Possible to align Passat Subframe? Car tracking to right...

You're correct, the sub-frame has very little movement other than the bolt holes. But, maybe in your case it wasn't made correctly when produced.

Thanks Woodchuck... It's nice to have that confirmed, especially since the service dept. states that they just "aligned the subframe". We took it for a test drive and it's still pulling to the right, and they just said that they would further align the subframe. In that case, it seems they're feeding me incorrect information, and are most likely offsetting the pull with the wheel alignment. My tires thank them. I have a lemon law letter into their customer relations dept. right now...we'll see (They've made 4 attempts to fix over the last 6 months).

In any case, I'll be checking the alignment specs at a reputable body shop after they try to fix it that last time before repurchasing.

Thanks again - Kel

I'm sorry to hear about your experience because I have lived through this same problem on another non-vw car.

Alignment of wheels was right on, it even matched the alignment of a friends car which was exact same model and bought at the same time.

Yet, my car wore the inner treads of the tires and his didn't.

We did some highly un-scientific experiments with various JC-Whitney alignment gauges, water bubble levels, protractors and other home brew stuff (don't ask!!) and our own findings backed up what the dealer was telling us, at least as far as the angles were concerned. IOW they were both correct, and almost exact matches with each other for that matter.

I finally had a factory rep look at the car and they sent it to a body shop which confirmed that the sub-frame was mis-aligned at manufacture time but could be fixed. Essentially the problem was that the front wheels were in alignment with themselves, but not with the center-line of the car. My first inclination was that a thrust alignment should be done, but it was way beyond that.

The body shop fixed the car, under warranty, and I never wore another tire abnormally.

My advice is to stick with it and find or have the dealer find a body shop that can put it on a rack and see if everything is straight.

Good luck!!

Psycho

Thought I would follow up with everyone to let them know that I live in a state with one of the weakest lemon laws in the country, and my letter to VW requesting replacement/repurchasing was met with a prompt FedEx letter informing me that they would replace the 2003 vehicle with a new 2004 model with the same options. I have to say, for the first time in a long time, I am more than satisfied with the service I received from VW.

I suppose this allows them to resell the car without labeling it a lemon...

Kel

That is WONDERFUL for you Kel!!

Best of luck!!

psycho