loose steering - drive shaft joints?

[Linus Van Pelt 0]

:?

 

My steering still isn't right :(

 

Since this is all a little subjective, (the terms 'loose' or 'not right' won't help anyone) I've racked my brains to come up with these examples...

 

(1) turning into a corner, I stop turning the steering wheel, but the wheels feel like they continue to steer into the corner... doesn't always happen though!

 

(2) driving along at a reasonable speed, in a straight line, steering wheel starts to jerk back and forth of it's own accord, again not always happening!

 

(3) the dead zone for the steering wheel when centred seems to vary...

 

Generally what seems to be happening is that the wheels want to do something (or rather thay are affected by the road surface and move without relation to the steering wheel), I apply the correction but that get's misinterpreted somwehere and then the correction needs correcting :mad:

 

Are these symptoms of drive shaft joint troubles, or are there other possibilities? (assume that tracking, balancing and pressures are all ok)

 

Thanks all,

 

DtM.

[Rams 0]

I know what you mean about some of those problems. The one I am convinced may be a problem is the centre of the wheel, even with the tracking done, it still wonders sometimes. I know this is grately affected by the camber of the road, but it may be the steering column. Since my accident I am always dubious that the rack needed doing. The body shop said it was fine as the tie rod arms are made in such away that if your in an impact they bend due to their shape and helps protect the rack.

 

I may just replace it anyway as I am going for the perfect drive and I will get there! Suspension plays alot in the game of steering, all bushes and joints. The anti roll bar bushes are important that they are in good condition. If they have never been replaced then I would do them.

 

If your car is lowered it wont behave as well as normal height cars from holes, little bumps in the road, but thats the sacrafice we have to have in order for it to handle better when you are being more demanding of the car.

 

I tried travelling in a straight line and turning the wheel right and left, only a little and seeing if the car is reacting. It is very difficult to notice, but im sure it would steer better with a new rack. Could be your sysmptoms

[Linus Van Pelt 0]

Thanks for your post Rams,

 

I'll add steering rack & anti-roll bar bushes to the list of potential candidates then!

 

The suspension is standard, new shocks & springs last year (and all the relevant bearings/bushes/mounts were done at the same time)

 

I'm getting a local VW specialist to have a look at it on Saturday... he's going to take it for a test drive, so knowing my luck it'll behave perfectly!

 

I've got the impresssion this guy knows his stuff, but I'd just like to canvas some opinions first...

 

Thanks again!

 

DtM.

[GazzaG60 0]

mine does similar.

 

itll move around on the road followingh hte contours of the road.

 

i have new top mounts n coilovers and run 17" wheels. the car feels a lot better than before but i think i need the following.

 

bushes-get the odd clucking noise n i have had cars with poly before n know the difference.

steering rack bushes. rach can bounce from time to time on v rough terrain.

ball joints-it wanders around not being too presice

 

not sure what else. car handles great but i think it can be even better.

 

check engine mounts first though for movement. i replaced mine with a uprated volkspeed one n its good. think the engine mounts help take the strain too. when you replace the front if yours aint great the other things seem more apparent.

[Linus Van Pelt 0]

check engine mounts first though for movement.

 

Thanks GazzaG60, now that I think about it, that would indeed make things appear worse... for checking purposes, is that just a case of pop the bonnet and try to move the engine? If so how much should it move versus how much it shouldn't? I have no record of when (if ever) these bit have been done.

 

Cheers,

 

DtM.

[Rams 0]

duncanthemad, Just get in the car with the handbrake on and select 1st gear and lift the clutch slightly and get a mechanic or person to see if the engine moves alot. Obviously its going to move, but just check for excessive movement and then work back to the last time you changes the relevant mount.

 

There are other ways, I hope the way I gave you wasnt too cowboy, otherwise its a bar inbetween the mounts and move the bar to gage the movement.

[Rams 0]

The parts that hold everything to the chassis, sorry, I dont know the term but these have bolts similar to the bolts you have that hold the bumper on and I had a weird noise and movement and took the car to get checked, basically to make sure everything was tight and he said yup, its all tight under there and I still had the problem. I took it to a friend of mine that used to sort my golf out and only used to charge me tee and coffee money.

 

He then checked them and used a bar to get more stength on doing the bolts up, he tightened them up quite a bit and the problems was solved.

 

You really need to take it somewhere who know what they are doing. If you think about it, the first garage was using a wrench, the amount of hold that this part plays in massive so they need good bolts and nice and tight. The steering felt more precise and like it was a newer car.

[Linus Van Pelt 0]

Quick update...

 

Had a major service done by AmD today, they think my steering problems are related to the fact that one of my front wishbone lower arms is fubar'd... :shock:

 

Bit p*ssed about the fact that VAG didn't mention it when they did the alignment (which helped, but didn't cure my problem)... and here's me thinking my local VAG dealers were quite good... :evil:

 

ho hum...

 

DtM.