Alignment, Wheel Issue

[Whelan]

So last week I was parked at the beach and when I go to pull out of the parking lot I had the wheel turned all the way to pull out. I guess I gave it a little to much cause the wheel like locked instead of spinning back to normal position. By the time I grabbed it and turned for recovery I hit the front tire/rim, and the rear tire skidded across the curb. The front and rear passenger side tires were shot and my front wheel had a little curb rash. I had 3 new tires put on cause I needed two new ones in the front. I drive it and it starts to wobble bad. I take it to the guy again, they put one of the tires on inside out. So they flipped it and it is a little better but now I have two issues. The wheel is cocked slightly to the right. If I let it go, the car goes straight, so the alignment should be ok, I think. Second is when making only right hand turns, my left front wheel squeels (from the rubber).1) Is it common for the wheel to lock up like that on an AWD? I guess I could have hit some sand pulling out and the rears kicked in and pushed it into the curb?2) What could be some possible issues with the wheel being cocked? Can I just remove the wheel and set it in a straight position?3) It seems to want to lock a lot easier when turned all the way than it normally did. Opinions?I am going to take it into a shop and have my guy check it out, but I just wanted some insight before I do. Thanks!

[joatmon]

It sounds to me like your alignment is hosed. if one wheel is crooked, then the other wheel has to compensate for it to track straight, so your tires will get eaten up, and your mpgs will dive. The squealing left tire on right hand turns sounds like the two front tires are not tracking the same, but are fighting each other. I would definitely get it checked out, realigned. and contgratulations on having enough power to waste two tires hitting a curb form a standstill, that's some good torque

[scherry2]

Quote, originally posted by Whelan »1) Is it common for the wheel to lock up like that on an AWD? I guess I could have hit some sand pulling out and the rears kicked in and pushed it into the curb?2) What could be some possible issues with the wheel being cocked? Can I just remove the wheel and set it in a straight position?3) It seems to want to lock a lot easier when turned all the way than it normally did. Opinions?1) the sand would be my guess. I can't imagine the steering wheel locking with the key in the on positon2) no you can't remove the steering wheel and just straighten out. there is an alignment mark and if I remember a horn pin that will only let the wheel be put on in 1 position.3) I don't understand this one. do you mean the steering wheel lock when you turn it off?

[joatmon]

I think he means that normally, from a stop, when you turn the steering wheel, and then accelerate, there is a tendency for the steering wheel to right itself, the sideways pressure on the tires pushes the tires (and with them the steering wheel) back straight to a position of less resistance, but when turned all the way to one side, this auto-centering doesn't happen, the wheels get pushed further to the side instead of back to straight, and it takes more effort than normal to straighten up the wheels against this pressure to keep them turned.obviously, the recommended solution would be for the driver to manually control the steering wheel, instead of letting go and expecting it to steer itself , but I have done what I think he is referring to (except the curb part) , so I can't be too critical.

[Whelan]

joat buddy you got it. I dont literally mean I put my hands in the air on a corner and yel "WHEEEEEEE!" and hope it spins back. But I guess its normal if your hard over for it to require a bit more attention, I just notice it now cause I feel the alignment off. I usually hold the wheel but let it kind slide through the hands when its coming back. Guess on hard turns that is not the case.I will go get the alignment done tomorrow. The wheel isn't cocked a lot, just a little bit but enough to annoy me when driving. Hopefully that will fix it up, cause I had the guy look under for damage when he did the tires and he found nothing. So let's see if this works!

[scherry2]

Quote, originally posted by Whelan » I dont literally mean I put my hands in the air on a corner and yel "WHEEEEEEE!" and hope it spins back. surrrre. I understand now. probably knocked the alignment out when hitting the curb. caster or camber might of got nudged too. let us know.

[Whelan]

UPDATE!I got my alignment done last night, the car is 100%, actually better than when I got it from the dealer as a CPO last August. Im back in love with my AWD XR Trix!

[joatmon]

excellent! if the alignment was already off before the curb, then hopefully you may even see some mpg increase too.