wouldn't flick off his full beam headlamps my SVX started to pull annoyingly to the left. I took it to a tyre centre who diagnosed that both N/S wheels had been knocked out of shape and were unrepairable.

After trying to find replacements to no avail I bit the bullet and bought four nice new 17" rims with Avon tyres and had the whole car professionally 4-wheel aligned. The geometry was well out so they adjusted it so that is now spot on.

I've been using the car for about a week and a half with the new wheels and as well as looking great the steering and handling are 1000 times better than before. Only problem is that there is still a very mild but nonetheless annoying pull to the kerb even on uncambered surfaces. If I let the steering wheel go the car drifts slowly over to the left and to keep her straight requires the steering wheel to be turned just slightly to the right of dead centre.

Any ideas what could be causing this last bit of pull? Visually the steering looks fine underneath and the computer shows that all four wheels are correctly aligned.

I had the same problem with mine and had it computer aligned several times.

Following some advice, I took it to a firm in Southampton. I cannot remember the name, but they are used by Sparshatts for their alignments. They found that the previous alignments had been carried out incorrectly due to a seized adjuster, it took two men about half an hour to free it. They then aligned the wheels correctly, first the back ones and then the front.

Remember the best equipment is still only as good as the operative.

That's great, I live not too far from Southampton so it wouldn't be a problem to get down there. If the name of this place springs to mind I'd appreciate if you could let me know. If not I'll give Sparshatts a bell and see if they'll let me know who they use.

I have managed to find the invoice. I was only charged £28 for the job, fixed price. I had it done on 15th August 2003, on my way to Stratford. (Happy memories)

Tyre Sales & Service (Hedge End) Ltd
Unit 8, Herald Industrial Estate
Hedge End
Southampton
SO30 2JW

Tel 01489 787350

That's grand, I'll ring them tomorrow and see if they can fit me in on Saturday.

Thanks again.

Fiat Lucida!
 

To avoid confusion, not the manufacturer Fiat, it's a pun on Fiat lux from the Latin. From the bible...........

Lost you yet?;)

It's the Latin for "Let there be Toyota people carriers!"
:D :p

Monzta, my friends are contemplating buying a Japanese Lucida with 2.2 turbodiesel automatic and about 20K miles. How are you finding yours? Is it diesel? Or 2.4 petrol?

Anything they should watch out for?

Joe:)

Let us know how it goes

Re: Fiat Lucida!
 

Joe,

I've only had my 'Lucy' for a couple of months but have been very impressed by it. Mine is an eight seater with 4WD and a 2.2 TDi. It's got twin aircon systems, alloys, smoked glass, curtains on all windows, twin sunroofs, e/h mirrors and so on. And with only 35K genuine miles on the clock I reckon a bargain too at £4500.

I'm particularly impressed by the handling.....very car-like. It was considered the best handling people carrier of its day because of the engine being mounted amidship and underneath the floor plus of course the 4WD helps as well. :)

As for things to look out for? There doesn't seem to be anything drastically problematic with them but if your friends join the Estima UK Forum (link below) they can get good, sound advice from more clued up people than I.

UK Toyota Estima Forum

Will do. :)

Thanks Monzta.

Might have to get one myself. Looks like it could be cheaper to run than an SVX.

Joe

I'm dead chuffed with mine, I get to carry the family in comfort with all the baggage, prams etc that goes with them plus I can fold the seats down and I've got a van for bulky loads or trips to the tip.

The more upmarket ones such as the G-spec versions have electric curtains, climate control, ABS, hot/cold box, swivelling seats with a table, a TV screen in the roof, you name it. When I come to upgrade, I'm gonna get me one of them.

P.S.....Avoid the 2.4 petrols, they're gutless and dragging two tons of MPV means fuel consumption is hideous.

Just read this post, thats handy 2 know guys, probably get mine done when i've finished my head gaskets next week!

& Monzta, u've just well P'd me off, I thought I was going 2 b the only svx in salisbury! :( lol

Oh, & Monzta, did u know that Pentons are taking on Subaru in Salisbury! That'll make things a bit easier!

Phil
92/K SVX (93k)

Hmmmm.

Two of youse in Salisbury.

Strange.

Dark and strange.

This maybe brings SVX ownership into the rarified realm of new age hippie-ism.

:p

Or not.

:D

Well, a mate is (or was) a security guard at Stonehenge.......

SVX rituals under the stones???

pmsl :D

Phil