Steering feels hard?

[kineticz]

Well looks like I'm back again with a problem thread. Since this evening the steering on the Leon has felt quite hard. Also for some reason, and I don't know if it's related, but the car seems to slow down easier on its own i.e. more resistance in the wheels than usual rather than a smooth coast. I've checked all tyre pressures and they are normal.


Any clues on this as I'm quite stumped

Thanks guys

 

[kineticz]

Possible that my power steering fluid is low? How can I check this? Thanks

Would any problem with the power steering flag up on VAG COM?

 

[Robb1990]

Take it you've had the tracking done? Power steering level is in a black container i think, green knob type thing with a split in the middle, should be on a dipstick (never checked mine lol) Id be looking at how true that wishbone is after your accident.

 

[kineticz]

Not had the tracking done after the crash as it drove straight with the parts fitted. Maybe because it hasn't been done though the tracking has somehow got worse since driving?

 

[LEE69]

Jack each wheel up and see if it spins freely.

 

[Robb1990]

Yeah id check the wheels spin freely first, then get the tracking done, its silly to waste tyres for the sake of an hour or so and £30 for it done. Then if its still bad, id start looking into the wishbone, if its bent.

 

[LEE69]

Raise the front up and see if the resistance is there then.

 

[kineticz]

Jacked both wheels up and they both spin freely. However, the nearside wheel (where the crash happened) has about 1.5 cm gap between it and the strut, and the drivers side wheel is about a cm closer to the strut? Could this be down to tracking?

 

[LEE69]

No that's camber if anything mate, which can't be adjusted.
Have you had a proper 4 wheel laser alignment done since you crashed it?
I don't mean the type kwik fit does though.

 

[LEE69]

I mean like these guys do
http://www.alignment-services.co.uk/

 

[kineticz]

It's not been laser aligned unfortunately mate. How is that linked to the camber?

 

[LEE69]

It would tell you if the camber was out and by how much.

 

[Robb1990]

what lee said, id get it on a lazer alignment machine, could be the strut thats bent slightly, of if your unlucky the turret where it bolts into the car, could be fairly unlikely though as the mounts are big blocks of rubber.

Try getting someone to sit in the car at idle and turn the steering, listen above the turret for a grinding noise, im thinking the bearing may of collapsed? makes sense, but im not sure if it'd send out your camber by so much.

 

[kineticz]

Something that's weird is the car seems to pick up faster now! :|

Anyway, I'll get my mate to turn the wheel Rob and I can listen for grinding. Will try to find a local place that does laser alignment too!

Thanks lads

 

[kineticz]

Ok there's no grinding when the wheels are turned.

I'm quite worried now as the offending drivers side seems to be very very close to rubbing the strut

Shame because I went to a car meet this weekend and got lots of good comments about the car, and only I knew the wheel is out of line

Going to take the wheel off again this weekend and check all the suspension components are tightly fitted.

Could any specific part of the suspension cause this please? Something that has somehow worked it's way loose or whatever, as for weeks the suspension on the drivers side was fine, until last Thursday Also could an alloy just buckle itself randomly without impact :\ I'm going to swap a rear one onto the front and check the gap then

 

[LEE69]

I thought this problem was on the side you hit the kerb with, but it's not.

Are you sure the gap wasn't that small (to the strut) when the 19's were put on originally, and the passenger side is still wrong somehow?
I'm guessing they are no rubbing marks on the tyre from the strut?

 

[kineticz]

I thought this problem was on the side you hit the kerb with, but it's not.

Are you sure the gap wasn't that small (to the strut) when the 19's were put on originally, and the passenger side is still wrong somehow?
I'm guessing they are no rubbing marks on the tyre from the strut?

I am positive the gap wasn't this small mate, it's very very close to the strut, and I think when I turn the wheel, it sometimes rubs against the strut.

This drivers side has been repaired before too. It had a new wishbone fitted. We are thinking, because the wheels are so big, that the wishbone used (a pattern part) has struggled to withstand the pressure from the 19 and so bent abit as a result?

 

[LEE69]

Never heard of wishbones bending when using 19's, I'm sure a bearing would give up before then tbh.

You will get a movement from the tyre so I'd have said that is what's happening, just them being so close in the first place isn't "healthy" to begin with.

 

[kineticz]

So you think the offset of my wheels are too big for the car and this has caused a movement in the wheel towards the strut?

If the bearing went I would hear a horrible sound when driving wouldn't I

 

[LEE69]

Not sure tbh you'd need to compare sizes and ET with others.

Yeah you'd be hearing the bearing gone.