Floating Feeling + Slightly Sideways at speed

[1979scotte]

Has anyone looked at the steering UJ?
They can corrode quite badly.
No idea if it could cause theses symptoms

[Anonymous]

Loose arms would be my guess as you need to tighten on the bolt.

[sadhvikv]

So just trying to think of any events that happened when the issues started, and it all started becoming an issue about a week after new tyres were fitted ---> yoko AD08r's (now 1k miles old), which I know are prone to tramlining, could this just be me being overly sensitive to tramlining on left bends...would it make sense that if I'm following the camber of the road on left bends my front end could pull left slightly quicker than the rear therefore giving the feeling of slightly drifting around the corner, whereas on right bends I'm moving towards the flatter center of the road, so no such feeling? Maybe switch to a tyre that tramlines less?

Really clutching at straws here, please do share your thoughts with me on this one!

[Carolyn]

So just trying to think of any events that happened when the issues started, and it all started becoming an issue about a week after new tyres were fitted ---> yoko AD08r's (now 1k miles old), which I know are prone to tramlining, could this just be me being overly sensitive to tramlining on left bends...would it make sense that if I'm following the camber of the road on left bends my front end could pull left slightly quicker than the rear therefore giving the feeling of slightly drifting around the corner, whereas on right bends I'm moving towards the flatter center of the road, so no such feeling? Maybe switch to a tyre that tramlines less?

Really clutching at straws here, please do share your thoughts with me on this one!

Come to think of it... A year ago, I had to pick up my daughter's Mondeo from London.  It was pulling to the left under braking.  Checked the wheel alignment - it was out, so re-aligned it.  It didn't cure the problem.  Swapped the tyres from front to back -problem gone!  The tyres had worn unevenly making them want to steer left.

I know your car is staggered, but a quick, temporary, swap from front to rear might show something up.

[Carolyn]

I notice you're in Oxfordshire.  I'm not that far away in Northants.  I have a good pair of front wheels and tyres (which I want to keep), but you're welcome to pop over and try them on your car to see if it solves the problem.

[carolineasb]

Perhaps I have missed it in these posts but several people have questioned whether you have had someone check both the Steering UJ and the Rack/Pump, however, I don't see any answer to that??

The UJ is one of the most common faults on the Mk3 and the pump has also been known to go  s:( s:(  I would agree as another poster said that you really shouldn't really be driving at speed until you get to the bottom of the problem  s:( s:(

[tomaky]

My view/experience on the uj is that it generally causes heavy steering ive not seen other signs, anyone else got opinions?

[tomaky]

Think the rack and pump would give the same heavy steering aswell.

[mrzwei]

Just an 'off the wall' observation but make sure that they put the right tyres on the right wheels.
I only say this because my dealer managed to put a rear wheel on the front. Whether it's pfl or post, the wheel sizes are different.

[Tomo70]

Yes and on that note note direction on tyre wall. Not always obvious. Lots of tyres these days are directional and it's not alway obvious.

[Joesson]

A variation on Carolyn' s suggestion:
Have you tried swopping wheels/ tyres left to right?
That should determine if theproblem is with the tyres or elsewhere.

If all OE the locating pegs should prevent incorrect front/ rear wheel fitting.

[Jandaw]

Quote.

If all OE the locating pegs should prevent incorrect front/ rear wheel fitting.




Can't swap left to right with directional tyres without removing from wheel though.

[mrzwei]

If all OE the locating pegs should prevent incorrect front/ rear wheel fitting.

That's what I thought but you can still put, as stated,  the tyre on the wrong wheel the wrong way 'round and the locating peg is a push fit. I can only say that they managed it   s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

I doubt that this is really the issue but it is easy to eliminate.

[Joesson]

Quote: "they managed it"

Why am I not suprised  s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

[jvanzyl]

Is there a quick way to tell if your front and rears have been put the wrong way round other than crawling round with a measuring tape?

[Ardent]

read the side wall.
There is often a little sticker in the bottom of the glove box that states what should be fitted. cross ref and look for anything that suggests the tyres are directional.

[Joesson]

Have a look at the tyre walls.
The sizes of the tyres take the format : width / profile / diameter.   ie 215/ 50 / 15.
The width should be wider on the rear than on the front.
The diameter should be the same front and rear or larger on the rear.
The profile should be the same on each side of the same axle as should the width and diameter.
There is sometimes reference to this face outside or similar and sometimes a direction of rotation arrow.

[jvanzyl]

Thanks I'm good with reading the tyre walls  :-) :-) :-)  (Yes I'm that good..)

I was actually after how to tell the difference between the alloys (front and rear) themselves? I can see a couple of little symbols here and there but nothing that would give an actual measurement..?

[shnazzle]

Not sure this helps but this is what they should be:
 l viewtopic.php?t=24453 l

If yours are standard, no reason to believe theyre different

[Jrichards20]

I don't think you can put 15' tyres on a 16' rim, and the other way round, I don't think you can put a 16' tyre on a 15' rim. So the size of the tyre will be the diameter of the alloy.

[jvanzyl]

erm - ok I think I confused the issue here - I was taking PFL alloys. Never mind!  :-) :-) :-)

As an update I've hopefully go my "floaty feeling" "total lack of confidence at speed" "much butt clenching" issue resolved and hopefully it would be applicable to this case?

I had new polybushes fitted all round the front and they appear to have taken a few weeks to "bed in" and there is a bunch of looseness which is now being tightened and my garage tell me that this will resolve the issue! (please note that this was also accompanied by a "hunching" to the left and right when braking from higher speeds).

So I'm not sure if this has been investigated as part of this exercise?
Cheers,

John

[sadhvikv]

erm - ok I think I confused the issue here - I was taking PFL alloys. Never mind!  :-) :-) :-)

As an update I've hopefully go my "floaty feeling" "total lack of confidence at speed" "much butt clenching" issue resolved and hopefully it would be applicable to this case?

I had new polybushes fitted all round the front and they appear to have taken a few weeks to "bed in" and there is a bunch of looseness which is now being tightened and my garage tell me that this will resolve the issue! (please note that this was also accompanied by a "hunching" to the left and right when braking from higher speeds).

So I'm not sure if this has been investigated as part of this exercise?
Cheers,

John

Let us know how it goes John!


Thank you everyone else for the thoughts, checked the tyres, all look good --> front= 185/55/15 and rear= 215/45/16 nothing mixed up. Tyre pressures all good at 26 front and 32 rear.

Am going to get the U/J replaced, but actually my steering doesn't feel overly heavy. Really perplexing, maybe a psychological issue?!   s:crazyeyes: :crazyeyes: s:crazyeyes:

[Ardent]

Any local members that would be willing to compare?

can you get to the next meet up near northampton. Look for the green man thread in events section.

[1979scotte]

Any local members that would be willing to compare?

can you get to the next meet up near northampton. Look for the green man thread in events section.

As Jason says try to attend the next meeting a ride in his car with fresh suspension and you'll know what it should be like.

[jvanzyl]

Hey guys! Car is totally fixed!!!! I must confess I was getting close the point of getting shot of the car as I no longer felt confident in it.

It's flipping amazing now!!
Sadhivkv I'd really suggest your local garage examines the state of the bushes and makes sure everything is done up properly... If you've already done that then fair enough...