christophe

Hi Everyone, hope soem of you guys can offer alittle advice:

I bought a 1998 Impreza Turbo 2000 in August, all the time I've had the car the steering has felt quite vague, ie lots of movement of steering wheel before wheels move. Over the last few months the problem has been gradually getting worse, now when ever I go over a bump or cats eye the car will pull slightly but I dont really feel it through the wheel, sometimes right, sometimes left.

The car was MOT'd just over a month ago and they found nothing wrong, I've had the car up in the air today and theres no play in the wheel bearings, bottom ball joint and TRE are both good, no play and boots in good condition. Checked the tracking also and adjusted it slightly as there was some slight toe in but its still the same, tyres are different brands but have a similar amount of tread and swapping them side to side made no difference.

My only other though is that its an issue with the steering rack, has anybody else come across a similar sort of thing and had to change the rack? Occasinally when parking the weight of the steering feels to change slightly towards the extremes of the rack, maybe unrelated.


Apologies for the long post but I hope someone can offer some advice.

Chris

Hammie82

iTrader: (1)

Check the bottom knuckle on the shaft to the steering rack!

Iain250

iTrader: (1)

steering rack to body bushes gone ? - but should have been picked up on mot - maybe only moving under heavy load

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Classic turbo steering can be quite vague anyway (my new one was similar over speed bumps and mini roundabouts), but if you are still concerned then I would take the car to a specialist and get it checked out.

keljon

iTrader: (10)

this has been on my to do list for a while, it is supposed to be a very worthwhile mod to improve classic steering

scooby uk

I own a 1998 classic as well and in my experience that sounds like a bush problem possibles the ones mentioned in the earlier thread!

Mattygreg

As Hammie says i would check the UJ connecting the rack toy the column as that is what it sounds like to me, you have to take it off to test it, they get tight.

Iain250

iTrader: (1)

Take it easy with the bolts holding the clamps on - very very soft - get a little heat on it before you start

christophe

Ok thanks, I will try and check the UJ and the rack bushes. Does the rack have to come off to remove the UJ or can it just be removed on its own? Had a quick look underneath earlier and it looks to he well hidden away!

When I first bought it I though they must just be like that, but im sure its gotten worse in the last month or two. Are there any good specialists close to Oxford, or anyone that knows these cars willing to drive it for me for a pint? This is the only one I've ever driven so its quite hard to tell.