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Author Topic: Vague steering and wobbly handling  (Read 3972 times)

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bestseany

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Vague steering and wobbly handling
« on: 11 February 2007, 19:26:55 »
My Omega's always felt shaky through the steering wheel after 70mph, but today I've been up to Cumbria and back, and I think it's starting to feel worse on the motorway now.

The steering feels really vague and twitchy, and seems to wonder a bit so I have to keep correcting it. There's a bit of play when I turn the wheel too. I've tried turning the wheel whilst parked up with the engine off and there's about an inch each way when turning from the centre where's there no resistance at all through it.

I had to replace the steering idle arm a few months ago for the MOT, but I used a second-hand one as I was short on money. Could this have gone again? Also, the handling feels wobbly sometimes, but I'm not sure if it's related to this.

Any ideas?
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TheBoy

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Re: Vague steering and wobbly handling
« Reply #1 on: 11 February 2007, 19:54:59 »
Quote
My Omega's always felt shaky through the steering wheel after 70mph, but today I've been up to Cumbria and back, and I think it's starting to feel worse on the motorway now.

The steering feels really vague and twitchy, and seems to wonder a bit so I have to keep correcting it. There's a bit of play when I turn the wheel too. I've tried turning the wheel whilst parked up with the engine off and there's about an inch each way when turning from the centre where's there no resistance at all through it.

I had to replace the steering idle arm a few months ago for the MOT, but I used a second-hand one as I was short on money. Could this have gone again? Also, the handling feels wobbly sometimes, but I'm not sure if it's related to this.

Any ideas?
Jack it up, check for play.

Could be wishbones, drop links, trank rod ends, idler, srpings/dampers etc etc...
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JasonH

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Re: Vague steering and wobbly handling
« Reply #2 on: 11 February 2007, 21:37:38 »
As well as TB's points don't count out wheel balance and tracking.

Too much toe out will make the steering twitchy. The cause could be any of the points TB mentions.

Wheel balance will cause a vibration at speed. I had one wheel / tyre that started vibrating at about 70mph and just got worse and worse the faster you went (private road of course).
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Jimbob

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Re: Vague steering and wobbly handling
« Reply #3 on: 12 February 2007, 08:05:59 »
Have you taken it up to Buckley tyres yet?
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bestseany

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Re: Vague steering and wobbly handling
« Reply #4 on: 12 February 2007, 09:31:19 »
I haven't taken it up to Buckley Tyres yet mate. I've never had the tracking or geometry checked, so it could probably do with it.

I just wanted to see what I could check first, as I don't want to spend money getting a full geometry check, only to find I have to replace something on the car, and then have to pay for a second geometry check afterwards.

How much of my problems could be related to mis-alignment?
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Jimbob

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Re: Vague steering and wobbly handling
« Reply #5 on: 12 February 2007, 09:47:44 »
Aye, that certainly makes sense.

Still amazed at the difference it made to the CDX, totally different car to drive.
Going to get mine checked as well soon as I have time, get it right now I've got new tyres on, before they wear badly.
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bestseany

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Re: Vague steering and wobbly handling
« Reply #6 on: 12 February 2007, 10:25:21 »
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Aye, that certainly makes sense.

Still amazed at the difference it made to the CDX, totally different car to drive.
Going to get mine checked as well soon as I have time, get it right now I've got new tyres on, before they wear badly.

I think my plan of action then, is to check for any play or any obvious signs of problems with the bushes and then get a full geometry check. I'm off work next week so I'll get it done then  :y
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sophos9

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Re: Vague steering and wobbly handling
« Reply #7 on: 12 February 2007, 11:40:39 »
I've got exactly the same problem, does yours seem to be driving straight then all of sudden it will start to wander either left or right - no pattern and does it seem like you have a lag between turning the steering wheel and the wheels actually moving?

