Steering not right

Post by **Gayno** » Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:02 pm

As you probably know, my lude has been parked up since October. At the point of being parked up, all was well.

However, when going to the MOT last weekend, the steering wasn't right. Driving down the road it was all over the place, felt as though both front wheels were loose. I immediately pulled over and checked all wheel nuts were nice and tight, which they were.

I drove cautiously to the MOT garage and advised the tester of how it felt, and that I had changed the track rod ends maybe being the cause. After the test, he confirmed all was tight and correct, he couldn't see a problem.

On the drive home it was still the same, although not as bad. I have wound the steering from lock to lock several times in case there was an air lock in the fluid, but this still isn't right.

Any thoughts on what the problem may be?

Post by **RattyMcClelland** » Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:03 pm

Could it be the tyres?

Post by **NafemanNathan** » Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:09 pm

Is yours 4WS? Is it definitely coming from the front?

I take it you've had a good tug on the tops of the wheels?

Post by **Pushki** » Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:15 pm

Gayno wrote:I had changed the track rod ends maybe being the cause.

This would be the first place to check even if the mechanic said they were fine.

'92 Si VTEC · Post by **jjmartin349571** » Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:22 pm

What have you been driving in the meantime mate?? I only ask as I had my golf laid up for a similar amount of time, and now going back to it from my Accord the steering is actually terrifying

at speed it feels like the steering wheel isn't attached to anything! I never remembered it feeling so bad before, so I can only assume it's just because I've become accustomed to another car.

Post by **Gayno** » Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:50 pm

NafemanNathan wrote:Is yours 4WS? Is it definitely coming from the front?

I take it you've had a good tug on the tops of the wheels?

It is 4ws, but the feeling is definitely coming back through the steering wheel.

I didn't tug at the wheels, but again the MOT guy would have done when checking the bearings.

Pushki wrote:
Gayno wrote:I had changed the track rod ends maybe being the cause.
This would be the first place to check even if the mechanic said they were fine.

It has crossed my mind, but what exactly am I checking for? Everything is done up nice and tight.

jjmartin349571 wrote:What have you been driving in the meantime mate??

Again, this thought crossed my mind but it isn't this either. Previous the steering was nice and sharp. Now it seems to jump all over the place.

Oh, and to answer your question a 2010 VW Golf Bluemotion Estate.

Post by **Gayno** » Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:53 pm

Car doesn't go back on the road until 1st April so I'm not worrying just yet.

Also booked in at PAW on the 7th so if I can't resolve by then I'll get Rich to check it out (he's fitting my inner tie rods and doing an alignment so this will all need to be sorted first anyway!)

Stevelar_granolar · Post by **Stevelar_granolar** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 12:18 am

Mines the same its quite bad tho,traced it back to play in the inner track rod joints. Gona replace the lot this weekend. If you jack the car up and grab the track rod and get a friend to lock the steering each way you will feel a bit of play or in my case feel it click lol.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 7:49 am

Check the tyre pressures and wheel alignment would be my starting point (especially after changing track rod ends). Lisa's lude is very sensitive to tyre pressures at the front with the 17" rims, if they're a bit low, it gets pulled all over the place (mine with the OEM 15's is much less so).

Post by **si import** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 7:55 am

wheel alignment would be my first choice especially as you've changed the track rod ends