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This might be controversial but I don't think its the tyres (unless 2 of them are flat or made of acrylic or something!)
I'm also not convinced this ins't a total wind up, but here we go...
Initial thoughts on potential problem areas:
1. Steering wheel is not fixed properly.
2. Powersteering pump failure / leak.
3. Steering rack failure / leak. (or potentially a leaky line between the 2)
4. Cracked/bent/loose subframe. This could be missed by a mechanic only looking from underneath a static car.
5. Malfunctioning DCCD/ diff's or ABS.
Questions in order to rule out some areas:
A. Does the steering wheel feel loose at all? Is there any play forward and back?
B. Does the steering feel notchy or lumpy? Or is the pressure even lock to lock?
C. Try entering a corner trailing the brakes all the way around (might need to left foot brake). Then repeat the same corner staying off the brakes whilst turning. Is the steering symptom exactly the same both times?
D. Have you ever banged it into a curb or something? Or lent it to someone that might have?
E. Have you tried playing with the DCCD settings?
It's got to be a wind up, surely there aren't people in this world that are this stupid and drive a Spec C.
I'm also thinking that the tyres must be plastic and totally mis-matched due to his reluctance to tell us what they are, and as for the comment about tyre pressures must be ok because it just had an mot, that just beggers belief.
Anyway all that aside, you were given the number of a specialist in glasgow, so if this isn't a wind up I suggest you give the bloke a call and tip toe down to him before you either kill yourself or someone else.
Ok, apart fom the fact that this sounds like a wind up, surely...
You own a Spec C and don't know what the tyre pressures should be? Seriously? Do you realise what the Spec C is built for? Do you really think you should own a performance car without knowing the basics? Good grief...
Ok, the fault. If you have excessive play in the steering as you describe, which to be honest sounds worse than any of my old Land-Rovers, then OBVIOUSLY something isnt right. The car is dangerous to drive and you risk your life driving it, and more importantly other road users.
Any garage that cant find an issue with steering you describe isnt a garage I would deal with.
What was the outcome of this? Im intrigued to know...
OH NO, it would appear THIS is the outcome! I’ve just stumbled across this on the website of a local Glaswegian newspaper. If you read through the whole thread again, there are so many similarities, I can’t help but think this is the OP. Here’s the story copied and pasted:
At approximately 9.30am this morning, in a small, sleepy village on the outskirts of Glasgow, a high-powered sports car flipped over and mounted the pavement, crushing five grannies as they were embarking on their weekly pilgrimage to the local Mecca bingo hall. According to witnesses, the Subaru Impreza Spec C was travelling at just five (THAT’S FIVE!) miles per hour, before it inexplicably swerved, did a “180 spin WITHOUT traction loss”, hit the kerb, then flipped, landing on the poor, unsuspecting grannies, subsequently leaving them all “flat as pancakes”.
The driver – a local man, known only as Walter – swiftly exited the vehicle, appearing unscathed, and scarpered before the local plod arrived. He initially headed in the direction of McDonald’s, presumably to do some doughnuts in the car park, but upon realising he was absent car, ran down an alleyway known locally as Junkies’ Walk.
Deidre McDonald, 82, said: “I saw young Walter cruising down the road at a snail’s pace in his Scooby, and then he just seemed to lose control. His car began tumbling through the air like Michael Flatley dancing on hot coals whilst high on E. Maybe his dodgy DCCD was to blame; it was known to have malfunctioned recently.”
Another witness, Sheila McShefferty, 91, told reporters: “We all knew Walter had been having some issues with his Impreza. In the last few months alone, he’s ended up in nine different ditches and he’d even mowed down a few stray cats. We’d heard the rumours that his steering rack was ‘fubared’, and we’d all advised him to get his ball joints and track rod ends checked, but, strangely, he seemed reluctant to heed the advice.”
After these comments, our reporters decided to delve a little deeper to see if there was any truth in the gossip... that a known potentially-dangerous car was still being used on the roads despite a number of Scoobynet forum members advising the owner to the contrary. Senior reporter, Graham McGregor, spoke to some of the other local residents. Ethel McEtherington, 88 – a white-perm-haired pensioner, originally from Govan – said: “I was going for a B-road blast a few weeks ago in my Corsa, when I spotted Walter in his Spec C in my rear-view mirror. I wasn’t particularly hooning it, but he seemed to really be struggling to keep up with me, especially through the twisties. I knew there must be something wrong with his car – maybe a problem with his diff.”
