Steering "slop"

[dan_b]

Hmm.
Got my car back from having some new top mounts (blues I think), and I'm a bit worried. In the "straight ahead" steering position, there seems to be about 15 degrees of slop in the steering both left and right which doesn't seem to actually cause the car to change direction discernably. Gunning down the M3 and back this morning, the car was surprisingly unsecure on the road. I even got out to check all my road nuts were still screwed in! Tramlining was awful too, and under braking, it wouldn't pull up particularly straight.

I know I changed both ARBS recently (front ARB to RS2, rear to Whiteline RARB on "Middle" setting), which will probably have made the car a little more twitchy, last summer I had a new steering rack, but I was hoping that the new top mounts would REDUCE the slop/ tramlining?

What could be wrong? What do I need to check to see if things aren't screwed in properly, or should I just send it straight back to the garage?

Is it possible that the alignment has gone all screwy? Should that have been done? Anyone know of anywhere in West London that can do proper quattro 4-wheel alignment?

Confused.

[pjeast73]

thats sounds like mine did before I had new top mounts and the allignment done. something not right somewhere - top mounts stopped a lot of the tramlining and that unsecure feeling as though it was going to take off on an uneven surface, the allignment made it feel more comfortable and got rid of annoying vibration. I would say the top mounts made the most difference to the unsecure feeling you are mentioning. But I'm certianly no expert - it's just what you mentioned was what I was experiencing.

[dan_b]

Does it need re-aligning do you think? There's just this really light vagueness to the straight ahead that definitely shouldn't be there - you can feel that it's not engaging the PAS when you turn it that far, the wheels don't seem to move - what's going on there? Is there an adjustment on the rack to make or somthing?

[pjeast73]

from my experience I don't think the allignment alone will cure what your describing. I'm sure somebody else will be able to assist more than I can.
My steering is precise now and dead steady in a straight line so there is something not right.

[dan_b]

I had paranoid visions of the ARB having come undone or something, but when you actually turn in and corner, that's fine, it's just this horrible vagueness on straight ahead, and really marked tramlining. There's no particular vibrations or anything like that.

Cars, who'd have 'em. Argh.

[Fat Audi 80]

Sounds as if the suspension has not been up put back together correctly to me. The S2 should be steady as a rock in the straight ahead (unless you are in lorry ruts )

Who did the topmounts?

Steve.

[tamaquatt]

I had similar problems although less severe until Tim and Chris at QRSport fitted a set of their topmounts and sorted the wheel aligment..... absolutely superb now. Understeer is gone as is the tramlining!!!

[dan_b]

I'll give the garage a call straight away - I've used them for years and am usually very happy with their service - it does sound like something's not been done right, just wondering what the culprit part might be?

[Doug_RS2]

The arbs will not cause this - I would check the steering arms are bolted on solidly at each end. Check the strut is tight on the hub. If the alignment is well out it can cause a vagueness in the steering. Is there any knocking noises?

[dan_b]

That's what I thought - especially as this symptom was not present after the garage meet.
There was a groaning noise on full lock at parking speed - almost as if the strut mounts were worn

[s2driveruk]

there is an adjustment nut on the rack but I doubt that is the problem. I had really cr*ppy steering until i changed the ball joints, wishbone bushes and then had a proper alignment. if you can bomb down the M3 to Micheldever, they do a good 4-wheel alignment and are used to Quattros.

HTH,

David

[dan_b]

Where is Micheldever based?

[s2driveruk]

Micheldever Station, just off the A303 outside Basingstoke.

http://www.micheldever.co.uk/

[dan_b]

Aah, Basie... Got a friend who lives there, could fabricate a quick visit to see him.

[porkkis]

That's the symptom for major toe in. The other wheel is straight at a time and the steering does not like to be in the position where neighter wheel is straight.

Have it 4 wheel aligned.