Hi everyone,

I've had a problem with the steering on my Octavia for a week or two now. It's been hard to track down what's going wrong, other than "it doesn't feel right".

I noticed on the drive home today that basically it's a bit laggy when it comes to changing lanes on the motorway. There's a largish dead zone around straight-ahead that never use to be there too. If I want to move right, I have to hold the wheel and wait for a short while. Not long, but more than I think I'm used it (isn't it always hard to tell how it used to feel when it was all OK?). Then the car starts to move over.

I've also noticed that sometimes the front end of the car seems to sweep left (or right) slightly, without any change in the angle of the steering wheel. Like understeer, but more sideways than straight on, and without any tyre shudder.

I'm having the dealer take it for a test drive tomorrow, but I wondered if anyone had ever heard of anything like it?

Cheers

J

Sounds like there is a bushing issue there, could well be lower wishbone bushes.

I had the front lower bushes replaced a few months ago when I also had all four dampers done.

Since then I have had some odd clunking noises from the front of the car, and I can 'feel' the road surface much more than I could before. Seems to be transmitting much more vibration up to the steering wheel. Just figured it was the new bushes...

J

I have a 110TDI and it's very vuage around the center of the steering, eg has no effect at all until you turn it a certain amount.

How expensive is this bush to replace?

I paid £8+vat per bush, plus several hours labour to fit (5 hours including all four dampers, which were more like £40 each). Plus I think you'll need the tracking re-done afterwards too.

J

Id say theres a chance one of the bushes has slipped out. If there arent pressed out carefully the arm spreads and the bush is then loose.

Can you see them without the aid of a ramp? If so I'll go have a lookie.

J

Are you talking about the ARB bushes or other bushes?

My car has always done this and has had new ARB bushes put on due to creaking under warrenty.

No the lower wishbone bushes.

Well the dealer had a play with it, and had a look at it up on the ramp. Came back and said there was nothing wrong with it?!

Probably just me imagining things then. I'm not the only one this happens to, right?

J

It might be worth getting the wheel alignment checked having drawn a blank with your dealer.

I've had a second opinion from another mechanic (a relative). Basically, there's a little play in the centre of the steering rack, but nothing that's too suprising given the age of the car. Plus, the top of the off-side front suspension tower seems to move about more than the one on the near-side, when you bounce the car up and down. The car seems to dip down on the off-side when you pull sharp left, more so than in the other direction.

He did say though, that if he'd been given the car to test he'd be hard pushed to fault it. It's not wrong as such, it's just different to how it was.

I'll call the people who changed the dampers/bushes on Tuesday and see what they think.

J

I was told nowt wrong with it mate too, but i might get the wishbone done.

Is the wishbone a DIY or garage job, and if no how much are the parts approximately. Has anyone had experience of the plastic replacements (can't think of the company at the moment) and if so how long lasting/harsh are these things.

Ta

Powerflex.

Not worth it really.

J, strangely enough, mine has something similar. My shocks and springs were all changed about 8 weeks ago. Initially it was a vast improvement, now it does what yours does. The rear skips over bumps and there is no damping there anymore. The front has developed a number of clunks and road "patter" is massively increased. It also goes very vague at times like the chassis isn't actually connected to the wheels.

Disconnected is a very good way of describing what I feel.

Re the powerflex, i was mainly wondering if a powerflex wishbone offered any advantage pricewise or otherwise over a stock one if i have to pay for it.

Makes it harsher.

TaviaRS: That sounds familiar. It really leaves you uncertain about what the car is going to do, doesn't it?

JBS have said they can take a look at it any time next week, so now I've just got to find some time off to go up there.

I hope this isn't one of those 'niggles' that you can't get rid of. The car isn't as much fun anymore :(

J

Yep, hit a bump halfway round a corner and the back steps out, great on a 70 mph sweeper on the motorway Or you turn the wheel and not a lot happens Or the rumble strips on the approach to roundabouts where, when breaking, it causes the ABS to trigger due to the wheels not being in proper contact with the road :grumpy:

How many more do you want?

Dealer just 'phoned and says I have a blown rear offside shock. How that affects the front I have no idea :confused: Oh and the new one won't be here until next week Ah well, only another 1500 miles to drive on shagged shocks

If you get blown sideways by wind you really have to turn steering wheel to get back into your lane on the M/Way and ditto for bumps. The car feels like it is going to break away in fairly wet conditions, and if you get stuck in the lorry tracks you have completely had it. Totally dead in the middle of the wheel :(

cheezemonkhai: Yes! The wind recently has made motorway driving quite tiring, constantly turning the wheel to keep it in a straight line (which the large dead zone doesn't help!).

TaviaRS: presumably if they are all new, they'll replace it under warranty? You'd expect a shock to last more than 8 weeks!

J

Indeed, but they say it's only one that is knackered (OSR). I think that is wrong, but then, what do I know about how my car (or any other for that matter) should handle?

Yes, think I will poke the dealers again, see if i can get them to confirm that it's playing silly buggers on the steering. Thats one thing that really turns me off this car :(

I do notice all of our cars are S/TDI though. Wonder it it is related to the heavier engine.

Could be mileage related too - had similar on my 1.4 16V at about the same mileage - it was where the hub joined the wishbone that was shot - expensive to fix too (approx £280 for just the offside :eek: )

What mileage did yours go at TaviaRS, mines been playing silly buggers for at least the last 25k and am on about 45k now. Dealers ahve said no normal mate though whenever I have said anything.

On the petrol one, about 98k. On this one 110k.

If they say it's normal, see if they have a second hand one with a TDI engine - drive that and see. It should not do what yours does (trust me!)

If there is any difference, complain like hell!