Good Evening

For the past two months, I have had an issue with my Fabia where if you hit potholes or really rough patches of road surface on the nearside, it will kick the steering to the right. The car also feels very rattly when hitting them too, like the vibrations are not being dampened by these rough patches of road. It does not suffer this on the offside.

I've taken it to the garage twice now and both times they have said there is nothing wrong, but its very clear there is an issue. I've replaced ARB bushes, inner tie rods and track rod ends on the recommendation from the garage that it could be those, but it hasn't resolved the issue. This time last year it had shock, springs and top mounts, so I would be surprised if they are going again, however that doesn't necessarily rule them out.

One other thing of note, although its done this throughout all the time we have owned it, is the steering creaks when you dry steer or turn slowly to the left. It doesn't do it when turning to the right.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Tracking checked ? Console Bushes can have a big effect on handling , I know the handling of my VRS feels a little vague at high speed so suspect a tie rod or bush that needs replacing.

Maybe time to retire my VRS from general runabout duty as lots of issues now occuring ....

1 hour ago, cello said:

Tracking checked ? Console Bushes can have a big effect on handling , I know the handling of my VRS feels a little vague at high speed so suspect a tie rod or bush that needs replacing.

Maybe time to retire my VRS from general runabout duty as lots of issues now occuring ....

Tracking was done at the same time I did the ARB Bushes and the Tie/Track Rods only 2 weeks ago, made no difference unfortunately.

I haven't done the console bushes as I was told they didn't need doing, however I don't fully trust my mechanics word.....

Have a close look at the front struts/springs and top mounts. The creaking sound when steering could be a failed top mount bearing? Had an old van that used to jump to the left and stay there as the top mount was worn/seizing it only did it when turning left.

Alasdair

2 hours ago, Alasdair1 said:

Have a close look at the front struts/springs and top mounts. The creaking sound when steering could be a failed top mount bearing? Had an old van that used to jump to the left and stay there as the top mount was worn/seizing it only did it when turning left.

Alasdair

So I was thinking this, but I had all of these replaced in April 24 and the car has only covered just under 10000 miles since. Can they really fail that quickly?

Visually they look okay. I think I need someone to give me a hand checking then, one to steer and one to listen.

If the struts and top mounts were replaced 10k ago I doubt it would be them.(sorry missed that in the original post May be the bushes in the front wishbone. They are prone to failing but would have thought a garage would have noticed. Could it be a steering rack sensor/problem? If its a dodgy connection broken wires or failing sensor it might be affected by the bumps on the road. Not sure how to test sensor and rack but maybe someone on here can advise.

Long shot and sounds daft but try swapping front wheels left to right or if the tyres are directional front to rear. It might be a tyre related probem.

Edited 30 March, 20251 yr by Alasdair1
Meant wheels not tyres.