Hi, new to the forums and have been unable to find the answer to my problem. I am no whizz when it comes to cars but know a bit.

Bought a Fabia 1.9Sdi on a W plate in Jan '09, about 95k on the clock and I have had a few issues with it. The engine is top notch and the only fault other than the steering is the rear windscreen water jet doesn't work.

However, when it comes to the steering there have been a few issues. Firstly, the steering went sloppy and it turned out the bushes on the front wishbones had disintergrated- subsequentially I had them changed. This cured the problem for a month, but I now have a rubbing noise coming from the N/S front tyre when I break and take a left. I also have found that there seems to be a sloppyiness about the steering when going in a straight line. There seems to be about 10 deg movement on the wheel where nothing happens. Also overtime, when driving in a straight line, the positioning of the wheel seems to have gradually moved to the right, i.e. 'middle' isn't when the wheel is straight anymore, it's about 5 deg to the right.

I was owndering if anyone else has experienced this and if anyone has any suggestions of what the problem could be...

Wheel bearings ?

Check everything holding the front wheels on!

Tracking? Wheel bearings as mentioned (but likely you would hear these if worn). Lower balljoints. Wishbone bushes (not unknown for these to be wrongly fitted). Track rod ends and steering rack/mountings. Are front tyres of same size/tread pattern correctly inflated?

Search other threads to see how to repair you rear washer - common fault.

Wishbone bushes (not unknown for these to be wrongly fitted).

Hmmmm... What does this actually cause?

Hmmmm... What does this actually cause?

If they are fitted in the console at the wrong angle, the rear mount will be under a constant twisting force which can deform the bush, particularly if its a 'soft' voided one?

See how much steering wheel free play there is while car standing still, if it's still there, probably steering rack, or track rod ends.

Jack car up at front and support with axle stands. Grab road wheel at top and bottom and try to rock it. If there is any play, check wheel bearings, consule bushes (rear of wishbone) and wishbone ball joints.

Check the front anti-roll bar hasn't come loose and is rubbing on full lock or suspension compression. It's only held on with a nut and they quite commonly come adrift after anyone has messed with the steering or suspension.

My rear washwipe water jet stopped working and it was only when I was servicing it under bonnet I noticed a pipe had come off near to the bulkhead.

I stuck a cable tie around it to stop it coming off again!