After the horrific accident earlier today, there seems to be a sense of tragic loss in this small, former mining village on the easterly edge of Glasgow – a feeling that this accident was wholly unavoidable. The residents’ sadness soon turned to anger when they realised it was indeed Walter’s faulty Spec C that was responsible for the granny flattening, the worst such case recorded since Jay Allen’s cheaply-modified Evo careened into three helpless coffin dodgers standing outside a mobility shop in an English town, after his confidence in his AYC exceeded his somewhat modest driving ability. Local resident, Terry McTier, 94, said: “If Walter had asked for more negative camber on the rears when he got his geo done last December, I suspect this wouldn’t have happened.”
Moreover, fresh evidence has just reached us that suggests it may have been the state of the offender’s tyres that was more to blame for this shocking atrocity. Despite the heavy presence of the emergency services, and the fact the car is still on its roof, local looters were nevertheless seen pillaging and plundering the Japanese ‘chav-mobile’ of all its goodies. We managed to track down one of the scoundrels, who appeared to be no more than early teens in age. Introducing himself to us only as Wee Jimmy, he told us: “Aye, I put the carbon low-level spoiler on fleabay, and that sold within minutes. I’ve tried to sell the forged 17” wheels to a few of me mates, like, but I cannae find no buyer, like. Aye, the wheels are in good nick, ye’know, but the tyres are all different makes and treads – Potenza RE070, Toyo R1, Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2, and Uniroyal Rainexpert, with treads of 0.5mm, 1mm, 4mm, and 7mm, respectively.”
Local rozzer, Detective C'untstable Micky McJobsworth, told us: “We are seeking a young, IC1 male in connection with a traffic incident that happened earlier this morning. Furthermore, we wish to speak to the fugitive about a number of other motoring offences – namely, two of his tyres being below the legal tread depth, his non-MOT-compliant decat exhaust, and the illegal decibel level of his Nur Spec R backbox.”
However, this story is not all doom and gloom. One kind local resident has already set up a fundraiser to support the victims’ families. If you would like to donate to the fund, please send all money to the organiser: Walter Mitty, 666 Bridgestone Road, Glasgow, RE070 LOL.
More updates to follow shortly.
Last edited by Uncle Creepy; 06 January 2016 at 04:46 PM.
Ethel McEtherington, 88 – a white-perm-haired pensioner, originally from Govan – said: “I was going for a B-road blast a few weeks ago in my Corsa, when I spotted Walter in his Spec C in my rear-view mirror. I wasn’t particularly hooning it, but he seemed to really be struggling to keep up with me, especially through the twisties. I knew there must be something wrong with his car – maybe a problem with his diff.”
OH NO, it would appear THIS is the outcome! I’ve just stumbled across this on the website of a local Glaswegian newspaper. If you read through the whole thread again, there are so many similarities, I can’t help but think this is the OP. Here’s the story copied and pasted:
At approximately 9.30am this morning, in a small, sleepy village on the outskirts of Glasgow, a high-powered sports car flipped over and mounted the pavement, crushing five grannies as they were embarking on their weekly pilgrimage to the local Mecca bingo hall. According to witnesses, the Subaru Impreza Spec C was travelling at just five (THAT’S FIVE!) miles per hour, before it inexplicably swerved, did a “180 spin WITHOUT traction loss”, hit the kerb, then flipped, landing on the poor, unsuspecting grannies, subsequently leaving them all “flat as pancakes”.
The driver – a local man, known only as Walter – swiftly exited the vehicle, appearing unscathed, and scarpered before the local plod arrived. He initially headed in the direction of McDonald’s, presumably to do some doughnuts in the car park, but upon realising he was absent car, ran down an alleyway known locally as Junkies’ Walk.
Deidre McDonald, 82, said: “I saw young Walter cruising down the road at a snail’s pace in his Scooby, and then he just seemed to lose control. His car began tumbling through the air like Michael Flatley dancing on hot coals whilst high on E. Maybe his dodgy DCCD was to blame; it was known to have malfunctioned recently.”
