Hi

 

recently had new parts fitted 1.6 tdi diesel 

 

new Lower arms incl bushes (febi)

 

New Tie rods & ends (lemforder)

 

new Drop links (lemforder)

 

new arbs (febi)

 

 

Before it drove show room perfect weighted steering it was just the rattles over bumps/pot holes 

 

now the steering is super heavy 

 

had it hunter aligned still super heavy steering 

 

Any ideas? 

 

 

 

Tyres the same? Pressures set OK? If so then there may be a setting down in 44 - Steering Assist in VCDS to alter the amount of assistance. ISTR doing this 7/8 years ago because of complaints the steering was too light. I was unconvinced the feel had changed but herself was happy. YMMV.

1 hour ago, inspectorman said:

Tyres the same? Pressures set OK? If so then there may be a setting down in 44 - Steering Assist in VCDS to alter the amount of assistance. ISTR doing this 7/8 years ago because of complaints the steering was too light. I was unconvinced the feel had changed but herself was happy. YMMV.

also fitted new lemfoder ball joints

 

tyres exactly same 

 

whether there was enough correct pre-load i’m not sure as the mechanic used a post lifter 

 

the camber is out on the hunter alignment

 

i’ve just found a different better alignment garage to visit for another tracking that will adjust

the pinch bolts if required 

 

Other than that i’ll have to check the VCDS 

 

kinder putting me off purchasing New premium tyres if this is the Quality of replacement Parts on offer in 2025

 

the lemforder kit from Autodoc

Also seems they use the cheaper black tie rods than the silver in this package 

 

funnily enough they also sent 1 cheaper skf rod assembly that i had to source another matching from ebay 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 24 February, 20251 yr by Skodacrazy

Surely this alignment should be all green regarding caster & camber even tho its not adjustable? 
 

Does anyone have a recent printout to compare? 

Camber can often be equalised, rather than individually adjusted, by moving the whole subframe relative to the body. A delicate process if you don't want to have to iterate too many times though, I think.

The caster is odd though, any chance the ball joints are handed, and fitted to the wrong sides?

 

Edited 24 February, 20251 yr by Breezy_Pete

12 minutes ago, Breezy_Pete said:

Camber can often be equalised, rather than individually adjusted, by moving the whole subframe relative to the body. A delicate process if you don't want to have to iterate too many times though, I think.

The caster is odd though, any chance the ball joints are handed, and fitted to the wrong sides?

 

 

i’ll take another look but taking an acrobatic approach last night for a photo seemed they have arrows indicating they are correctly installed 

 

Going to have to remove a wheel to investigate further

Yeah, they probably don't fit the hole pattern if they're on the wrong sides, But worth a quick double-check, I think.

This suggests maybe it is possible to misfit. This is a left one, 

2 hours ago, Breezy_Pete said:

Yeah, they probably don't fit the hole pattern if they're on the wrong sides, But worth a quick double-check, I think.

 

Thanks 

On 24/02/2025 at 15:28, Breezy_Pete said:

Yeah, they probably don't fit the hole pattern if they're on the wrong sides, But worth a quick double-check, I think.

 

The mechanic who completed the work  stated the inner tie boots where difficult to install 

 

Surely the rubber boot cannot cause this?

 

its now like there’s no hard stop on full lock, just feels Rubbery/ elasticity 

 

 

 

 

Is the steering any heavier at a standstill or only when driving?

 

If the latter then I think you have missed the significance of these two very incisive comments:

 

On 24/02/2025 at 16:11, Breezy_Pete said:

The caster is odd though, any chance the ball joints are handed, and fitted to the wrong sides?

 

On 24/02/2025 at 16:31, Breezy_Pete said:

his suggests maybe it is possible to misfit. This is a left one, 

 

Does anyone know what the correct castor setting should be?

Yes the steering is heavier both driving & standstill 

 

The parts seem to be fitted correctly 

the inner tie rod boots where tight to install not sure that could effect anything 

 

Maybe it requires re-learning in VCDS

 

 

I think you are still missing the significance of the above, or to put it another way the link between castor angle, steering effort and the offset on the handed lower ball joints visible in the photo.

