Track rod ends??
Discussion
Hi all my steering feels loose at high speed and the car tramlines a little also with small amount of shaking form the steering wheel. I have checked tyre pressures and balancing etc. The track rod ends move by hand fairly easily but do not have play up and down etc, all the ball joints and other bushings are intact. So I was thinking track rod ends, anyone else had similar issues? Just trying to diagnose a niggly problem
If any suspension joints are worn this is usually easy to feel by holding both parts of the joint in one hand so that you can feel relative movement while an assistant applies loads to the joint. An MOT would usually detect these too, so if this problem has been ongoing for a few years I wouldn't start by suspecting worn joints.
The symptoms you describe sound more like out-of-balance or out-of-round wheels, incorrect geometry or incorrect tyre pressures to me.
The symptoms you describe sound more like out-of-balance or out-of-round wheels, incorrect geometry or incorrect tyre pressures to me.
its had two sets of standard alloys and new balanced tyres all round twice each time the symptoms are the same so I ruled out wheel tyre issues,,? Its not awful but something is not quite right the steering wheels shakes and feels loose at certain higher speeds and tramlines, IU was hoping it was track rod ends as that's an easy fix
Edited by barriejames on Sunday 6th September 18:40
Depending on what car it is, the rack mounting bolts being loose could also have an outside chance of being the problem.
Have you had the car Off the ground and tried swinging on the wheels in different directions so to provoke a bit of movement.
Try doing it with and without someone counterholding the wheel on the opposite side to feel for movement.
It’s also possible it could be your steering u-joint. Same deal, turning the steering wheel with the engine off to feel for slop, and then jacking the car up, engaging the steering lock and trying to k move the wheels might highlight it.
Have you had the car Off the ground and tried swinging on the wheels in different directions so to provoke a bit of movement.
Try doing it with and without someone counterholding the wheel on the opposite side to feel for movement.
It’s also possible it could be your steering u-joint. Same deal, turning the steering wheel with the engine off to feel for slop, and then jacking the car up, engaging the steering lock and trying to k move the wheels might highlight it.
its up on stands now i can't feel any play or visually see any fron joints or are bushes or rack mounts, i will check the steering uj but this problem only occurs at higher speed and tramlines pull the wheel sharply wheels are balanced tyres have a few hundred on and pressures are correct
What car is it? I know Skoda dealers had a very broad definition for what was in spec as far as wheel And subframe alignment Was concerned. Any chance a suspension arm is bent? Wheel bearing issue? Top mount loose causing the whole lot to wobble?
It might just be a case of getting an extra pair of hands to wobble every component in as many ways you can think of whilst you look for movement.
Trying to check yourself is way less effective; it’s hard to spot a mm of movement when your head and eyes are shifting too.
It might just be a case of getting an extra pair of hands to wobble every component in as many ways you can think of whilst you look for movement.
Trying to check yourself is way less effective; it’s hard to spot a mm of movement when your head and eyes are shifting too.
barriejames said:
Yes but I've now fitted new TRE cant test it yet as waiting for a shock refurb, but I'm.pretty certain its not a tracking issue as the steering feels loose at speed and unstable, both TRE are same distance from fixed points so they are equal Toe looks good also
Equal adjustment on the TRE means nothing, and very difficult to spot incorrect toe without at least some measuring tools.I'd check for any play (not just the TRE) and get it aligned and take it from there.
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