Steering pull

[Markey]

My steering is pulling quite badly to the left the tracking has been checked twice by tow different people after the new tyres, and they are saying that it is fine. At top speed it wobbles a lot as well even though it has brand new balanced tyres fitted a couple of months back is this a sign of the steering rack on the way out.

It is a 318IS 158k H reg

Thanks for any help

[cliffybabe]

what wheels u running??? Whats there spec??

[Markey]

It is a standard spec, it has the 14" BBS wheels it sits quite low has yellow shocks and rusty red springs not sre if they are stanard etc.

[cliffybabe]

OK thought they may be aftermarket rims, Yellow shocks and red srings aint gonna be standard suspension setup

So it no longer pulls but now wobbles what tyres u using, what rating are they?

[Markey]

They are Falcon Tyres not sure on the rating i will have to have a look but i am sure they are good enough for 130 mph

[jamesc]

I have this same problem on my 325. Pulling to the left and vibration at 80+. New tyres fitted and new suspension, fitted new front bushes, lower arms and track rod ends, had the tracking done - no effect.

I'm currently fitting all new rear bushes, and prop centre bearing to see if this helps.

I'd be interested to know if you find out whats happening!

Cheers, James

[Chris-W]

have you checked your steering coupling?

[Markey]

No have no idea where it is either, i was thinking that could it be a slightly bent drive shaft or the big one down the middle being slightly bent ?

[E30Mark]

swap the front tyres from side to side, assuming they are not directional, see if it pulls the other way... my girlfriends Citroen does this, one of the new tyres that was fitted to it has a fault and makes it drag in one direction, but the tyre fitters will not believe me!

Measure the height of the car, compare both sides with each other to make sure the car is level...

[Markey]

Will be doing all this tomorrow thanks for the help people

[jonbuoy]

"Jamesc" - Could be steering cup link mate

"Markey" - Change you lower arm's and bushes as James has, this maybe your problem


Wobbling through steering can also be caused by;

1. Ball joint's
2. Bearing's
3. Track rod end's
4. Out of shape tyre's
5. Buckled/Out of Line wheel's


If you are getting the vibration through the car also then change your rear tyre's as this is mainly caused by out of shape tyre's.


HTH

[Markey]

Will do i also have a lot of wobble so i think ill change the lot

[jamesc]

I think I've found out what my problem is (at least the steering pull). It seems the left lower arm has pulled back out of the 'lollipop' about 10mm! It was fully inserted when I fitted it to the car!

[Markey]

Do you have a pic of this so i know what to look for on my car as it could poss be the same problem maybe

[jamesc]

Here you go, you can just see the gap - the photo is taken from behind the pass side front wheel.



James

[Markey]

Has it made a difference ?

[jamesc]

Havent had a chance to fix it yet, my car has no rear subframe at the moment

[Dan318-is]

have you checked your steering coupling?

This is my next port of call. iv had tracking, new shocks, springs, tyres, control arm bushes, wishbones with tested ball joints and tracking reset.

my steering guibo is next on the agenda, after that its either wheel bearings or track rod ends themselves then im out of ideas!

[Markey]

I have still not yet had time to check either.

I have also noticed now at highish speeds holding the streering wheel straight the wheels feel as if they are steering on their own.