10 replies to this topic

[grainge231]

a week or so ago i hit a bank in the ice steering would go unresponsive and very light every now and then . took it to my local garage and we noticed the wheel beering was knackard so we changed that and all felt okay until i got to a few corners on way home. steering goes loose again. im thinking loose or damaged steering rack. the steering wheel will sometimes go 1/4 of the way round before the wheels turn. othertimes theres hardly any play atall. any ideas?

[Ethel]

It does sound like something is loose or broken but needn't be the rack, or the front suspension for that matter.

[grainge231]

just got in from having a little looksie, the rack doesnt seem loose atall. but its deffinatly something funny going on with the steering. the car doesnt pull when driving in a straightline maybe damaged the teeth on the rack in my little bump i had?

[minidaves]

check rack u bolts on the floor this is a comman fault. also check all other steering bolts

dave

[grainge231]

checked the U bolts and they are fine, although i have found another topic with a similar question to mine which has me quite worryed http://www.theminifo...x...eering&st=0 .gonna get insured on the mothers polo for abit until i can fix it, i dont dare drive it now

[bmcecosse]

If you are SURE the U bolts are tight - and the rack isn't moving - then closely inspect the connection where the column joins the rack - down beside the pedals. The fine splines there may be stripped and/or the clamp bolt may be loose - or even snapped! Otherwise could be damage inside the rack - although they are pretty tough!
It's not just down to bent tie-bar - or tie bar mount broken away from the front of the subby ?

Edited by bmcecosse, 29 January 2010 - 08:41 PM.

[Pooky]

Surely this car should be off the road until it's sorted. Sounds like a serious accident waiting to happen.

[Bungle]

you not checking the subframe mounts instead of rack mounts are you ?

[grainge231]

yeah the cars gonna be off the road now and im gonna get insured on mums POLO the most annoying part is im ment to be driving up to minisport on the 11th. and i only have 1 day off between now and then. so i thinks its gonna have to be a garage job >

[Guess-Works.com]

What's the tyre pressure on the front, over inflated tyres will make it handle like it's on ice....

[lawnmowercrap]

What's the tyre pressure on the front, over inflated tyres will make it handle like it's on ice....

Could have just knocked the tracking out a bit. Could have to much toe in.

My clubby estate was rougly 40 degrees toe in when i got it, and it was all over the shop in a straight line and felt loose in the corners. And it chewed the outer edge of he tyres down to nothing whilst the inners were still on 5mm.

Lee