Another witness, Sheila McShefferty, 91, told reporters: “We all knew Walter had been having some issues with his Impreza. In the last few months alone, he’s ended up in nine different ditches and he’d even mowed down a few stray cats. We’d heard the rumours that his steering rack was ‘fubared’, and we’d all advised him to get his ball joints and track rod ends checked, but, strangely, he seemed reluctant to heed the advice.”
After these comments, our reporters decided to delve a little deeper to see if there was any truth in the gossip... that a known potentially-dangerous car was still being used on the roads despite a number of Scoobynet forum members advising the owner to the contrary. Senior reporter, Graham McGregor, spoke to some of the other local residents. Ethel McEtherington, 88 – a white-perm-haired pensioner, originally from Govan – said: “I was going for a B-road blast a few weeks ago in my Corsa, when I spotted Walter in his Spec C in my rear-view mirror. I wasn’t particularly hooning it, but he seemed to really be struggling to keep up with me, especially through the twisties. I knew there must be something wrong with his car – maybe a problem with his diff.”
After the horrific accident earlier today, there seems to be a sense of tragic loss in this small, former mining village on the easterly edge of Glasgow – a feeling that this accident was wholly unavoidable. The residents’ sadness soon turned to anger when they realised it was indeed Walter’s faulty Spec C that was responsible for the granny flattening, the worst such case recorded since Jay Allen’s cheaply-modified Evo careened into three helpless coffin dodgers standing outside a mobility shop in an English town, after his confidence in his AYC exceeded his somewhat modest driving ability. Local resident, Terry McTier, 94, said: “If Walter had asked for more negative camber on the rears when he got his geo done last December, I suspect this wouldn’t have happened.”
Moreover, fresh evidence has just reached us that suggests it may have been the state of the offender’s tyres that was more to blame for this shocking atrocity. Despite the heavy presence of the emergency services, and the fact the car is still on its roof, local looters were nevertheless seen pillaging and plundering the Japanese ‘chav-mobile’ of all its goodies. We managed to track down one of the scoundrels, who appeared to be no more than early teens in age. Introducing himself to us only as Wee Jimmy, he told us: “Aye, I put the carbon low-level spoiler on fleabay, and that sold within minutes. I’ve tried to sell the forged 17” wheels to a few of me mates, like, but I cannae find no buyer, like. Aye, the wheels are in good nick, ye’know, but the tyres are all different makes and treads – Potenza RE070, Toyo R1, Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2, and Uniroyal Rainexpert, with treads of 0.5mm, 1mm, 4mm, and 7mm, respectively.”
Local rozzer, Detective C'untstable Micky McJobsworth, told us: “We are seeking a young, IC1 male in connection with a traffic incident that happened earlier this morning. Furthermore, we wish to speak to the fugitive about a number of other motoring offences – namely, two of his tyres being below the legal tread depth, his non-MOT-compliant decat exhaust, and the illegal decibel level of his Nur Spec R backbox.”
However, this story is not all doom and gloom. One kind local resident has already set up a fundraiser to support the victims’ families. If you would like to donate to the fund, please send all money to the organiser: Walter Mitty, 666 Bridgestone Road, Glasgow, RE070 LOL.
It sounds like you have a bent arm or worn bush on your rear suspension. This can fool a lot of people when setting up geometry, as it will make it seem like the geometry is spot on,when infact it is miles out. Ask a garage to put the front tracking guages on the rear,and check the toe-in or out on the rears
Not too sure how bent arms or worn bushes on the rear would cause excessive play in the steering, even when stationary.
I get where you're coming from once moving as that could make for quite a lively back end.
I don't think we'll be hearing from him for a while yet though as by the sounds of it he's in hospital with a broken leg and arm, and his car is a cabriolet now.
The only reason I say that mate,is when the tracking is set up?, if the rears aren't quite in line,the lazer to the rear will always give a false reading.so you will be setting the fronts to what shows correct,but infact the readings will be false due to the rear markers being out.
Am I reading this right...you have now had this problem for nearly 5 years.
Take it to a specialist...the END!!!!
...and if it his car that crashed I have no sympathy for him!!!....recklessly putting other road users in danger when you know there is a problem but continue to drive it!
Last edited by The Pink Ninja; 09 January 2016 at 12:06 PM.
02 January 2016, 08:13 PM
PMSL, best laugh I've had in a little while.
Diedre thought maybe his dodgy DCCD was to blame.. howling 
