Renault clio steering fault

Yes, it should.

Bare-faced cheek to expect him to stump up for tracking when it should have been done when the rack was replaced. They're trying it on, I'd insist they did it FOC.

I don't know about the "known issue", but they should certainly have reset the tracking when they did the rack. Your mate should write to them, not phone, they can't ignore a letter so easily, and tell them that they failed to carry out the work to a minimum required standard, and that he expects them to A, reset the tracking at no cost to him, and B, replace the tyres which have been trashed. They will almost certainly refuse, and then he should write again,saying that if they don't do so, he'll get trading standards involved.

He may have to go 50/50 on the tyres because they probably won't have been new, but no need to go for that too soon, get them on the defensive first.

Steve

The message from "Kevin Scott" contains these words:

Yes, without a shadow of a doubt. Of course, proving that it was them that left it that way not him who's kerbed it hard is another matter.

Certainly. Setting the tracking is an essential part of fitting a rack. Ergo, if the tracking is out after fitting, the rack has not been fitted properly. Mike.

agree with the other posters, its like getting your tyres replaced & not having the wheel nuts put back on, they both go hand in hand ! not only is it bad workmanship its dangerous as well !

Mention the fact that you will get in touch with the BBC Watchdog programme.

That's one they don't like, as generally when a manufacture denies that there's a particular problem and yours is 'a one-off', the switchboard usually becomes jammed with dozens of disgruntled people with stories to tell concerning similar problems, i.e. Rover head gaskets!

thanks to everybody who replied, that's exactly what I expected/wanted to hear.

Of course.

The big giveaway on a poorly installed replacement rack is to check if the steering wheel is level in the centre position of the rack as it would be when it left the factory. Most racks have a removable plug into which you insert a steel dowel - or drill end of the right size - which fits into a matching hole in the centre of the rack. With the rack locked in this position you then do a four wheel alignment, adjusting the tracking until correct.

Just a small correction Dave. It's usually a screwed plug, which is removed and replaced by a longer threaded screw that's long enough to locate in a dimple on the rack itself. At least that is the case with Cam Gear boxes which are fitted by many european car manufacturers. Mike.