Why doesn't mine go round corners?

[simpo one]

I had a go in a friend’s N-reg Griffith yesterday. The first thing I said as I drove along was ‘Aha, power steering!’, as it felt so different from my own 97 Griff. But it wasn't! His Griff was light and fluent to drive, and if I turned into a corner the car followed naturally round. But in my Griff, it's more of a fight - I have to positively hold the car round the corners. Our tyres are the same 205x55 SO2s, so what's causing the difference? My car is 17,000 miles and has never been ragged or shagged. It's going to Offord Motor Co next week for a service, so what do I ask them to check?

[simpo one]

Well I checked the tyre pressures (22/24) and whilst they were a little low all round, getting them better hasn't made any difference. Don't need or want PAS, thanks all the same, as the N-reg Griff felt super without it - ie. it can be done!

I'll pass all your comments on to Simon for digestion - thanks.

[simpo one]

'When I drove it away I instantly noticed that it seemed much easier to handle and less hard work on cornering. Must be the new tyres I thought. When I checked the pressures (with a digital pressure guage I always carry) they had put 24 in the front!. So I thought lets try it and upped the backs to 26.'

Yep, but you said it was already handling much better before you did that - so it must have been the new tyres, if that was the only thing they changed...

[simpo one]

I spoke to the previous owner of the car today - he said it had had the top suspension bushes replaced with polyurethane ones. He ran it at 24/26psi as well. He also suggested the top ball joints in mine might be seizing.

At least Simon at Offord will have plenty of things to check!

[simpo one]

Well the car's now back from Offord and it's sporting purple poly bushes. The car turns in a little better but on sharper and/or faster corners it's still definitely fighting back. And that despite 'reset geometry' on the bill. I could put a couple more psi in the front tyres but it couldn't make that much difference, surely.

The bushes weren't cheap to fit so I'm a rather disappointed.

[simpo one]

Fair point. Foolishly I thought the service co would grease the UJs at a 12,000 mile service, but didn't, and I ended up doing it myself. Is spray grease any good for UJs or is it too thin?

[simpo one]

Call me stupid but where do I get steering rack end gaitors from, and how do I fit something that's a cylindrical tube over a rod without slicing it down the side? Presuambly I have to disconnect one end and slide it over?

[simpo one]

Having read that thread, the heat seems to be the biggest problem - so how about wrapping some of that silver heat shield stuff around the UJs and ty-wrapping both ends? Perhaps it wouldn't be flexible enough.

[simpo one]

'Try the local motor factors who do a zip up type gaitor for lazy bods who dont want to take the joint apart.'

Actually it's for *cautious* bods who don't fancy dismantling steering systems, along with prospect of not being able to put it back together again, or it falling apart at 90mph!!

'Think I can source one and bring it along to the next club meet.'

Done - cheers! I'll swap you a tin of purple paint for a game too!