8 minutes ago, J.R. said:

I think you are still missing the significance of the above, or to put it another way the link between castor angle, steering effort and the offset on the handed lower ball joints visible in the photo.

haha i understand the significance 

 

anyway to re-learn the steering angle without software? 

 

I cannot help you any further.

13 hours ago, Skodacrazy said:

haha i understand the significance 

Did I understand correctly that you have changed the lower arm balljoints? That's what I understood from your statement below

 

On 24/02/2025 at 14:21, Skodacrazy said:

also fitted new lemfoder ball joints

 

 

Not sure because just yesterday you quoted me but then showed a photo of the track rod end, not the lower arm balljoint?

 

Did you change these:

 

 

or not?

 

 

28 minutes ago, Breezy_Pete said:

Did I understand correctly that you have changed the lower arm balljoints? That's what I understood from your statement below

 

 

 

Not sure because just yesterday you quoted me but then showed a photo of the track rod end, not the lower arm balljoint?

 

Did you change these:

 

 

or not?

 

 

 

Yes new ball joints

 

I’m looking for someone local to Sheffield to get it on VCDS to re-learn the steering angle and Assist 

 

 

 

 

 

21 minutes ago, Skodacrazy said:

 

Yes new ball joints

 

I’m looking for someone local to Sheffield to get it on VCDS to re-learn the steering angle and Assist 

 

 

 

 

 

And have you checked that they are on the correct sides of the car, since I posted that photo showing how it looks like they might be possible to fit on the wrong sides? 

A photo from below with a phone camera at arms length might be enough to see.

 

 

You are a better man than me Pete.

I think Pete's on the right trail with this. 

 

If not:

 

Does it feel the same with the car jacked up so there's no weight on the front wheels or suspension?

Ideally, followed by the same check with the car supported on axle stands under the lower arms, close to the ball joints?

 

Other suspicion, but not as likely as Pete's is the topmounts have been undone, refitted and the bearings haven't survived it. 

Edited 26 February, 20251 yr by StevesTruck

2 hours ago, Breezy_Pete said:

And have you checked that they are on the correct sides of the car, since I posted that photo showing how it looks like they might be possible to fit on the wrong sides? 

A photo from below with a phone camera at arms length might be enough to see.

 

 

 

Off-side ball joint if you squint really close the arrow points in the correct direction 

1 hour ago, StevesTruck said:

I think Pete's on the right trail with this. 

 

If not:

 

Does it feel the same with the car jacked up so there's no weight on the front wheels or suspension?

Ideally, followed by the same check with the car supported on axle stands under the lower arms, close to the ball joints?

 

Other suspicion, but not as likely as Pete's is the topmounts have been undone, refitted and the bearings haven't survived it. 

 

Going to try this when i have spare time friday

 

that said the mech didn’t initiate a re-learn to the steering angle as his autel diag couldn’t connect without a code? 
 

It’s drivable just a bit tiresome

 

I’m guessing if the steering rack is moved to install inner ties while the engine is off it could effect the existing  values, idk 

 

I found this regarding toe/caster/camber values 

 

 

 

If you can't feel the hard stop at the end of the racks travel, I'd say it's not a software issue but something physically affecting the movement. 

On 25/02/2025 at 16:55, Skodacrazy said:

 

The mechanic who completed the work  stated the inner tie boots where difficult to install 

 

Surely the rubber boot cannot cause this?

 

its now like there’s no hard stop on full lock, just feels Rubbery/ elasticity 

 

 

 

 

Stupid? question. Are the outer rod ends installed upside down? Look at the compression of the rubbers.

5 hours ago, Paws4Thot said:

Stupid? question. Are the outer rod ends installed upside down? Look at the compression of the rubbers.

 

Or, are some of the parts not correct equivalent parts to the VW Group factory originals, I was going to check the length of thread showing above the TRE ball pin on my wife's 2015 Polo as I thought that in that picture it was a bit excessive, which made me wonder if the taper was different to the original TRE.  Really same thoughts about track rod lengths.

 

Edit:- questions like this is probably why proper mechanics will only ever fit parts they have supplied.

Edited 27 February, 20251 yr by rum4mo