Floating Feeling + Slightly Sideways at speed

Jrichards20 · October 16, 2015, 15:37

Quote from: "Jrichards20"
Quote from: "StuC"Surely doing the alignment he would have seen anything that was loose, no?

Glad you are back to happy though. :-) :-) :-)

This...

Knowing that the alignment was recently done and toe drifted, first thing to check would be why toe has moved?

I quote Stu and mines original response again s:)

s:)

sadhvikv · October 16, 2015, 15:52

Quote from: "Jrichards20"
Quote from: "Jrichards20"
Quote from: "StuC"Surely doing the alignment he would have seen anything that was loose, no?

Glad you are back to happy though. :-) :-) :-)

This...

Knowing that the alignment was recently done and toe drifted, first thing to check would be why toe has moved?

I quote Stu and mines original response again s:) s:)

Thank you! Will update on Monday.

HFB · October 20, 2015, 09:33

What was the prognosis Sadhvikv?

I'm getting a similar 'light' feeling from the steering wheel on my 2000 pfl.

Yokahama C-Drives on front 185/55/15 @28psi and S-Drives 205/50/15 @32 psi on rear.

Was looking at getting some new tyres soon, but not until mistreated the current ones at trackday booked in Nov.

Suspension is on my 2016 shopping list.

HFB

sadhvikv · November 3, 2015, 21:13

So they've had a look around, and noted that the steering wheel returns to center on right turns, but on left turns it stays just slightly off center, the car drives straight when the steering wheel is held centered, I had a play around with the car on a few drives and they are spot on that's exactly what's happening. Everything seems great if I'm making bends towards the right, but if I try to make bends towards the left I lose all directness with the steering. The mechanics said they're going to try and find out what that's all about and get back to me.

Any ideas anyone?

shnazzle · November 3, 2015, 22:21

Is it possible that this is a steering rack/power steering issue?

Jrichards20 · November 3, 2015, 22:22

Sounds a little similar to mine. Please keep us all updated with the results, sorry your the Guinea pig s:)

s:)

I'm praying pat is wrong s:(

s:(

Tomo70 · November 3, 2015, 22:23

If you have not already had the lower stearing joint checked, then get it looked at. Also get the top bearing on the front suspension checked.

The top mounting cups on my suspension were very poor, though it could not be seen till I dropped the struts off. There are lots of variables to consider. Unfortunatlely if the car is a daily driver, it's gonna be hard to dismantle it and check the sum of all the parts.

shnazzle · November 3, 2015, 22:32

Quote from: "Tomo70"If you have not already had the lower stearing joint checked, then get it looked at. Also get the top bearing on the front suspension checked.

The top mounting cups on my suspension were very poor, though it could not be seen till I dropped the struts off. There are lots of variables to consider. Unfortunatlely if the car is a daily driver, it's gonna be hard to dismantle it and check the sum of all the parts.

Good point on the universal joint.
So that, the power steering pump, or steering rack itself.
What's flagging in my mind is the fact that the toe was out a lot when you went back the 1st time. Might be a red herring though

ChrisGB · November 4, 2015, 07:51

Front or rear toe out? Loose rear lower arm, toe arm or trailing arm bolts can all play havoc with steering feel. How was thrust angle?

2 of the left · November 4, 2015, 20:17

Quote from: "sadhvikv"So they've had a look around, and noted that the steering wheel returns to center on right turns, but on left turns it stays just slightly off center, the car drives straight when the steering wheel is held centered, I had a play around with the car on a few drives and they are spot on that's exactly what's happening. Everything seems great if I'm making bends towards the right, but if I try to make bends towards the left I lose all directness with the steering. The mechanics said they're going to try and find out what that's all about and get back to me.

Any ideas anyone?

Could be the u/v joint needs cleaning/greasing or replacement - I had same problem last year so went for replacement

sadhvikv · November 6, 2015, 10:30

Going to have a go at lubricating the lower steering universal joint this evening and see if that has any benefit. If it does I'll get it replaced. Fingers crossed!

tomaky · November 6, 2015, 11:09

Personally i think its unlikely to cause floating or sideways at speed.

sadhvikv · November 7, 2015, 11:36

So the steering feels much lighter and overall more pleasant after spraying the universal joint liberally with white spray grease, and it's hard for me to tell, but I think the steering wheel is returning to center ever so slightly better (though I may be imagining it). It certainly hasn't completed corrected the issue, but I'm inclined to replace the universal joint. Thoughts?

Jrichards20 · November 7, 2015, 12:08

Replacing the UJ can never hurt. It helped mine, but didn't 100% cure it. But mine needs needs polybushes, shocks and tyres. Which can all cause the same problems.

TCBparts supply them for a good price

Jrichards20 · November 7, 2015, 12:08

m http://www.tcbparts.co.uk m

tomaky · November 7, 2015, 12:10

Lubricating it will make the steering lighter, as for replacing depends on entirely how bad it looks.
Tyres, geo and shocks would be likely be all i can think of.

sadhvikv · November 7, 2015, 12:56

Thanks Tomaky, fitted KYB struts and tein lowering springs last week, and new tyres (ad08r) fitted last month. Narrowing things down!

tomaky · November 7, 2015, 16:08

all that i can suggest is get them to re check the alignment again.

sadhvikv · November 8, 2015, 09:17

Does anyone recommend some wheel alignment specialists in oxfordshire or around Birmingham?

graham read · November 8, 2015, 09:26

I STAND CORRECTED,NITROGEN it was not nos but the car still goes were well.

Jrichards20 · November 8, 2015, 09:57

GOOD TO know s:)

s:)

sadhvikv · November 8, 2015, 13:41

Read some good things about m http://www.alineyourcar.co.uk/ m in Birmingham for a 4 wheel alignment, so gonna take the car to them with some camber bolts ( front--> m http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231617602873? ... EBIDX%3AIT m rear--> m http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252021830261? ... EBIDX%3AIT m )

Hope I've got the right camber bolts there, but please do let me know if I haven't so I can cancel the order + order something different.

sadhvikv · November 14, 2015, 11:09

Went in to 4 wheel alignment specialists today, here's the alignment sheet (before):

Nothing really out on that, no changes done. They had a careful look at all the suspension parts, no bent/worn parts, top marks to them for spending a good amount of time trying to work out what it could be.

Bit lost on where to go from here, just to reiterate the issue is only really on left turns, with the rear end not being planted and drifting out wide, particularly at speed. On right bends the car is absolutely perfect, stable and consistent turning.

Any thoughts?

Carolyn · November 14, 2015, 13:28

Weird! Could be... a stripped thread on the steering arm. Seems ok when static but moving about under load. You'd have to take the arm off to inspect it. As it's going in and out of alignment, it's a distinct possibility. I would get the car onto jack stands, with all four wheels of the ground and give all the wheels a serious wobble. Then take the wheels of and go around all the suspension and steering joints with a pry-bar and see if anything is looser than it should be. Start with the suspicious corner?

Carolyn · November 14, 2015, 13:55

I've given this problem a little more thought..

Sounds as though something in your steering is trying to come adrift!! It's probably adviseable not to drive the car hard (if at all!) until this problem has been sorted. Loosing your steering at speed would be most unpleasant.