unsecure front end?

[cuprablue]

Ok I've had my car 4 weeks now put about 350 miles on it (I know not a lot) and now I'm getting used to the car I've noticed that my front end is rather weird feeling at speed. It feels a bit like the front end wants to wander left or right all the time despite me keeping the wheel dead straight. It's a very vauge feeling a bit like the fronts are washing out all the time. It's only noticable if you concentrate on the steering input and only when the car is pointing straight. In corners the front end feels much more planted and grippy so I'm doubtfull it's the tyres. I'm not sure if it's just because the steering is far more sensitive to any movement of the steering wheel than on my old clio (which had a good 10 deg of slack either way off dead centre before the car would start to move to one side) or whether it's somthing else. The car is 4.5 years old and has done 51k miles and has had SEAT dealership services every 10k from new. Also it's just passed an MOT.


Are these cars just that much more direct steering ? Maybe I'm putting in some steering input without noticing it but it's getting rather off putting to say the least. Would worn bushes cause this? Because if so I'm not looking forward to the idea of having steering that is even more sensitive than it currently is which new bushes will do right?

Think I'll have to convince my brother in law to let me drive his focus up the motorway to get a comparison.

cuprablue

 

[smoothuk]

I know what you mean, its hard to explain isnt it....my LCR is the same as you discribe, been doing it since i had a track rod end replaced, i was told it needs the front subframe re aligning (50 quid) but my steering wheel does not sit dead centre in a straigh line now either...i had the toe adjusted on a 4 wheel aligner, and thay told me thats all they could do to fix it?/????? then i get told that the subframe is to blame, why didnt the so called "experts" on the 4 wheel aligner tell me this when they were trying to sort it out for me?? wonder if someone else can shead light on this, as....?

 

[Reg]

Hmmm..my LCR is pretty darn stable in a straight line. Steering is direct, but would never describe it as nervous. I've had ball joints fail on a BMW and it gave that exact sensation, but if you've just had an MOT then its unlikely. My car failed on them, and when we took them out it was obvious why - they were foooked!

 

[Sam20v]

My car felt strange at speed when i had torn wishbone bushes.....
i was forever correcting the steering, that wandering sensation you mentioned.

 

[UncleFester]

After a good drive, stop the car and feel the temperature of the front tyres. They should be a uniform temperature over the entire surface area. If it is noticeably hotter on one side of either or both tyres than the other then you may have a problem with the front suspension settings. A good motorway run would be an ideal test as you want the car to be driven in a straight line for as long as possible.

 

[willbatch]

Tracking!!

 

[UncleFester]

I think castor / camber personally - if it was tracking it would go one way or the other, not be mega sensitive about the straight ahead position ....

Does it pull under braking / acceleration?

 

[NeilC]

I know what you mean, its hard to explain isnt it....my LCR is the same as you discribe, been doing it since i had a track rod end replaced, i was told it needs the front subframe re aligning (50 quid) but my steering wheel does not sit dead centre in a straigh line now either...i had the toe adjusted on a 4 wheel aligner, and thay told me thats all they could do to fix it?/????? then i get told that the subframe is to blame, why didnt the so called "experts" on the 4 wheel aligner tell me this when they were trying to sort it out for me?? wonder if someone else can shead light on this, as....?

Alignment of camber is made by swinging the subframe from left to right. Theres play in the bolts to allow this.

 

[cuprablue]

I think castor / camber personally - if it was tracking it would go one way or the other, not be mega sensitive about the straight ahead position ....

Does it pull under braking / acceleration?

It does feel a bit squirmy under braking at times, but only if I have to brake from speed and not all the time. As for under acceleration I can feel a touch of torque steer through the wheel but the car itself goes straight.

I do know that the drivers side rear wheel is out of spec slightly in toe and camber. Could this be the reason? I had the front aligned just recently and everything there is within spec. Though I don't think they checked castor.

cuprablue

 

[cuprablue]

Alignment of toe is made by swinging the subframe from left to right. Theres play in the bolts to allow this.

Is this the case on an LC ? because I was told there was nothing adjustable at the back on my car.

cuprablue

 

[UncleFester]

It does feel a bit squirmy under braking at times, but only if I have to brake from speed and not all the time. As for under acceleration I can feel a touch of torque steer through the wheel but the car itself goes straight.

I do know that the drivers side rear wheel is out of spec slightly in toe and camber. Could this be the reason? I had the front aligned just recently and everything there is within spec. Though I don't think they checked castor.

cuprablue

I really don't know ... if it was tracking that was out i'm sure you'd feel it under braking and under power ....

What happens if you just hold the wheel lightly on the motorway, does it still feel 'sensitive' ?

 

[cuprablue]

I really don't know ... if it was tracking that was out i'm sure you'd feel it under braking and under power ....

What happens if you just hold the wheel lightly on the motorway, does it still feel 'sensitive' ?

I'll have to give it a try. I think it might just be me not being used to a car with such direct steering. I think I might be inadvertently putting input in to the wheel without realising it.

I should mention the car never feels in danger of doing anything wayward or dangerous. It's just a slight nervous feeling about the front end.

cuprablue

 

[Fl@pper]

Tracking!!

4 wheel alignment - or in general = Tracking

 

[UncleFester]

Mine is definitely one of the sharper handling cars i've driven, if i'm on motorways i tend to recline the seat back and just let it go ..... have you tried jamming your knees under the wheel and seeing if it still 'feels' like it's wandering?

 

[RobM]

Stupid question, but have you checked your tyre pressures? Over or Under inflated tyres can cause the steering to feel very light and nervous at speed.

 

[cuprablue]

Stupid question, but have you checked your tyre pressures? Over or Under inflated tyres can cause the steering to feel very light and nervous at speed.

I am leaning towards this idea myself. The fronts were at 32psi (or abouts) and I inflated them up to 33 as that's what the petrol cap says on mine and I think it's slightly worse than it was but I could be imagining it. I'm thinking of dropping them down to 30 and either leaving the rears as they are (32psi) or upping them slightly to 33. I must admit I was a bit surprised when the cap appeared to indicate that the pressures should be 33 front and 32 back.

cuprablue

 

[UncleFester]

33 front because of the engine. I run 33 front now and 35 back because of the hifi that sits in the boot.

 

[NeilC]

Is this the case on an LC ? because I was told there was nothing adjustable at the back on my car.

cuprablue

He was on about the front? I don't think the rear is adjustable and there have been a couple cars with bent rear beams. Think i'd take the missus' car to a different dealers and take another leon out for a test drive for comparision. Maybe check dampers for leaks, etc although you've just passed an mot they might have missed it. Then you'll prob have to spend some money, i dunno where you are but stealth racing are good as they have a 4 wheel alignment machine ~£80 and enough bits lying around if something needs replacing, unlike a dealer where everything will be on back order.
Lower strut brace is good on the cupras as well to tighten any slackness in the front suspension £15 and fit it yourself in 10mins.

 

[cuprablue]

33 front because of the engine. I run 33 front now and 35 back because of the hifi that sits in the boot.

What pressure were you running at the back before you put the hifi in?

cuprablue

 

[SteveD]

what make of tyres do you have. The perreli tent to walk on the road when the road has been dug up