[tush]

Hi Friends,

I got a new Swift DDiS in October 2007. After the 2nd service done at around 4200Kms the car automatically steers towards the left side of the road if the hand is removed off the steering. I told this to the service engineer/works manager while taking the delivery during the 2nd service. He said that this is because the road near his service station is uneven and he convinced me. But i tried it on other roads and even on straight cement road. For the car to go straight i hold the steering, as soon as i let off my hand the steering would turn a little towards the left. Steering would turn less then half an inch(i should say hardly 0.5-1 centimeters steering would rotate at left) and the car will slowly go towards the left of the road. Again i have to catch hold of the steering for the car to go straight, if i let loose my hand it happens the same again. The dealer said it was because of tyre rotation done during the second service. I drived it for another 15 days but still the same problem. Took it to the service center and they once again did the tyre rotation. The new stepney tyre was put in the front left side which was earlier put in the right back side. Still the same problem but a bit reduced. They checked wheel alignment and it came out ok.

Guys is this bound to happen on all cars ? Is it normal that a car doesn't keep straight(move only to one side not the other side or any one side always) if you let loose your hand or let off your hand from the steering even if the road is good.

Is this a problem with my car or this is there in all cars especially swift diesel. The service station has asked me to drive for another week and then give a feed back. If its still there he said they would either check with wheels from another swift or they will clear out my doubts by letting me drive their demo swift or any other swift.

Guys plz help i am scared whether my car is defective or a defect has developed which is hard to convince and figure out.

[Eddy]

Take second opinion, preferably of some independent and specialist wheel balancer.

[Jaggu]

Take it to a good alignment center and try, if not its the tyres. Sometimes this happens and after couple of 100 kms after wheel rotation things will become normal.

Still first check the wheel alignment, second thing is swapping tyres from side to side or removing and refitting the tyre in the opposite direction on the rim (if tyres are non directional).

[drpullockaran]

After making sure that both the front wheels have worn off to the same level and also in the same pattern have your camber and castor angle checked.

I presently have a slight pull to the left in my GTX after I inversed the tyres this week. It will settle down to being true only after about 500km. I have negative camber in my GTX to aid in high speed cornering at the expense of braking eficiency. Negetive camber results in inner tyre wear which requires me to inverse the tyres every 20000km.

[Jaggu]

Originally Posted by drpullockaran

After making sure that both the front wheels have worn off to the same level and also in the same pattern have your camber and castor angle checked.

I presently have a slight pull to the left in my GTX after I inversed the tyres this week. It will settle down to being true only after about 500km. I have negative camber in my GTX to aid in high speed cornering at the expense of braking eficiency. Negetive camber results in inner tyre wear which requires me to inverse the tyres every 20000km.

Is this by choice or due to wear and tear, - camber?

[bharatbs]

This is chronic wheel alignment problem found on several swifts.

Get your wheel alignment done from a reputed place with laser aligment, don't get it done at Maruti.

[iraghava]

Looks like ti's a manufacturing defect with the tyres but could also be a bent suspension arm so have that checke up.

Also, to check if it's the tyres do this, shift the tyres which were earlier on the left side on to the right side & vice-versa & then drive the car. If the car still pulls to the left then it's not the tyres but if it pulls to the right then it's the tyres.

[Jaggu]

Originally Posted by iraghava

Also, to check if it's the tyres do this, shift the tyres which were earlier on the left side on to the right side & vice-versa & then drive the car. If the car still pulls to the left then it's not the tyres but if it pulls to the right then it's the tyres.

Are you sure? My logic says it will either still pull to LT or NOT pull to right, rather drive straight.

[Eddy]

Ishan: if the problem is solved with tyre rotation , then what should be the future course of action ? Should he continue with the same tyres in their respective positions ? Or a tyre change is inevitable ?

[Jaggu]

If the pull is mild continue and things will soon sort out (assuming alignment is fine) otherwise have to keep those tyres to the same side itself, ie rotate between Front and Rear (spare can also be roped in) instead of X pattern for wheel rotation.

[kpzen]

Originally Posted by Eddy

Ishan: if the problem is solved with tyre rotation , then what should be the future course of action ? Should he continue with the same tyres in their respective positions ? Or a tyre change is inevitable ?

If tyre rotation solves the problem then Continue with same tyres in respective positions with fingers crossed.

If the problem isn't solved with tyre rotation then u will need a lot of time and patience to screw the dealer for getting the tyres changed under warranty..


