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[keithnic]

Recently my Omega's steering wheel is all over the place whilst braking.  If I take my hands off the wheel the car will still brake safely in a straight line, but the steering wheel will turn to the left almost 70 degrees and then back again as I ease off the brakes.
It is very unnerving especially if you're passing a lorry coming the over way whilst braking on a country road.  You have to allow the steering wheel to turn otherwise the car starts to veer.
Under heavy braking there is also a large clicking (almost creaking) noise from the offside front wheel.
I replaced the wishbones back in July and I checked all the nuts are all tight. Had all wheels aligned and tracked after this.
The discs were new two years ago and don't appear warped.  Pads are in good shape too.
The tyre shop near me took the wheels off and couldn't see anything wrong. 
I'm really not happy about driving the family in the car at the moment (I'll let the wife drive it though  ) Does anyone have any ideas?

[mathewst]

The only thing that comes to mind is that one wheel is breaking normally and other one isn't breaking at all

[RobG]

The only thing that comes to mind is that one wheel is breaking normally and other one isn't breaking at all

If braking assistance was on one wheel only it wouldn`t stop in a straight line. Possible calipers not releasing simultaneously :question

[KillerWatt]

A quick brake test on the rollers will confirm whether it's down to the calipers or something else.

[Kevin Wood]

Sounds to me like it could be front wishbone bushes or something.

Just need to get under it and check everything carefully as a first step.

Kevin

[geoff]

braking in a straight line indicates nothing wrong with brakes i would say,have you checked the steering idler that could have some play in it :yor track rod ends would get it up in the air and check everthing for play including wishbones and all steering  :yand the cracking noise your talking about mine did the same and it was the steering idler

[hotel21]

I read your problem as the car steers on application of the foorbrake and then brakes in a straight line.  Steering straightens when footbrake released?

My geustimation is either shot whishbones, steering idler or wheelbearings.

Start with the latter.  Jack up one front corner and feel for free wheel play by holding wheel at 3/9 position and rocking wheel in/outas though trying to manually steer the car, if you follow.  Repeat holding at the 12/6 position.  Remember what both feel like.  Have someone depress and hold down the footbrake and redo the 3/9 and 12/6 test.  If the perceived movement is drastically reduced, its the wheelbearing thats duff.  If the movement is essentially the same, its a steering/suspension fault and requires further investigation. 

With both front wheels free of the ground (on axle stands, please, not bricks or trolly jacks....) have an assistant move the steering wheel from about the 10 oclock to the 2 oclock position and back repeatedly whilst you view and feel all the steering linkage points for free play.  If any found, may require a qualified cleverv person (MOT Tester?) to say whats allowed and whats excessive.

Whilst car up in the air, you could carefully use a pry bar or large screwdriver to see if there is any free play in the lower suspension wishbones but, to be truthfull, this is a more specialised/experience based assesment and not something that a basic roadside DIY'er may be able to do properly.....

 

[keithnic]

Thanks for all the replies will jack it up in the garage this evening (axle stands of course!) and give you any more feedback I can.

[Martin_1962]

Wishbone bushes - were did you get them from?

[keithnic]

I got them from buypartsby.com in May this year.  I jacked the car up and took both wheels off.  appears to be a bit of movement on both sides when wiggling the wheel when holding it at the sides, around 0.5 - 1cm.  No movement at all if holding the wheels top to bottom.
No perceived difference when glamorous assistant pressing on brake.
Offside wheel spins really freely, nearside pads seem to be binding a little.  I took them off and reseated them, but still the same problem.
I did notice that about 1/3 of the disc spins more freely than the rest.  Does this mean the disc is warped and would be causing the squirming on braking?
The clicking noise on the offside, could this be caused by crappy wishbones?  Its a very metallic click or clack like a hammer on metal, but sometimes sounds like a sharp creak.
Poor old miggy, things are starting to awry now.  I sold my last one when it reached eight years old, but don 't want to sell this one.

[hotel21]

Sounds possibly more steering related then.  You free this weekend??  If you have a Mig that drives on water, you are only a few miles from me!   

[keithnic]

Might have to check with aforesaid glamourous assistant, but I think I could be free. Can't drive on water though, will take the bridge 

[hotel21]

Sunday possibly better than saturday for me, but whatever....  Send a PM and we can sort out details.   

[Pete Elite]

Have you looked to see if you have a broken spring :question.

[geoff]

holding wheel at side to side 3 amd 9 o clock would be steering idler play or track rod end playor play in rack :ywould say clicking noise is idler again mine did this changed it and the noise went