I've checked drop links, wishbones, new suspension, track rod ends and had a full geometry check... last thing is steering idler which I'm having a new one fitted on Wednesday

I've just come out of 2 months hire of a brand new Vx Astra (Omega was smacked)and drove my Omega for the first time today, god damn I will take an Omega anyday
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Markjay

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Re: Vague steering and wobbly handling
« Reply #8 on: 12 February 2007, 12:14:36 »
...did you check the shocks?  :o
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Marks DTM Calib

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Re: Vague steering and wobbly handling
« Reply #9 on: 12 February 2007, 12:27:06 »
Quote
I've got exactly the same problem, does yours seem to be driving straight then all of sudden it will start to wander either left or right - no pattern and does it seem like you have a lag between turning the steering wheel and the wheels actually moving?

I've checked drop links, wishbones, new suspension, track rod ends and had a full geometry check... last thing is steering idler which I'm having a new one fitted on Wednesday

I've just come out of 2 months hire of a brand new Vx Astra (Omega was smacked)and drove my Omega for the first time today, god damn I will take an Omega anyday

Adjust the play out of the steering box.....
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sophos9

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Re: Vague steering and wobbly handling
« Reply #10 on: 12 February 2007, 12:32:46 »
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...did you check the shocks?  :o

Me? Yea, they were shockinly buggered!

Mark, sorry mate, in laymens... What does that mean?
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Markjay

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Re: Vague steering and wobbly handling
« Reply #11 on: 12 February 2007, 12:38:48 »
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Me? Yea, they were shockinly buggered!

So if I understand correctly you are driving with buggered shocks… probably you have also got broken springs, disintegrated bushes, and punctured wheels and you wonder why the car wanders (excuse the pun)?  ;D
« Last Edit: 12 February 2007, 12:40:00 by markjay »
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sophos9

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Re: Vague steering and wobbly handling
« Reply #12 on: 12 February 2007, 12:43:49 »
Dude, no no no...

I changed the shocks about 6 months ago as there was a bit of a bounce (honestly they were not as bad as i made out in my previous post... although the rears were dead  :'( )

I rebuilt the shocks with brand new everything, bushes are all in great condition, ball joints have no play... Seriously it feels like the only thing left is the idler arm of which I have new part anyway

Am interested in the steering box job that Mark said about, cannot confess to knowing anything about it  :o
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TheBoy

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Re: Vague steering and wobbly handling
« Reply #13 on: 12 February 2007, 14:54:32 »
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Dude, no no no...

I changed the shocks about 6 months ago as there was a bit of a bounce (honestly they were not as bad as i made out in my previous post... although the rears were dead  :'( )

I rebuilt the shocks with brand new everything, bushes are all in great condition, ball joints have no play... Seriously it feels like the only thing left is the idler arm of which I have new part anyway

Am interested in the steering box job that Mark said about, cannot confess to knowing anything about it  :o
There is an adjuster on the steering box to take out the play, but must be adjusted with caution. I'll let M_DTM describe how...
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bestseany

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Re: Vague steering and wobbly handling
« Reply #14 on: 12 February 2007, 16:07:34 »
I'm also interested in this "steering box" adjustment. Where/what exactly is the steering box anyway?

Quote
I've got exactly the same problem, does yours seem to be driving straight then all of sudden it will start to wander either left or right - no pattern and does it seem like you have a lag between turning the steering wheel and the wheels actually moving?

I've checked drop links, wishbones, new suspension, track rod ends and had a full geometry check... last thing is steering idler which I'm having a new one fitted on Wednesday

My steering wheels shakes whilst driving straight above 70mph, although it does stop if turning sometimes.

I'm not too sure if there's a "lag" in the steering whilst moving, but there certainly is whilst I'm parked up with the engine off. Normally, I'd expect lots of resistance all the time, but there is about an inch each way where there isn't when moving the wheel from the centre, which I find strange.
« Last Edit: 12 February 2007, 16:11:41 by bestseany »
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