tegwin
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| posted on 21/10/06 at 08:57 PM |
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Tintop front end issues
Ok..Im having some issues with my totaly standard 1995 1.6 Polo Gl.... It has power steering....
The symptoms are as follows..
At speed (above 80[on a closed road  ]...) the steering seems vague and it feels like I am being blown about by wind gusting from all
directions...Really takes effort to keep in a straight line...
At low speeds (below 30) the steering is quite heavy and springs back to centre a lot harder than I would expect...
Going around any corner when slightly damp...or even dry for that matter causes severe understeer if im giving it some beans...not a silly amount!
(there are not that many available in the damn thing!)
The front left hand wheel is wearing very quickly on the inside edge and is almost bald on the first 2 inches...
The suspension feels fine, nice and firm and the dampers seem to work....
I am just waiting to loose a wheel or loose control...
I did have the tracking measured and its 4mm out....but they cant adjust it because the track rod ends are stuck solid and no amount of heat will
change that!!!!
They were also thinking that the camber might be out because its only un-balanced on one wheel....
I was also suspecting buggered suspension bushes or something...
Anyone have any ideas of what I can do to find the issue and solve it...The thing scares the crap outa me going round corners...
Sorry about the long winded thing above.....
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 21/10/06 at 09:25 PM |
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Sounds like you might have too much toe-out, this will cause tyre wear and instability. You will need to get the track rod ends loosened off to
adjust this though.
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tegwin
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| posted on 21/10/06 at 09:28 PM |
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Oh, got another symptom..
At low speeds turning the steering wheel either way causes a slight "click" which can be felt though the steerring wheel...Didnt think
much of it but could it be a failed track rod end?
How does one loosen up a solidly stuck track rod end...the nut that holds it inplace seems to have become one with the track rod arm and is damn
rusty...
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zilspeed
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| posted on 21/10/06 at 09:31 PM |
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You need to get the car up off the front wheels and get a good long jemmy / pry bar in about the front end bushes to look for knackered bushes as well
by the sound of it. On an older car, renewing knackered front end parts can make it feel ten years younger.
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Mark Allanson
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| posted on 21/10/06 at 09:42 PM |
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The front subframes on these are bolted in using stretch bolts, the torques on these are are a crazy figure, like 350 ft lb or more - I cannot remeber
exactly.
If it has come loose, you will get the symtoms you describe but also a pull to the left (or right) on accelleration and a pull to the rifgt (or left)
on decelleration.
You fault does sound like a duff LH lower balljoint though with the tyre feathering on one side only
If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation
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tegwin
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| posted on 21/10/06 at 10:15 PM |
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Hmmm...
Maybe its worth just renweing everything up front...Bushes and ball joints...Atleast then it might feel safer...
But how do you get those damn rusty track rod ends off?!?!?!?!?!
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mookaloid
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| posted on 21/10/06 at 11:03 PM |
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Never come across a nut or track rod end that wouldn't shift after being heated to a nice orange colour with Oxy acetelene
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Danozeman
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| posted on 22/10/06 at 11:39 AM |
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Sounds like tracking and a worn bush/ball joint to me.
As said above some abuse with an oxy acetaline and a hammer with free that tre off. Just try not to get the track rod itself to red.
Is the inner balls of the rack worn? Tyre pressures?
Dan
Built the purple peril!! Let the modifications begin!!
http://www.eastangliankitcars.co.uk
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Mark Allanson
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| posted on 22/10/06 at 11:44 AM |
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If it was anything to do with the rack, wouldn't both tyres wear?
If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation
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jollygreengiant
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| posted on 22/10/06 at 12:13 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by mookaloid
Never come across a nut or track rod end that wouldn't shift after being heated to a nice orange colour with Oxy acetelene
MOT testers love this..............Because its reason to fail. "A steering component has been subject to excessive heat."
Enjoy.
If I remember the wording correctly.
If its that badly seized ............. Replace it/them. That way you KNOW its right.
Beware of the Goldfish in the tulip mines. The ONLY defence against them is smoking peanut butter sandwiches.
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 22/10/06 at 01:17 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by jollygreengiant
If I remember the wording correctly.
If its that badly seized ............. Replace it/them. That way you KNOW its right.
You have to be able to remove the old one to replace it...
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tegwin
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| posted on 22/10/06 at 03:14 PM |
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Hmm... Looks like its going to be going into a garage at some point then...I dont have a blow torch hot enough :-(
Is it possible to replace the track rods on the steering rack quite easily or would I have to get the rack out for that?
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t.j.
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| posted on 22/10/06 at 05:00 PM |
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If it is one side of the car it can't be only toe.
Check the rear bushes and maybe a bent strut. (to much camber)
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jollygreengiant
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| posted on 23/10/06 at 03:58 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by MikeRJ
quote:
Originally posted by jollygreengiant
If I remember the wording correctly.
If its that badly seized ............. Replace it/them. That way you KNOW its right.
You have to be able to remove the old one to replace it...
IIRC steering rods unbolt from the rack.
BICBW
Beware of the Goldfish in the tulip mines. The ONLY defence against them is smoking peanut butter sandwiches.
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