Hey everyone,

 

Looking for some help, I’ve got a 2009 octy vrs petrol. The steering is really really vague. Like it’s not connected to the wheels. I’ve not drove a octy before and thought it was just how the steering is and basically thought it’s crap. But the more I drive it on dual carriageways and back roads the worst it is. The front end feels incredibly floaty at speed and extremely twitchy, it’s felt like it’s going to spit me out on the motorway a few times. It will follow cambers without warning and wants to to send me into a ditch. Some roads it’s not really noticeable and other roads it just does it without warning. It gets worst with speed and uneven surfaces, include/decline bends etc. I’ve done some looking up and it seems it’s sounds like people have had it on the golf’s a fair bit with some people never having it to others not being able to fix it. People have tried alignment, tie rods, subframe bolts, arb, bushes, power steering reset, steering rack etc etc without no luck. I’ve not seen one thread where someone has said they’ve managed to fix it, it’s always the same progression of a garage not finding anything wrong to alignment suggestion, tie rods etc etc.

 

I read one thread where someone said they tramline badly and will follow cambers without warning and it’s just how it is.

 

It’s had several pairs of different tyres to try to correct this problem and several different tyre pressures. I’m reluctant to try anything else yet after reading people with the same symptoms trying what I would without any luck.

 

anyone else experienced this and managed to sort it?

Have you had a good mechanic look at your front and rear suspension?

 

Sounds like its worn shockers plus worn bushes/joints. Maybe bolts are missing or sheared.

 

You can't fix things like this simply by reading the internet.

Have you had a full alingment done? Most people seem to recomend the Hunter sysrem, must say it made a massive difference when i had mine done,

 

https://www.alignmycar.co.uk

Hi,

 

Thanks for the replies. I appreciate it’s not something that can be diagnosed over the Internet and I plan to get it looked at but I thought after reading people with the same symptoms having no luck fixing the issue when they’ve thrown money at the likely suspects, it was worthwhile asking if anyone else has had similar symptoms and managed to fix it. Might give me a better idea if there’s a certain part etc that’s known to cause this on octy’s/golf’s etc.

 

If anyone has had similar symptoms and managed to sort it I’d love to hear from you.

Have you had the console bushes inspected as its a common weakness

+1 for console bushes, a lot of people replace them with HD ones like this,

 

https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Meyle-HD-Console-Wishbone-Bush-for-VW-Polo-Mk5-Golf-SEAT-Ibiza-Fabia-1K0407183E/400887807082?epid=1787467562&hash=item5d56c67c6a:g:ZEcAAOSwFMZWsya2

 

Or you can buy them in the housing if you don't have a press

Thanks guys I will look into them 

tramlining is usually tyres. tyre pressures or alignment. 

 

You don't actually say what pressures, brand of tyres, condition of tyres or even size you are running but assuming the tyres have been good quality and the pressures around 34-38psi then it's likely to be alignment.  Generally, tramlining is usually because the toe has been set up parallel.

 

As others have said, you need to get back to basics, so a full check of bushes and the suspension components (the console bush is a shocker) is in order too.

If there is some sort of issue with the rear suspension tracking it could induce rear end steering.

Although I may be echoing what others have said here already, my Octavia has had questionable steering so check the following like I did...

 

1. Check tyre pressures. Fill tyres accordingly to the load of the car as Skoda recommends. When I had the Goodyear AS3s on the front of my Octavia, the steering was woeful when just a couple of PSI below the recommended PSI. Other tyres which I've driven on have not exhibited this problem so definitely worth checking & trying different PSI just above or below the recommended pressure. 

2. What tyre brands are you using? I had budget tyres all round when I bought the car & they were terrible even though they were nowhere near the tread depth limit nor any signs of uneven wear. Tramlining, increased torque steer, very vague steering feel are some of the symptoms when you go for something cheap. From my experience I recommend Michelins which I have fitted on the front & are a big improvement. I hear Continentals are similar but I have never tried them myself.

3. Go to a garage that only does wheel alignments & uses Hunter equipment. Also have the tracking checked too.

4. If none of the above work, then as others said check the suspension & components.

 

In my view, the problem with the Octavia VRS is that it uses sub-standard parts for what should be a sporty-ish handling car. Doing mods on them might be the way to go in order to improve the ride + handling. 

 

I hope you get this solved very soon.