eliot

Is it me and my Scoob or does anyone elses Scoob sometimes feel like the steering has a mind of its own - feels like it is on tram lines and on a specific line of the road.

Maybe just me going mad - been under a lot of stress!!!

or alternatively I have a problem with my steering

Thanks in advance for any advice

Eliot

Scooby-dude

I have a MY01 WRX and have exactly he same problem.

It's annoying at slow speeds but downright frightening when it happens under hard braking. I mentioned it to my dealer when I had my last service. They said the tracking was out and to be more careful around kerbs in future. (@rseholes) Charged me for a re-alignment and suprise suprise, it still happens.

Anybody else?

Hanslow

My MY00 tramlined like god knows what until I changed the standard tyres (from RE010s to Toyo T1s). Went away straight away.

Also check your tyre pressures are running at correct levels, that can cause it too.

MyDreamCar

I have a 95WRX running on 215 Toyos with STi suspension and i get a fair bit of wandering especially at low speeds on residential roads or poorer surfaces, I just put it down to firm suspension and wide tyres - i like it in an odd sort of way - its like the scoob is alive! LOL
I used to get steering wheel vibration above 70Mph - but a tracking re-alignment sorted that problem out.
Phil

Robertio

iTrader: (1)

I agree with Hanslow, the standard tyres are woeful once you are down to half tread, they tramline everywhere.

fdpxfunix

My MY99 does the wandering bit as well, but only on roads that are badly worn.

Theres a strech heading south on the M23 past Gatwick, opposite the 'Maidenbower' estate. The 'slow' lane has been well worn down by lorries, so lots of long ruts.

Every time I hit it, the Scoob jumps from side to side. The Mrs normally moans that I'm throwing the car around a bit. "It's not me, it's the road!" .... she never belives me.

As other posts have stated .... wide wheels + low profile tyres / dodgy roads = tram-lining ;-)

J.

Jolly Green Monster 2

Wiggles more than an eel on acid sometimes at low speed!

Got worse when I put MY99 wheels with RE011's on.... MY96 Turbo..

Sadman

I used to have this problem as well but as soon as I changed from the factory fit Bridgestone RE010's to Dunlop SP Sports the car stopped tramlining altogether.

Markus

Would suggest you get the wheel alignment sorted out. the blackbeast used to be all over the shop, plus not corner as well as it should. A trip to powerstation at the weekend revealed why, the camber, toe-in, and tracking was waaaaay out on all four wheels, they all had different settings. worst one was the left rear.

Got them to do the alignment which sorted it out, but also got bumpsteer and antilift kit done, now it handles like a dream.

As some may know, I'm not the best or hardest driver in the world, so it's testment to the changes that I can feel the car is different, plus it actually goes in a straight line now!

should state I'm now on 17's (MY01's) with Toyo T1-s (215/40/ZR17)

Jolly Green Monster 2

Suppose I should do the same...

I am just rather reluctant to spend money on it when it handles far better than I can drive it already and all tyres are wearing evenly so cannot be far out.

How much would a four wheel alignment and bumpster mod cost me?

Cheers

JGM

Lenny.

I have exactly the same problem (MY01 WRX).

Numerous threads about a month ago on Wheels/Tyres and Suspension forums; it's a common problem.

Also had to pay for geometry check (surprise! - nothing wrong). Tried the car with steel wheels and different tyres from another Impreza and the problem was nearly cured.

My dealership has taken up the matter with Subaru who have referred us to Bridgestone Tyres - they have had previous complaints.

I'll let you know how I get on.........

Markus

JGM,
alignment and bumpsteer cost me 120 + vat @ powerstation in Cheltenham. someone did tell me that (not at powerstation I might add) they got charged 110 quid inc VAT just to get the alignment done. so 120 odd for alignment and bumpsteer is a good deal in my humble opinion.

also got an anti-lift kit fitted as well, because, well i was spending money, so what the hell

Jolly Green Monster 2

Cheers for that Markus..

decisions......

eliot

Without sounding stupid, what is "bumpsteer" - I'm really not Forest Gump - honestly.

"Life is like a box of chocolates"

Cheers
Eliot

ian_sadler

For pre-MY01 cars has to be the bump stear mod

Ian

Canuck

Surely this is down to alignment and crap tyres, where the former can be cheaply sorted out properly on a Beissbarth system.

Everyone talks about "getting the bumpsteer mod done", but I'll wager alot of money that most of the drivers wouldn't know bumpsteer from bum-steer and probably never get their car to the limit where this'd make a difference.

The 4-wheel alignment is cheaply done and makes a helluva lot of difference under just these conditions (e.g., heavy braking) so spend the £100 and get it done (then worry about the tyres ...).

There are a few recommended people for this, Powerstation is one and another is TSL (Graham sorted out my car brilliantly and I feel alot more confident in driving it now_ - no more seat-cleaning required as I fly around a bend to encounter the local hunt!).

Jolly Green Monster 2

Elliot, in very very basic terms bumpsteer is when you hit a bump is makes the car steer...

I don't think you have to be on the limit to experiance the benefit from having the bumpsteer mod done (not that I have had it done myself yet) but you could be doing 30mph and hit a bump and it steers the car... which is exactly what we were talking about occurring really.

ian_sadler

Bump steer is not just about 4 wheel set up (which most good 4x4 garages can do) its mainly to do with the way you front wheel geometey changes when the suspension is under compression i.e. when braking hard.

In a scoob (pre MY01) when braking hard the front wheels will tend to splay or toe out more. This gives the effect of understeer when cornering or wandering when braking in a straight line.

By measuring the movement under load and no load the steering rack can be shimed to remove as much of this effect as possible.

The best mod I have had done to my car

Ian
Terzo 33

Canuck

Well there ya go.
Thought my comment would get you all to put me in my place.

Now I do recall a thread back in December which did start up a debate about the relative merits of bumpsteer mod vs simply setting up the geometry correctly - from my perspective (naive and ignorant) that looked alot like 2 schools of thought ...

A question here is whether as part of the homologation of the Impreza for rallying why it was that Subaru never felt it necessary to do anything more to the steering rack. Ah, ignorance is bliss.

ian_sadler

Dont know about the WRC cars but they have changed it on the MY01 cars so you don't need the mod.

Ian

ian_sadler

Helps with "cornering" as well

Ian

CELL

My 96 UK turbo steering wonders around quite a bit under heavy braking.

I thought this was normal

(edited cos i cant spell )

[Edited by CELL - 2/8/2002 4:07:46 PM]