Tush
One advise : Please get a job card made on every visit to the service centre and keep it as a record..

[iraghava]

Originally Posted by Jaggu

Are you sure? My logic says it will either still pull to LT or NOT pull to right, rather drive straight.

No Jaggu, if the pull is due to defective tyres then the car will start pulling to whatever side the defective tyres are mounted on. If you mount them on the left, the car will pull left & vice-versa. However, the pull will be more pronounced in once direction & less pronounced in the other direction but it'll definitely be there.

Reason most probably is that when we switch the sides on tyres the inside/outside side of the tyres gets flipped too right? So if it the pull was happening due to defect on the tyre making the car pull to the left when it was mounted on the left side then when we mount the same tyre on the right the defective part should go towards the right side. Hence, the right side pull. Hope it makes sense.

Originally Posted by Eddy

Ishan: if the problem is solved with tyre rotation , then what should be the future course of action ? Should he continue with the same tyres in their respective positions ? Or a tyre change is inevitable ?

Then don't rotate them again all around. Simply swap the front two to rear two & vice-versa. Tyre change though is inevitable over a course of time since the condition of the defective tyre will only worsen.

[tush]

Originally Posted by bharatbs

This is chronic wheel alignment problem found on several swifts.

Get your wheel alignment done from a reputed place with laser aligment, don't get it done at Maruti.

Are you sure its on several swifts and not on all swift. Then i should get a replacement for whatever part is causing chronic wheel alignment

Originally Posted by kpzen

Tush
One advise : Please get a job card made on every visit to the service centre and keep it as a record..

This scares me. It was just within 14 days of 2nd service had a verbal converstation on the phone with works manager and he said get the car we will rotate the wheel once again and should solve. But they didnt create a job card for this purpose. And this day itself they checked the wheel alignment. Now since this is not on record it was waste i guess. Now again after 20 days i will go there if i still feel the problem and get a job card created.

Originally Posted by Jaggu

Take it to a good alignment center and try, if not its the tyres. Sometimes this happens and after couple of 100 kms after wheel rotation things will become normal.

Still first check the wheel alignment, second thing is swapping tyres from side to side or removing and refitting the tyre in the opposite direction on the rim (if tyres are non directional).

Jaggu after the 2nd service i drew almost 24Kms daily for almost 14 days which is 322Kms still the issue persisted. How many KMS should it clock after wheel rotation for things to become normal since they are once again rotated after this complain.

Swapping tyres they said they follow some criss cross or just the rotate. However when i asked there to service engineer instead of works manager, i got 2 different forms of answer for rotation. Now for my swift i just know that during the 2nd service the spare tyre was put to the left back and rest were rotated i don't know in which direction. Then after 14 days as i complained they shifted this spare new tyre from left back to front right and rest how they were rotated i have no information.

Originally Posted by iraghava

Looks like ti's a manufacturing defect with the tyres but could also be a bent suspension arm so have that check up.

Also, to check if it's the tyres do this, shift the tyres which were earlier on the left side on to the right side & vice-versa & then drive the car. If the car still pulls to the left then it's not the tyres but if it pulls to the right then it's the tyres.

If its a manufacturing defect with the tyre then why it didn't happen before the 2nd service or when i bought the car.

Is this care so delicate that the suspension arm would bent after driving 3-4 times on mumbai-pune expressway and rest all driving being city driving clocking at around 4200Kms.

Also i don't know how do i keep track of how are they swapping the tyres. Because they don't mention that in the job card. Any inputs on this would be appreciated.

Originally Posted by drpullockaran

After making sure that both the front wheels have worn off to the same level and also in the same pattern have your camber and castor angle checked.

I really don't know what this camber and castor angle is but will find it but would appreciate if you explain me.


Guyz i really appreciate your inputs as i am a novice. But i am for sure without your help its not goin to go in right direction for resolution and i might be fooled by the service station.

Boye my first car and its annoying me...

[kpzen]

Originally Posted by tush

Also i don't know how do i keep track of how are they swapping the tyres. Because they don't mention that in the job card. Any inputs on this would be appreciated.
.

Note the serial numbers of tyres with its respective location before giving the car for tyre rotation. Thats what i do...

[Jaggu]

Yes there are 2 ways actually 4 standard practice followed in tyre totation.

Read through page 1 and 2 of link i posted. The link is for page 2 which answers most of your questions.

Car Bibles : The Wheel and Tyre Bible Page 2 of 2