walterwhite

i know for a fact that this specific problem is not the tyres. no doubt its handling could be improved in a big way with decent tyres, but i can feel this problem even when stationary, just rocking the steering wheel...

the problem gets perceptually worse everytime i plow into a corner with G force - after that the steering will become looser than before. it has been getting gradually worse and worse for ages.

it affects parallel parking to the point where simple parking (in ample sized spaces) becomes a headache. i wish i could explain it better, but it feels like how i imagine drive a truck (with a trailer) feels like.

driving down my narrow road at 10 mph, if there is a car parked at the side of the road, i need to give it a wide berth not to hit it. if i drove normally, i'd skelp it. you cannot snake in and out like you can in a normal car, even at crawling speeds. i FEELS like i am hauling a trailer. i don't know if that sounds crazy or what.

BBB3

iTrader: (7)

if it feels like that i wouldn't be driving it.

**jay**

iTrader: (1)

As above if its that bad id not be driving it, also mot means nothing there is something not right and if they cant see it then will still pass it, take it at least for a geo check, get them to check the mountings for the rack but it could be anything, needs sorted before using it as it sounds dangerous.

Henrik

iTrader: (5)

I had a similar sounding issue on my bug eye WRX a while back.

Basically, the steering knuckle that connects the steering rack to the steering wheel had become disconnected on the steering wheel side, and the joint had slipped out so far that the knuckle could wobble around when e.g. turning.

The nut and bolt on the clamp that holds the knuckle / steering wheel tube together had worked loose, and allowed the joint to separate.

My symptoms were that when I'd come up to a corner, the car would initially turn in like normal, but then sometimes suddenly lurch to "a lot" of steering. I.e. it was pretty unpredictable.

It was hard to spot the issue, to be fair, as visibility isn't the best up there anyway, and the joint looked fine from underneath, and when the steering wheel was straight, there wasn't any obvious problem because the splines would push slightly back into the joint due to the location.

I only spotted it when I was underneath the car and turned the wheels by hand. There was a small amount of movement in the joint.

It messed the splines up on my joint, but luckily I had a spare joint in the garage and put that on.

Initially I thought it was the steering rack that was busted, so ended up buying a complete rack (this was lucky, as it happens, as that's where my spare knuckle came from).

jonnyricer2

iTrader: (9)

Possible diff issues but

Is there excessive lag ?? Eg you turn it turns a second or so later
Play in the wheel left to right hand down??
Any noises ??
Is the steering heavy or light??
Does the steering feel normal then heavy??
Gear box and diff oils??

walterwhite

lag, yes.

not sure what you mean about play left to right... but if you turn the steering wheel a tiny fraction, look out the window - the wheels will react. i would expect to see a delayed reaction...

it seems it is only under weight (actually moving) that the wheels get laggy and have delayed response.

no powersteering noise, and weight seems normal. but there is a clicking noise if i shake the steering wheel up and down. not sure if this is part of the problem?

not sure about oils. i know gear oil was checked a while ago and it did not solve the problem.

walterwhite

lag, yes.

not sure what you mean about play left to right... but if you turn the steering wheel a tiny fraction, look out the window - the wheels will react. i would expect to see a delayed reaction.

it seems it is only under weight (actually moving) that the wheels get laggy and have delayed response.

no powersteering noise, and weight seems normal. but there is a sort of clicking/ticking noise if i shake the steering wheel up and down. not sure if this is part of the problem...

not sure about oils. i know gear oil was checked a while ago and it did not solve the problem.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

You say you would like to get to the bottom of this...and yet you steadfastly refuse to say what tyres are on the car, what make, what size and what tyre pressures are in them?

I don't think you are really taking it seriously, and stating that the pressures must be OK since it's just had an MoT just makes me think that you are avoiding telling us...or you genuinely don't know.

To be honest, my friend, if, as you say, decent places have said there is nowt wrong with the suspension, that leaves us two choices:

it's either the tyres,

or it's the geometry.

And we STILL don't know what arb is on the rear, or. for that matter, the front, do we?

Come on...help us to help you.

ezesti330s

To be honest mate there's a lot of spanner monkeys out there and only in the business for one thing your hard earned cash . Get your car on a trailer to someone like scoobyclinic engine tuner, Roger Clark, aera52 . Just to name a few . Someone's not seeing the obvious if it's as bad as u say . . Been miss sold loads of parts in past when they just don't know wot there talking about . Like a 750 quid turbo to be told uuur it want that mate . To get it home on me jack and find the actuator was at fault 60quid later a few days and sore knuckles job done . Don't belive everything u get told .try a specialist that's y there there . Hope u sort this fella .


