Incorrect wheel alignment
If you want to check your wheel alignment, you must first make sure that both front tires have the same tread depth, the specified air pressure, and that both tires are the same type and size.
- Are the steering wheel spokes symmetrical when driving straight? An asymmetrical steering wheel is often a sign of incorrect wheel alignment.
- Uncertain linear movement; this can be felt especially on slippery, snowy or icy roads. Tyres that are too wide can also impair straight-line driving, despite correct wheel alignment.
- Renault 19 pulls to the left or right? And this happens with a completely flat road and the steering wheel released?
- Does the steering automatically return to the straight-ahead position after turning?
- Look at the front wheels from a distance of 5-10 m: are they straight and symmetrical to each other?
- Is the tyre profile worn on either side? In racing style driving it is of course normal for both front tyres to have more wear on the outside than on the inside.
- A dented wheel rim is usually the result of a strong impact, which can cause the wheel alignment to become out of alignment.
- Other reasons for wheel alignment problems may include worn out joints and, accordingly, silent blocks, or accidents that do not require repair.
Measuring wheel alignment
An optical stand is used to measure the wheel alignment angles in the auto repair shop. The tire pressure must be correct, the car must be unloaded, and the front suspension and steering units must not have much play. The longitudinal and transverse inclination of the kingpin axis and the camber angle must be adjusted on the Renault 19, and each of the parameters has a strictly defined value depending on the model.
On Renault 19 only toe-in can be adjusted. It is 0°10' (11 mm). The adjustment itself is carried out by rotating the steering trapezoid rods with the locknuts on the rod ends loosened; where one turn of the steering linkage rod corresponds to 0°30' (3 mm) of adjustment change.
Note: Recommendation: When adjusting the toe-in, ensure that both steering linkage rods are turned out equally far (or screwed in accordingly), i.e. the length of the threaded part of the rod end on the left and right sides must be the same.