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[chrisdb]

Hi all

I had my wishbones and drop links changed a couple of months ago and then I went to WIM for a full setup. I also had two new front tyres fitted before I went and had two new rear ones fitted soon after my WIM visit. I've used them before so know they are good but things are not good with the steering - any ideas?

The WIM print out shows all the correct figures but I get these symptoms.

Almost immediately the steering felt much heavier - in the sense that the wheels really want to snap back to centre, and this is more noticable if turning while breaking at low speed - you can feel the wheel really tugging.

The steering wheel is 'kind of' centered. Some times it will be centred and some times I need to hold it a few degrees to the right, and some times to the left. I seems I'm always having to do one or other to keep the car straight.

Over the couple of months I've started getting vibrations through the front wheels - started at between 50-60 but now seems to be 50-70 and 85-90.

When I go over speed bumps I get a noise like someone jumping on an old squeeky bed.

When the wishbones were done, I wandered over and chatted to the mechanic, and while there did not see any sign of a torque wrench. I saw a posting which said the wishbones had to be torqued with the car cars full wight on the wheels, but I don't think he did this, and I couldn't find this in the Haynes book.

Any ideas most welcome and Happy New Year!  

[Arrolman]

Hi,

Did you replace the idler arm? Squeaking going over speed bumps might be your shocks, mine do it if there cold

Cheers,
Iain

[LFF64]

Maybe you should be speaking to WIM and arrange a revisit so they can check it for you  

[chrisdb]

I replaced the idler arm a couple of months before. One of the tings I was not sure about was the torque setting. I think Haynes said 60nm but when I was looking through the ref guides on here I think it said to angle tighten... Maybe it's coming loose?

I'm planning to go back to WIM as a last resort because I don't travel down that way anymore and it's quite far from home. It's going to be about 6 weeks before I'll be able to make the trip.

[Matchless]

Have a feel at the front springs, look for a break or a piece missing where the end turns spiral inwards.
If springs are OK get someone to wriggle the wheel whilst you feel the movement of the bearing right at the top of the springs...movement shoud be smooth with no jerkiness.
If the strut bolts were left too loose then it would move to maximum negative camber over time, should be obvious to see and may even allow top of tyre to rub on the front strut.

[chrisdb]

Have a feel at the front springs, look for a break or a piece missing where the end turns spiral inwards.
If springs are OK get someone to wriggle the wheel whilst you feel the movement of the bearing right at the top of the springs...movement shoud be smooth with no jerkiness.
If the strut bolts were left too loose then it would move to maximum negative camber over time, should be obvious to see and may even allow top of tyre to rub on the front strut.

Great, thanks, I'll do this over the weekend  

[chrisdb]

Just a quick update. Had to change the rear brake calipers yesterday as they were sticking. Noticed that both shocks seem to have leaked, and one of the springs is broken. Hopefully that will really improve things once they are replaced