Strut top mount bearing/bush as another guess though

JDM_Stig

iTrader: (3)

take it for a MOT if they dont find it then id say it`s crap tyres/driver/dccd settings.

johned

Name the tyres i say and go from there.

Moley

iTrader: (9)

As many others have asked, what tyres are they, and how do you know for sure it isn't them causing issues?

Also, and don't take this as a dig, but why pay the extra for the best handling Impreza then ruin it with poor tyres?

The first mods I do to any car is decent tyres and a good geo setting,

Uncle Creepy

GET THE GEOMETRY SETTINGS CHECKED.

Uncle Creepy

...

johnlogie

iTrader: (4)

If your in Glasgow then phone Kenny Brown 0141 882 6757

gpssti4

iTrader: (6)

Possibly a diff problem. I had a car years ago that would under steer turning right and oversteer turning left. Getting around a roundabout would cause under steer at normal road speed. Turned out to be the oil level in the front diff.

walterwhite

i don't know is the answer. i will check the tyre brand and size, but as i said, the problem was definitely still there with the potenza RE070 tyres - the best you can get.

tyre pressure... i will need to take it to the shell garage to find out, what PSI should it be?

as i said i can feel there problem when the car is stationary, just rocking the steering wheel, there is a mechanical problem. two seconds driving this car and you would know it isn't a tyre problem. i have had 3 different sets of tyres from different places since this problem began. brand new tyres, worn out tyres, the problem feels exactly the same.

in fact i am pretty sure a good pair of tyres would only compound the problem. extra grip is going to put even more pressure on the elastic-feeling steering. i already need to slow right down to 5 mph for roundabouts so there isn't too much stress on it... the faster you go round a round about, the more the understeer there is... and i am talking A LOT... it is just like slipping on ice. except at 10mph, in the dry.

JDM_Stig

iTrader: (3)

Just MOT it then at a indy tester, cheaper then a garage, take it to Halfords and expect to pay for parts it doesnt need.

walterwhite

even the crappiest tyres (going no faster than 10mph, in the bone dry) shouldn't understeer to the point where it feels like you are slipping on ice... am i wrong?

FWD cars with skinny tyres don't do this. why would an AWD with fatter tyres do so?

Moley

iTrader: (9)

Get the geo checked at a specialist. Not only will they set up it correctly, but they can also check nothing is bent/damaged underneath.

If that's all ok, and the tyre pressures are right, you need to start looking at steering joints or the rack.

walterwhite

i know i will need to take it to a specialist when i am able.

there is "understeer" characteristics, i.e. the mismatch of the direction the car is pointing in, in relation to the position on the steering wheel... but it is not understeer as in actually losing grip.

does that make sense? i think that is the best way of describing it.

spender(again)

iTrader: (1)

How long does it take to walk outside and read the manufacturers name off the sidewall of a tyre ffs..............

Blue by You

iTrader: (23)

Makes you think doesn't it.

BBB3

iTrader: (7)

THIS !

ezesti330s

Ummmm! Sorry op I'm out now all 4 wheels off doing rubber gators yh does seem a easy thing to do . Especially if you been off the road in a ditch . These guys on here know there stuff or most of um lol oj'

I know it does sound daft but u could even have a set of brand new duff old stock gone off rubber where all just guessing trying to help !!

ezesti330s

I've even bin to a car show where my mate treated is tyres to a coat of auto Glym v/rubber coming home had a slight shower and bounced off the kerb first island . Thought we'd snapped something couldn't figure it out till we had a brain wave .. Use the right stuff in the right places never the treads anything is posible mate .... hope u get this sorted don't sell up ..

walterwhite

working at the moment. "hang on boss, i need the check my tyres"...

so what do you think of this? i think i condensed my thoughts into something coherent. i need to go through a process like this to wrap my brain around stuff

there is "understeer" characteristics, i.e. the mismatch of the direction the car is pointing in, in relation to the position on the steering wheel... but it is not understeer as in actually losing grip.

Scooby Stevo

iTrader: (1)

Could it be anything to do with your brakes sticking??
if you still feeling it at slow speed could they be sticking on one side ??
i aint no mechanic so just a guess

johned

I find it very puzzling that you have spent a fair amount of money and time on this problem and have never looked at the brand of tyre on the car and it seems never checked the tyre pressures either.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

I note you said, "Pair" of tyres?

You do keep them as a set, don't you, not different makes front and rear? Or even on the same axle...believe me, I've seen it done!