Strut top bolt not centered in tower hole

[VwCSilent]

2015 sho hr springs. Had it aligned and alignment is good. Problem is the car feels "loose" for lack of a better term. I've seen it described as tramlining. The only thing I've come up with so far is that the strut top is not centered in the hole. I'm not sure if this is normal since the car is lowered or if it's an issue. Everything else feels tight in the front end. Tires not wearing funny as far as I can tell.

The other side is equally pushed toward the inside of the car.

Thanks for any insight.

 

[FREAK_SHO]

Stock wheel & tire size? Or after market and wider? Wider wheels and tires can cause this effect.

On my 2015, if I don't run 38-40psi in my tires I get the trampling a bit. (Stock wheels w/ 255/45/20's with a proper alignment) Car is a little billowy at the lower psi and wonders.

 

[VwCSilent]

Stock wheels. I don't actually know if it's the stock tire size or not. Continental dws06 245/45/20 zr. ~40psi

 

[FREAK_SHO]

That is the stock size. Who did the alignment and when?

Could be the alignment is close enough per the "factory" specs, but not good enough to perform properly.

Picture of the drives side front. Not centered.

 

[FREAK_SHO]

If you have checked the tie rods and control arms for movement, I'd also check to see if the wheel bearings are tight. Front and rear.

 

[VwCSilent]

Thanks for the info. Funny enough I am doing the front wheel bearings this weekend. They felt like they might have a little slop in them and they might have a slight hum to them. Car has 125k on it so I'm in the ballpark for replacement. At this point I'll hope after that it drives right again.

 

[VwCSilent]

Sorry, ntb did the alignment. Maybe 2 months ago now.

 

[Ta2dResqr]

Stock wheels. I don't actually know if it's the stock tire size or not. Continental dws06 245/45/20 zr. ~40psi

Check what your Door Placard says for tire pressure. I think mine is 35 but I'd have to check. 40 sounds high. Over-inflation can make it firmer ride and kind of skate due to the thinner harder contact patch. Tire pressure, and all steering/suspension components should have been checked prior to the shop doing the alignment. Only way they could get an accurate alignment. Do you have a printout of your alignment? It would be nice to see what specs they set it to and what the end result was. Lowering the car will directly change camber which will also cause the issue. If they just did a "toe and go" which is common in some shops, it would not have fixed the camber.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=47 "

Using higher tire pressures than recommended by the vehicle manufacturer for your driving conditions will unnecessarily stiffen the tire and make it even more willing to cause tramlining. If you are running higher tire pressures than necessary, simply dropping the tire pressures to those recommended by the vehicle manufacturer will help reduce tramlining.
Alignment settings can be key as well. The "camber" and "toe" settings both play a role in vehicle stability and the propensity for tramlining. Extreme positive or negative camber settings will make a vehicle more sensitive, especially when only one wheel encounters a longitudinal rut and/or groove at a time. Even if all the tires are "aimed" straight ahead when the vehicle is in motion, a tire that is "cambered" wants to turn. This is the result of the "camber thrust" generated by a leaning tire (it is also part of the explanation of how motorcycles turn). A vehicle suspension using lots of negative camber for competition or the track will experience more tramlining on the street."

 

[VwCSilent]

I checked the door and it is 35. They were at 39. I dropped it to 35. Thanks