Just got a 2005 Fiesta for a run about from my daughter and while using it noticed it is unstable once you get over 50 ish. There is no steering shake but it feels like it wants to wander all over the place and gets worse on rougher roads. Had a quick look at steering joints, springs and dampers that all seem OK is there anything they are bad for failing that may cause this?

Tyre pressures? My Fiat is very sensitive to them and I need to check them regularly, particularly when the weather changes temp significantly.

[Edited on 23/1/17 by Ugg10]

Bent rear tie arm would do that.

Tracking? Also many FWD hatches are prone to the rear joint on the lower arm failing as there's a lot of strain/leverage on it. I was surprised how early the wifes new Seat Ibiza failed on this joint.

rear beam bushes, prone to failure.

bushes and wheel alignment (all 4 wheels) would be on my list

I drove a Mk3 fiesta with a slightly bent rear beam for a bit and that gave it some very 'interesting' handling



but if not that then tyres - even if they look ok are they all matched / reasonable quality / evenly worn on each side ?

My current car wondered all over the place at first with 2 different brands front tyres at slightly different tread depths, so I swapped them with the pair of new avons that were on the back which made it alot better but still not great. Then I swapped them for decent pair of new goodyears and it completly transformed the car

The new shape fiesta has an electric steering system, has it ever been changed? The steering is tuned to the model of the car so could be tuned incorrectly if it's been changed.

Jason

Thanks for the replies will check the rear beam bushes, after driving today it does feel like the rear that is moving around. Tracking, tyres and pressures are all ok.

Does it have enough toe in/out? Would think at high speed you might get drag pulling the toe to parallel, allowing it to be a bit more wandery.

My new tyres on my Z have gone from no wander at all to really tramlining. Same size, different make - could be a combination of things.

Follow up on this got it up on a lift today and the only thing we could see is a bad oil leak from the NS of the rack. Turns out just before I got it from my daughter she hit a huge pothole and took out the wheel on that corner. So need to get a rack for it, checked the rear beam bushes and they aren't to bad may replace them as a precaution.

Thanks for all the pointers chaps.

The steering rack sounds the culprit, but as suggested I'd also look at all rubber bushes.

From experience they can look OK, but in reality be perished and allowing more movement than there should be. Front inner wishbone bushes get a hard life and if worn could cause the issue you describe. They're usually not expensive or that hard to replace either.

If the rack has been hit hard enough to cause problems I would have a good look at the lower wishbone that side , probably worth checking the wheel base either side with the steering straight ahead.