Hi,

I've never been really happy with the feel of the steering on my PD130, certainly compared with the wife's Octavia estate that we used to have. The steering has always felt sloppy and vague. At about 75-80 it feels a bit like a shopping trolley. I daren't go any faster.

A while ago I noticed that there was less movement from the steering wheel with the rake adjusted right to the top of the range of movement, and locked there. Last week, I pushed the steering wheel all the way back on the reach adjustment too, and this has also made a big difference.

ARBs were changed about 18 months ago, and are still fine. I had the car up on a ramp the other week and there are no obvious faults with the bushes or track rod ends.

Is there any "form" for the steering column spline contributing to this sort of thing? Or am I looking at a new rack?? :-(

Thanks,

Martin

Not that I know of, and I'm one of these people who doesn't use the brakes because all they ever do is slow you down!

Get a proper 4 wheel alignment done, my superb felt wooly so I took it to a 4WA specialist and now the car feels perfect. Dont just go to kwik fit or simillar and get the tracking done, as it may not be sufficient to solve your problem. A 4WA will also highlight any issues with worn bushes or other suspension issues that will cause wooly handling.

Rear bushes in the front wishbones are probably torn or worn.

I had the same syptoms as you described when both my bushes tore through. Replaced them and the car became nice and tight again.

Easy to inspect with both the front wheels off.

Rear bushes in the front wishbones are probably torn or worn.

I had the same syptoms as you described when both my bushes tore through. Replaced them and the car became nice and tight again.

Easy to inspect with both the front wheels off.

Thanks guys, will get it up on the ramp and take another look.

There is definitely more movement in the steering wheel when the reach is extended. The Haynes manual does say something about keeping the two parts of the spline together if removing it, or rattles will occur?

Do you have to replace the whole wishbone or can the bushes be replaced?

Thanks,

Martin

Sounds exactly like mine tbh.

Never found the problem out despite changing most of the parts in that area incliding two steering racks, my ns wheel feels loose sometimes as well, it ain't fallen of yet though lol.

I had the colum changed under warranty years ago, it was done by the dealer when the car was being serviced, before I ever noticed a problem,

My 225 quick rack seemed too reduce the problem with the steering rake right up and all the way in, but that exploded a few weeks back and I'm now back on my recon rack which makes the steering feel rough again.

I give up !!!!

Sounds exactly like mine tbh.

Never found the problem out despite changing most of the parts in that area incliding two steering racks, my ns wheel feels loose sometimes as well, it ain't fallen of yet though lol.

I had the colum changed under warranty years ago, it was done by the dealer when the car was being serviced, before I ever noticed a problem,

My 225 quick rack seemed too reduce the problem with the steering rake right up and all the way in, but that exploded a few weeks back and I'm now back on my recon rack which makes the steering feel rough again.

I give up !!!!

The only time I've felt anything remotely like it was when (at the tender age of 20) I did a road test on my Orion, having just changed brake pads. It felt really wobbly and horrible, then I realised to my horrow that I'd only done the wheels up finger tight while the car was in the air! I'd forgotten to tighten them back up with the car on the ground!

The only time I've felt anything remotely like it was when (at the tender age of 20) I did a road test on my Orion, having just changed brake pads. It felt really wobbly and horrible, then I realised to my horrow that I'd only done the wheels up finger tight while the car was in the air! I'd forgotten to tighten them back up with the car on the ground!

I have a feeling that this might have something to do with an iffy wheel. I had a puncture on the way home last night and with the spare on this morning, the wooliness has been replaced by a vibration in the steering wheel at 75-80. The odd thing is that the puncture was in one of the rear wheels! There is also a sound like something rattling, or it could be wind noise from the drivers door. It's really starting to get on my tits that I can't pinpoint it or even make my mind up what the symptoms are!

How much movement do you all get in your steering wheels? With the reach fully extended (i.e. towards the driver) and even with the lock on, I can get about 3-4 mm up and down. With the lock off, there's a good 4mm up and down as well as left and right.

With the adjustment lock in place, should the steering wheel be rigid? Or is some movement to be expected?

Thanks,

Martin