Possible steering issue

[Marcus121]

Hi guys

Hoping some can help me here, I have recently purchased my first aston, it's an early db9 auto and I am unsure if I may have a steering issue but as I have never had another aton to compare it with I can't really say for sure so was hoping for some input from other db9 owners, I notice that the steering is quite hard/stiff although I hear this is a characteristic of the db9 however I notice that when going round a bend lets say for instance a slight bend on a duel carriage way if I take my hand of the wheel it remains in the same place (going round the bend) and does not move back to the center position almost like it will go round the corner itself if I take my hands of the wheel? I know this sounds stupid and I'm trying to put it into words so you can understand what I mean. Another way to explain it is that if driving in a straight line and I turn the wheel 90 degrees left it and let go the wheel will just stay like that until I straighten it up myself , hope this makes sence my other car is a large Mercedes which you can steer with one finger (should you wish) and usually if you let go of the wheel it seems to to return to the central position itself unlike the aston. I think it may just be down to the harder aston steering but any input from other drivers would be gratley appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Marcus

[mikey k]

Sounds normal to me
Is there any change in the "feel" as you turn the wheel at any point?
A good 4 wheel laser alignment with some added castor (to help centre the wheel) will pay dividends

[Marcus121]

Hi guys

Hoping some can help me here, I have recently purchased my first aston, it's an early db9 auto and I am unsure if I may have a steering issue but as I have never had another aton to compare it with I can't really say for sure so was hoping for some input from other db9 owners, I notice that the steering is quite hard/stiff although I hear this is a characteristic of the db9 however I notice that when going round a bend lets say for instance a slight bend on a duel carriage way if I take my hand of the wheel it remains in the same place (going round the bend) and does not move back to the center position almost like it will go round the corner itself if I take my hands of the wheel? I know this sounds stupid and I'm trying to put it into words so you can understand what I mean. Another way to explain it is that if driving in a straight line and I turn the wheel 90 degrees left it and let go the wheel will just stay like that until I straighten it up myself , hope this makes sence my other car is a large Mercedes which you can steer with one finger (should you wish) and usually if you let go of the wheel it seems to to return to the central position itself unlike the aston. I think it may just be down to the harder aston steering but any input from other drivers would be gratley appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Marcus

[Bincenzo]

Hi Marcus,
I'm no expert, but that really doesn't sound right to me. Even a non power steering car should self centre if you release the wheel underway. Certainly worth getting it checked over.

[Marcus121]

Hi Mikey

There is no change in feel other than steering gets lighter as i go faster as you would expect, it's funny you should mention the laser alignment as the first thing I did when I got it was get that done at quick fit, they had a hunter machine which I believe is the best although I couldn't say the same for there knowledge or ability but anyway they did all 4 wheels and got every setting within spec however the passenger wheel castor would not come to where It should be which meant it was 1.5 degrees out compared to the drivers which was at the correct castor, they told me they saw no reason why this should affect the cars handling and after some googling on line I came to the same conclusion but would love to hear any other advise, i remembered watching the settings on the hunter machine and the castor was something like 4.5 degrees for the passengers side and 3 degrees for the drivers side (this was after they had finished) the hunter machine was showing the passengers as been in the red (not within specs) and the drivers side in the green (within spec) however after checking online I saw the castor spec for the db9 to be 5 degrees (give or take .25 of a degree I think) but I can't imagine the hunter machine having the wrong specs in it. I may get a second opinion if I can find someone in west yorkshire with a good machine as well as a good operative no offence to all quick fit workers but these particular guys did not seem overly bright although they did have all the gear.

Maybe they all drive like this, it's like it will only go where you point it and won't return to the center position unless I put it there, it does spring back somewhat when leaving a sharp turn such as when leaving a roundabout but it's just in average bends.

Thanks for the input

[Marcus121]

Actually having just rechecked the importance of castor it would seem incorrect castor would cause the exact symptoms I'm experiencing, castor is needed to make the wheels have a natural straight path (just like castor wheels on a trolly) I think I need a decent laser wheel alignment from someone who knows what there doing.
I'll get the tracking re done and alter the castor and see how it goes, meanwhile if anyone knows what the correct castor should be for a db9 I would love to know as I'm sure the specs on the hunter machine did not match the ones shown on piston heads which I'm sure is good info (see link below)

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=964...

Thanks for the help

Marcus

[cayman-black]

[quote=mikey k]Sounds normal to me
Really , perhaps you need to get yours check out and a good laser alignment done.

[mikey k]

Marcus121 said:

however the passenger wheel castor would not come to where It should be which meant it was 1.5 degrees out compared to the drivers which was at the correct castor, they told me they saw no reason why this should affect the cars handling

I'd disagree
If they aren't symmetrical you will get a different centering effect depending on which way you are turning (higher castor gives more self centering)
Also WHY can't they get full adjustment on one side? Accident damage? Seized bush?

BTW I like lower in spec castor as it makes the car feel more "alive" turns in quicker and gives better feedback, it makes cruising along a bit more work though.

[mikey k]

cayman-black said:

mikey k said:

Sounds normal to me
Really , perhaps you need to get yours check out and a good laser alignment done.

No it wasn't me that posted ~4 years ago about how important 4 wheel alignment is on these cars!

