T5 Multivan Pulls To The Left

[taipan123]

Own A 2007 T5 Multivan And Has Always Pulled To The Left From New Which Is A Pain Literally On A Long Trip. Rang Vw, They Say It's A Safety Feature So You Dont Drift Into Oncoming Traffic. Also Suggested I Try A Wheel Alignment

I Strongly Suspect The Suspension Has Insufficient Adjustment For Correction Of Steering Geometry Necessary For Right Hand Drive Vehicles And In Particularly For Australian Roads With Large Road Camber. Adding To This Suspicion Have Noticed When Travelling Around A Right Hand Sweeping Bend (which Replicates European Road Camber Where Road Slopes To The Right) The Vehicle Tracks Beautifully.

Has Anyone Experience The Same Pull To The Left On The T5?

Can Anyone Recomend A Knowledgable Suspension Specialist In Melbourne Area That Could Work With Me To Correct The Problem. Am Going To Discuss With The Dealer Again But As This Appears To Be The Accepted Vehicle Behaviour Don't Expect To Get Anything Other Than The Safety Feature Answer. I'd Prefer The Vehicle Track Straight Than Veer Right Or Left For Safety

Other Than That We Are Rapt With The Vehicle As A Family Wagon And Holiday Towing Expeditioner.

[MultiplexMan]

Hi Taipan123,

My T5 Kombi Beach tracks true.

Only issue was the misalignment of the steering wheel (was not level when vehicle was travelling straight) when I first picked up the vehicle. It still is not 100% but close enough for me not to worry about it.

I'd get a wheel alignment (mine was done under warranty). It is interesting to view the before/after alignment report and compare to factory specifications.

Cheers, MM

PS The steering geometry is adjusted for a flat surface. If the road is cambered you must correct at the wheel. If you offset the suspension your vehicle would not travel true on the flat... Yes some suspension set-ups have a greater tolerance for surface irregularities. This comes at the cost of responsiveness.

PPS Lack of adjustment is a different matter. The T5 is pretty good in this department. My 6N1 Polo needed camber bolts in the front (not enough range stock) and "mechanical persuasion" in the rear (no adjustment at all) just to fall within factory specifications.

[Jmac]

Most Vws do mate from the wrapper, on PDi GOOD dealerships should be doing a full alignment before delivery and handing you the figures. Anyway try swapping the left front with the right if the tyres are not directional, this can sometimes make a difference. Had a few Cayennes do this, swapped over and didnt need to do and alignment. Try first see how you go but yeah most of the Euro stuff i found had incorrect camber figures straight off the car transporter.
JMAc:)

[BrianJ]

My 2006 beach did the same. Most of the problem was misalignment (toe) of the back wheels. Another big problem with mine was that the left side of the car was not as high as the right, causing the front camber to be upset.

I was able to correct this by getting fulcrum to put a 15mm spacer for a commodore above the left back coil spring. Try using a tape measure from the wheel arch top to the ground or axle centre of each wheel to verify this.

My steering wheel was always on in the correct position, but due to rear crabbing, while driving it had to be held firmly to the right. Rear wheel toe in/out is easy to adjust, whereas front whell alignment except for toe appears to be almost non existant.

With the above two adjustments, and without re-aligning the sterring wheel, it now points straight ahead and tracks true.

Brian