Steering wobble only when going straight ahead

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Steering wobble only when going straight ahead; Problem fixed, its was the steering damper!
Topic Started: Sun Oct 11, 2009 6:48 pm (174 Views)
Charles	Sun Oct 11, 2009 6:48 pm Post #1
Member Posts: 222 Group: Members Member #2,027 Joined: December 12, 2007	The problem is when driving over 45mph the steering wobbles really bad as if it is going to rattle the car to bits. But as soon as you turn the steering wheel left or right it completely goes! There is some play in the steering and I think it is the Drag link, but not enough to fail an mot The bottom ball joints seam ok too and there is no play in the wheel bearings and they run smooth too The car has had two sets of wheels on it, both giving the same effect but worse with the bigger wheels and lower profile tyres. Any Idea's Cheers Charles



alan	Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:21 pm Post #2
this looks like fun Posts: 4,004 Group: Members Member #2,052 Joined: December 21, 2007	I sometimes get this too but have found more speed cures it. For some reason I have decided that its down to needing my tracking done dono why but I'm planning on get that sorted this month anyway hopefully it'll cure it



Charles	Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:23 pm Post #3
Member Posts: 222 Group: Members Member #2,027 Joined: December 12, 2007	It does peak around 45/60 then fades away but is still there.



MICHAEL	Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:24 pm Post #4
Member Posts: 5,632 Group: Members Member #555 Joined: September 28, 2006	A visit to a good tyre depot or any garage, will identify your problem.



Richy190E	Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:33 pm Post #5
Sales Rep Posts: 1,832 Group: Members Member #1,387 Joined: June 9, 2007	I'd say a balancing issue, somewhere around the 40 to 50g across the axle. Or a warped brake disc perhaps. Edited by Richy190E, Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:34 pm.



Charles	Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:41 pm Post #6
Member Posts: 222 Group: Members Member #2,027 Joined: December 12, 2007	Yea know what you mean, but it completely goes when you go round a bend or even turn a bit! I am going to un bolt the steering damper and see if its still got some resistance in it.



Charles	Wed Oct 14, 2009 4:55 pm Post #7
Member Posts: 222 Group: Members Member #2,027 Joined: December 12, 2007	Checked the steering damper and it had no reistance in it at all, replaced it problem sorted!



Richy190E	Wed Oct 14, 2009 5:23 pm Post #8
Sales Rep Posts: 1,832 Group: Members Member #1,387 Joined: June 9, 2007	Glad you sorted it. Cant say i've ever come across a damper that bad but now I know



kentronix	Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:47 pm Post #9
Admin Posts: 16,354 Group: Admin Member #147 Joined: January 20, 2006	Excellent, ta for posting the fix. The steering damper is really easy to change I think ? I am thinking of doing mine.



Richy190E	Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:12 pm Post #10
Sales Rep Posts: 1,832 Group: Members Member #1,387 Joined: June 9, 2007	yeah kenny, 2 nuts and its off.



alan	Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:15 pm Post #11
this looks like fun Posts: 4,004 Group: Members Member #2,052 Joined: December 21, 2007	weird thing is my damper isn't that old was suggested that was the prob for play in the steering so changed then found out i needed to adjust the steering box so im sticking with tracking for now



Charles	Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:25 pm Post #12
Member Posts: 222 Group: Members Member #2,027 Joined: December 12, 2007	So easy to change and to check if it is knackered! Alan tracking won't give steering wobble. I looked at the steering damper because when the steering wasn't under load the wobble was there but under load there was no wobble, eg going round a bend. Cheers Charles



alan	Thu Oct 15, 2009 6:55 am Post #13
this looks like fun Posts: 4,004 Group: Members Member #2,052 Joined: December 21, 2007	i know its easy to change ive done it but cant see it going in less than 18 months my driving aint that bad lol



Charles	Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:45 am Post #14
Member Posts: 222 Group: Members Member #2,027 Joined: December 12, 2007	No probs Alan! What I was trying to get accross was if the steering wobble had been at all times eg in a straight line or round a bend, I would have looked at wheels, tyres, play in steering, brake discs or sticking calipers. I have never had this problem on a car before(most cars have steering rack) and I thought Why and whats different, there was two things a sterring box and a steering damper, the damper was easy to check so I did that. Hope you sort your problem on your car. Cheers Charles



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