[MarkW34]

Hi Marcus,

Irrespective of the possible causes of what you're experiencing, my DB9 behaves in the way you're more familiar with and self centres in all situations so there is something not quite right somewhere. If you've just bought from dealer, then they should be your first port of call. If bought privately then a specialist who's knows these cars may be your best route?

[Marcus121]

Mark, thanks for letting me know your car self centres that just lets me know there's a problem and I'll be getting the caster rechecked, they said they couldn't get it correct because as soon as he got the nut so far round it sprang back or something but as I said they were far from competent, I have noticed a small amount of of play in my near side wheel when I rock it back and forth while jacked up, this is coming from a bush on the top wishbone which has excessive play so I have ordered a new wishbone after that is fitted I'm going to a garage to get the alignment re-done, the quick fit guy could not give me any reason as too why he couldn't get it aligned just the bit about he gets it 1.5 degrees away from spec and then it springs back to 3 degrees away from spec but that could really mean anything, I'll update once a decent mechanic/aligner has had a look. Thanks for the help it's good to know from other am drivers it's not normal so I can now look to get it fixed.

Marcus

[Gibberish]

My DB9's power steering is heavier than my Mercedes. But I can't say I've ever tried letting go of it mid-corner. I'd start with a geo check, make sure it's all at factory settings.

[Genie Chaser]

Check the column universal joints. If their seized will give those symptoms.

[Sump]

Does it shudder at very low speed?

[Jon39]

Marcus121 said:

... was get that done at quick fit, they had a hunter machine which I believe is the best although I couldn't say the same for there knowledge or ability ...

Goodness I winced.

The last time I took a car to that firm was for replacement tyres, about 15 years ago.
They told me my car needed new front brake pads.
Funny that, because I knew they were only 25% worn.
I have never been back to the firm, since that deceitful incident with any car, and certainly not my Aston.

Prefer slow fit, knowledge, experience and genuine customer service.

[Marcus121]

It shudders slightly when putting on tight lock but that is only at very low speed such as pulling out of my drive, I will try and check the universal joints on the column if that's possible assuming there not totally hidden, and while I sat in the waiting area I heard that every customer who went in for a tyre also needed tracking doing (even one guy who had it done a week earlier by the very same garage) he was not amused, I really don't like to bash company's but I was genuinely shocked at the they were telling every customer about all the extra work they needed doing ie slightly cracked tyres or poorly wearing tyres, tracking or exhausts and so on. They even managed to charge me £125 for the tracking they quote £43 for fronts and £19.99 for rears so no idea where the £125 came from and me been a wolly I just paid it to avoid the awkwardness.

[Sump]

Marcus121 said:

It shudders slightly when putting on tight lock but that is only at very low speed such as pulling out of my drive, I will try and check the universal joints on the column if that's possible assuming there not totally hidden, and while I sat in the waiting area I heard that every customer who went in for a tyre also needed tracking doing (even one guy who had it done a week earlier by the very same garage) he was not amused, I really don't like to bash company's but I was genuinely shocked at the they were telling every customer about all the extra work they needed doing ie slightly cracked tyres or poorly wearing tyres, tracking or exhausts and so on. They even managed to charge me £125 for the tracking they quote £43 for fronts and £19.99 for rears so no idea where the £125 came from and me been a wolly I just paid it to avoid the awkwardness.

That shudder requires a new steering hose. IThere's a service bulletin for it as the original out of the factory had too much of a tight angle.

[handyman 1417]

They even managed to charge me £125 for the tracking they quote £43 for fronts and £19.99 for rears so no idea where the £125 came from and me been a wolly I just paid it to avoid the awkwardness.
[/quote]

That must be the price per wheel not axle. It's all very well having the best machine (Hunter) as long as the guy using it knows what he's doing!

[mikey k]

Marcus121 said:

It shudders slightly when putting on tight lock but that is only at very low speed such as pulling out of my drive, I will try and check the universal joints on the column if that's possible assuming there not totally hidden, and while I sat in the waiting area I heard that every customer who went in for a tyre also needed tracking doing (even one guy who had it done a week earlier by the very same garage) he was not amused, I really don't like to bash company's but I was genuinely shocked at the they were telling every customer about all the extra work they needed doing ie slightly cracked tyres or poorly wearing tyres, tracking or exhausts and so on. They even managed to charge me £125 for the tracking they quote £43 for fronts and £19.99 for rears so no idea where the £125 came from and me been a wolly I just paid it to avoid the awkwardness.

Common upsell with these types of places
High margin, low skill, uneducated customer who is easy to bamboozle

That said it is worth doing at regular intervals (annually?) at a place that knows what they are doing
I know Wheels in Motion (who are suspension specialists) charge similar money

[Marcus121]

I did notice that tight bend in the aluminium section of pipe that goes to the power steering cooler just under the passengers side front, I'll look into getting that updated as it almost a kink so I'm guessing it's a design flaw, do you think there is any way that shudder/pipe problem could be connected to my steering not returning to center issue? I know it would affect the rate of flow of fluid which when under maximum load such as turning while doing very low speed but would think that at 40mph during a 10 degree turn there would be little to no load in the power steering. Think ill jack the front wheels off the ground today and see if I can turn the wheels manually left to right and if I can then I would assume there is no mechanical issue and it's just a case of the castor been out because surely if I can turn them by hand there is no reason for them not to return to center other than castor/tracking?