Steering problem?

[Hairyarse]

I'm not sure if I have a steering issue or I'm simply not used to the 944 yet? When driving up the A1 last night, whilst holding the wheel straight the front of the car tends to tram-line and wander about a bit with the change of the road surface, just to the level that you're permanently "˜twitching' with the steering wheel all the time. Also for example when you pull back in to the inside lane after overtaking something, you're steering and moving to the left but the car may suddenly go straight or to the right a little, again I think due to the road surface. I guessed my tyres may have been over inflated when I picked the car up but it's the opposite, they were lacking a lot of air! I've pumped them up and gone for a spin and it's made no difference. I can't see anything wrong with the car as such, when parked up if you move the steering wheel the wheels turn instantly, there's no slop. Only 8k miles ago it had a full alignment check, tracking done, new shock absorbers, new tie rod and missing washers installed to front anti-roll bar. Also 24k miles ago it had a new steering shaft and rear suspension mounts so it seems all should be in order with the car. My BMW 330d has very sensitive steering and the run flats tend to tram-line a bit but I'm used to this now. Therefore, it's not like I'm used to driving something that's too "˜podgy' but this is just unexpected I suppose. Sorry for the long essay, but has anyone got any thoughts? Is this how 944's are or does something not sound right? All handling otherwise seems good. All comments appreciated Cheers Andy

 

[Neil Haughey]

This has always been the bane of these cars, even the tiniest amount of movement 'might' cause this problem. I had it many years ago on my S2 but with all new bushes, shocks, joints etc (such as checking the wheel bearings for excess play) and Toyo tyres I never had a problem for several years however this may have been helped by running a couple of degrees camber, 3 degrees castor and 0 toe. I did find that lots of toe caused various steering niggles that I didn't like. Now on the 968 I have a similar problem in that whilst everything seems tight it has a small amount of tramlining that is annoying me because for the past year or so that car drove like a missile over almost any surface. If the weather is OK at the weekend I will be checking each front wheel bearing.

 

[zcacogp]

Andy,

Sounds like a classical problem that is solved by installing the 968 castor mounts, or changing the tyres (or both).

What castor mounts do you have?


Oli.

 

[graham.webb]

Mine wandered badly when I first had it...checked over at its MoT service and they found the rubber coupling on the steering column was shot. Quite a common problem, apparently, as it sits next to the exhaust and the heat degrades the rubber in time. Much better with a new one fitted, and better still with some new bushes here and there and a recon steering rack! Even if yours was done 24k miles ago, it's worth checking as it's a straightforward fix.

The other wise comments on here are spot on too...the cars are said to be sensitive to geometry/set up. Haven't had mine done yet as it's driveable now and I've been spending money on belts & chain/bodywork & sills etc etc!

 

[Lowtimer]

Andy

Mine doesn't do that and I don't think yours should either.

I stress that I know nothing about this history of this individual car and am not attempting to malign anyone but the phrase "Only 8k miles ago it had a full alignment check, tracking done..." could cover a wide variety of possibilities, some good, some not so. Without knowing what it is actually set to, and with what degree of accuracy, the suspension geometry would be my first port of call. Also of course it could easily have been thumped out by a pothole or something since it was done.

Obviously I would also have a really good look at all the bushes and links to make sure nothing has broken. It could be that you have a broken front ARB droplink: that would tend to make it darty and twitchy at the front.

To add to Oli's point, the 968 castor mounts are an easy and quick upgrade and don't really count as a modification because they are what the factory now supplies as replacement parts for a 944 in any case.

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: Lowtimer
To add to Oli's point, the 968 castor mounts are an easy and quick upgrade and don't really count as a modification because they are what the factory now supplies as replacement parts for a 944 in any case.

Yes, but to also add to my earlier point they are an upgrade; if something else is worn or broken then fitting 968 castor mounts won't solve the problem. They may mask it, but won't solve it.

Try and find the problem, and once it is solved then consider fitting the 968 CM's.


Oli.

 

[Lowtimer]

And to build on Oli's build on my build
... the CMs are cheap to buy , easy and quick to fit, but require a geo setup...so in my opinion, if you are doing anything *else* that may require a geo setup, then I would change the CM's under teh "while you are in there" clause, if they are not recent (which they won;t be if they are not the 968 type).

 

[Hilux]

Only 8k miles ago it had a full alignment check, tracking done, new shock absorbers, new tie rod and missing washers installed to front anti-roll bar.

Your symptoms sound like toe out to me. To change shocks and tie rod will misalign the geometry. Was it a proper laser alignment or one of the cr*ppy bolt on jobbies with gauges?

 

[peanut]

ORIGINAL: Hairyarse

I'm not sure if I have a steering issue or I'm simply not used to the 944 yet? When driving up the A1 last night, whilst holding the wheel straight the front of the car tends to tram-line and wander about a bit with the change of the road surface,

sounds like the tracking is out Andy. I would guess the front wheels are toeing out slightly instead of in so that each front wheel is fighting the other constantly.
Check the tyres for uneven wear probably on the inside of the tread I suspect.

oops sorry paul didn't see your post. ![]

 

[Hilux]

oops sorry paul didn't see your post. !

No probs - great minds think alike. []

 

[Frenchy]

What wheels are fitted as 17" will induce this sympton and 18" make it woeful to drive, looks nice though !

 

[Lowtimer]

He's on D90s according to the recent pics so should be ok from that point of view.

 

[robwright]

Yeah they are D90s mate. I am leaning first toward a proper 4 wheel computer geo setup. Transformed the ride when I had mine done with relatively minor tweeks. Hopefully I will get a drive tomorrow. If it is ARB related I should be best placed to tell him as I have had a bush and a drop link go on mine and the car tends to wallow and lurch.

 

[Frenchy]

A good look around the suspension bushes and the like, the a proper 4 wheel alignment sounds in order.

 

[Hairyarse]

Thanks for the tips guys, no idea what castor mounts are fitted. The suspension work was done before the geometry check as a short time after with same garage and invoice states it's to sort out poor handling.

I'll take a look with Rob and see what he thinks when he drives it

 

[MIB 959]

My '90 S2 has recently developed at 70K an INTERMITTENT ' kick-back ' over small irregularities ( worse with all the pot-holes ).
Can't put it down to anything specific, & taking a technician on a test drive would be like going to the dentist with toothache,
no symptoms at the time. Might have to let him have the car for the day ?
Panther Black

 

[Neil Haughey]

As others have said above if all else fails set the toe to close to 0 to a small amount of toe in. This worked for me on my S2 for many many years of trouble free missile like steering, with of course everything else being in good condition.

 

[robwright]

Have mine set to zero as per the workshop set up along with everything else and seems to be spot on. For road use anyway.

 

[Hairyarse]

Rob has had a drive of mine tonight, I'm not going mad! Something is defo not right. He had a poke underneath - all does look good, nothing broken, missing, perished etc (at least when looking in the dark) so going to go for 4 wheel alignment and hope that sorts it. It certainly feels like an 'out of whack' problem rather than a 'something's broke' problem. Not sure how soon I can get it done but fingers crossed it works.

If anyone else is planning to get it done, found a link listing local depots and a 5% discount voucher [] http://www.alignmycar.co.uk/

 

[lookingfora944]

My car seems very sensitive to naunces of the road. Especially so if there is a particularly steeped camber.
It also has an annoying tendency to pull over to the left. I had new suspension fitted a few months ago with new front tyres and it was also realigned. However, it is started pulling again. Not sure why. But it's going in for some work soon so may get them to have another look at it