Tramlining and sloppy steering

[pu-11-me]

Hi All,

I've noticed that over the last couple of days my car has started tramlining (Following ruts in the road making the car unstable) and my steering has become increasingly sloppy.

Its also got some drastic pulling to the left and occasionally to the right and its having trouble finding centre again afetr turning.

This occurs while cruising, WOT and soft or heavy braking.

It feels like driving on sand or having flat tyres!

I have checked my tyre pressures (36PSI all round), and also done a thorough inspection through the front end suspension and steering rack and there is nothing blatently obvious (Ie, worn or broken parts) that could be causing it.

It had a wheel alignment done about 10k km's ago so i'll try and get it in again tomorrow, but can anyone point the finger at what may be causing it? I haven't hit any potholes or anything and its been a problem thats gradually getting worse. In the wet tonight it was uber scary! (In a good way )

Cheers

 

[naughtika]

inner tie rod broken or has considerable amount of play in it.. also possible that the ball joint is on the way out.. but you won't know until you take it out..

 

[steveP]

ive had this happen. car felt like it was driving on oil at random times. a bolt had falled out of my hicas lock on the siliva. sounds like a similar problem. the smallest simplest bolt could have fallen out or is getting loose. either way ur car needs an alignment.

i noticed i had the most 'tramming' when i had incredibly stupid toe in. felt like the car was crab walking. have a top down view over the wheels and see if the toe is out. either way like i said, u will def need a wheel alignment.

 

[Scottie]

Power Steering rack dood. Mine is cactus and does the same thing.

It will be the seals on the left hand side having play in them.

 

[Scottie]

Also, check to see whether you have a split boot.

 

[pu-11-me]

Thanks guys. I will get it on the hoist Chris and have a look at those but it was all nice and solid/tight 1000km's ago when I checked it.

Steve, she is definately going in for an alignment today. I would assume that this will resolve the tramlining and the return to centre but I am still concerned about the steering a little.

Scottie, I think you may be on the mark. I just replaced the right hand side rack boot about 1000km's ago and the rack seals on that side were OK so I might get in and replace the left hand side and check the seals there as well.

It could be a combination of a couple of these things thats causing the issue. I'll keep you guys up to date with progress after the wheel alignment and i'll get them to double check the steering rack, bushes and tie rod ends while they have it on the hoist.

Cheers

 

[steveP]

an alignment does wonders, when i replaced all the HICAS bullshit in my silvia, before the alignment, the car was barely driveable. i was very sceptical that alignment would be able to fix how dangerous the car became without the HICAS. however i was amazed everything went away and the car drove perfectly.

like whats also been stated, get the left hand side of the power steering rack checked. mine was leaking also and was told to look into getting it rebuilt or replaced. both of those options isnt an easy task on our cars, so i got some power steering fluid which stops leaks (cant remember the name, but highly recommended) and everything is sweet now.

 

[Kitty's VR4]

Dawso,

When you disappeared into that pot hole entering the paddock opposite the the long yard, we saw a chunk of concrete flip up from under the rear right, might be something to look at to, if the symptoms started around then.... Might be un-related but just incase !!!