[PHOTOS] wobbly/loose steering, bad steering feedback

hey guys since about 4 weeks ago i've noticed that the steering on my dc2r is very woobly/loose, there is heaps of play and i can't seem to be able turn into a corner as sharp as it used to be.

i spoke to a few people and mechanics to get the following checked: tie rods ends, ball joint, cv joint and other suspension components. everything is tight and normal except that my bottom coilover perch is loose (the bit you undo to adjust height), not sure how. we tightened that up but still to no avail.

my rear trailing arm bushings is on its way out, im in the process on getting new oem bushings but i doubt this is the cause of my problem.. can anyone clarify?

this all started happening after a major service to replace timing belt and the tensioner pulley, as well as replacing my ebc yellow pads which was 3mm thick with flaking off edges. a few days after i noticed my steering hub cover was not screwed on properly so i tightened that up, could something on the steering column shat itself?

anyway the last thing i haven't done is alignment, but i doubt it'll do anything since i got it done last in july..

i will personally deliver a box of mi goreng to whoever can solve this problem.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...omie_(box).jpg

regards,
dick smith

if all suspension components eg : bushes, coilovers, are intact then check your steering wheel itself,

get a full wheel alignment and report,

have you had accidents lately? come in contact with gutter lately?

tie rods and adjustments might've come loose,!

Drive your car to wheel shop and do alignment. Inspect you steering rack. worn tie rods will make the steering wheel feel loose

gor, define loose.

play meaning you can literally move steering wheel up/down and left/right? loose steering column bracket
or you mean loose as in you turn steering wheel quite abit before theres actual steering response? steering rack guide need adjustment

ill bring the car down ur place and u can take it for a spin?
but yeh i think its more the response thats a bit slow..

http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthr...=1#post3166800

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TbM

http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthr...=1#post3166800

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sorry bro, i meant to say thanks!

regards
bob jane

checked those rear trailing arm bushes yet?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mikecivic78

checked those rear trailing arm bushes yet?

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yep, they are starting to crack, only hairline cracks though, im just waiting to get replacement oem bushings at the moment

Steering rack mounts. When these wear and fail the steering rack will move around, giving a loose feeling wheel.

where is the vibration mainly felt? front or rear?

get your wheel bearings inspected / replace.

if these are worned out, you will experience vibration as well as a crappy unsafe turns (swaying).

one way to check is jack up the fronts or rears, with the wheel on, try and shake/move the wheel in and out. - as in shake it towards you (pull) and push it towards the shocks. (you get my dift).

if all sussy components seems to be fine, then get the wheel bearings inspected.

otherwise the worse case scenario would be that your steering shaft/column is goneskies.

Also did you wear in the new brake pads you istalled? - are your rotors still got plenty of meat left and or smooth flat surfaced?

if the rotors needed machining or you havent bedded the pads in, this will also cause vibration when applying the brakes, but should not affect cornering when the brakes are not applied.

i dont think it will be your alignment - unless the mechanics have changed your shocks , sussy components around and installed used and abused parts without you knowing. (it happens - new parts for old parts)

let us know how u go.

Check how much rotational play your wheel has too see if its your rack guide.
http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/...trys2/rack.png

Quote:

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Originally Posted by trism

Steering rack mounts. When these wear and fail the steering rack will move around, giving a loose feeling wheel.

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this makes a lot of sense, as i can only feel it when the car is moving, when stationary it feels normal.. ill get this checked up.. will report back

Quote:

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Originally Posted by IV73CI

where is the vibration mainly felt? front or rear?

get your wheel bearings inspected / replace.

if these are worned out, you will experience vibration as well as a crappy unsafe turns (swaying).

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the steering doesn't vibrate, think of it like when you play a racing game with a wheel with shit feedback... really hard to explain.. but like any little bumps on the road causes the steering to go mental

Quote:

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Originally Posted by IV73CI

otherwise the worse case scenario would be that your steering shaft/column is goneskies.

Also did you wear in the new brake pads you istalled? - are your rotors still got plenty of meat left and or smooth flat surfaced?

if the rotors needed machining or you havent bedded the pads in, this will also cause vibration when applying the brakes, but should not affect cornering when the brakes are not applied.

i dont think it will be your alignment - unless the mechanics have changed your shocks , sussy components around and installed used and abused parts without you knowing. (it happens - new parts for old parts)

let us know how u go.

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the pads are used pads that seems to be an oem brand.. the rotors are lipped and unmachineable so i'm due for new rotors and pads replacement anyway, just used those pads as my old ones are very thin and unsafe. but yea the car doesn't shudder/vibrate when braking, only when turning and going over bumps..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TbM

Check how much rotational play your wheel has too see if its your rack guide.

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play is normal, as mentioned above, the problem can only be felt when the car is moving...

+1 for steering rack mounts. these are a bitch to change.. hopefully a wheel alignment will fix it.

Try taking off the steering column cover.. the U joint bolts might be loose.

went to mocchi's and found that there is heaps of play when car is switched off stationary.

reckon it could be the steering rack itself thats broken

bump for more advice....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TbM

Check how much rotational play your wheel has too see if its your rack guide.

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so it could be the guide hey?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by anzai

went to mocchi's and found that there is heaps of play when car is switched off stationary.

reckon it could be the steering rack itself thats broken

bump for more advice....




so it could be the guide hey?

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If you have rotational play while its off and stationary id check the rack guide adjustment and check to see if your steering rack mounts are intact.

got some photos of the RTA bushings, do they need replacing?

passenger side

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/9042/pass2.jpg

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/9425/pass3.jpg

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/9593/pass4.jpg

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/427/pass1o.jpg


drivers side

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/5628/driv1.jpg

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/7523/driv2.jpg

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/2379/driv3.jpg


they look fcked to me lol

they don't look too bad, they wouldn't be the cause

They aint in a bad condition.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by anzai

hey guys since about 4 weeks ago i've noticed that the steering on my dc2r is very woobly/loose, there is heaps of play and i can't seem to be able turn into a corner as sharp as it used to be.

i spoke to a few people and mechanics to get the following checked: tie rods ends, ball joint, cv joint and other suspension components. everything is tight and normal except that my bottom coilover perch is loose (the bit you undo to adjust height), not sure how. we tightened that up but still to no avail.

my rear trailing arm bushings is on its way out, im in the process on getting new oem bushings but i doubt this is the cause of my problem.. can anyone clarify?

this all started happening after a major service to replace timing belt and the tensioner pulley, as well as replacing my ebc yellow pads which was 3mm thick with flaking off edges. a few days after i noticed my steering hub cover was not screwed on properly so i tightened that up, could something on the steering column shat itself?

anyway the last thing i haven't done is alignment, but i doubt it'll do anything since i got it done last in july..

i will personally deliver a box of mi goreng to whoever can solve this problem.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...omie_(box).jpg


regards,
dick smith

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Did you check the front lower control arm bush?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by anzai

got some photos of the RTA bushings, do they need replacing?

snip.

they look fcked to me lol

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mine were worse lol.
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._6664515_n.jpg
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._4069550_n.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mikecivic78

they don't look too bad, they wouldn't be the cause

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has to be the rack then....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Benson

Did you check the front lower control arm bush?

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yep, looks fine...

slight blockage in power steering lines?

doesnt seem like it needs changing. did you jack up the rear wheels?
i think if you jack up the rear wheels, you cant really see the tear.
gotta twist it to see the tear, like when its on the ground.

yea i jacked up the car

ill check again tmr by jacking one corner and check for the side thats on the ground

steering rack leaking out of the boots at all?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by vinnY

steering rack leaking out of the boots at all?

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doesnt look like it... ill check again