Steering problems.

[tigger99]

Hi guys, I recently brought a 1.4 Corsa Breeze but have had non stop problems with the steering.

Whenever I turn right full lock or sharply the wheels seem to stick and the steering wheel refuses to centralise itself so i'm having to turn it back myself. First I thought it was the steering rack so I took it off and had it checked out but that seems to be fine. The bloke who checked it suggested screwing the track rod ends on evenly and i've had to replace the ball joints. The problem is still there but not as noticable as before.

Does anyone have any other ideas??

[jarjar]

tracking ? if you tracking is out far enough your steering wont self centre.

[tigger99]

Thanks for the reply but the tracking was the first thing I tried before getting it on a ramp and taking the steering rack off. The tracking's been done again today but the problem is still there, although it's less noticable.

I've checked the hub and the bottom arms and can't find anything wrong there. Somebody suggested to me to check the anti roll bar.

[jarjar]

ok if it were me, id undo the u/j at the botom of the colomn and try turning the wheel see if it turns freely dont turn too many time tho if it has an airbag as more than about 5 turns in will break the wiring for it, if it all works as it should then your problem then lies between the u/j and the wheels just check each bit down the line. i cant recall what the u/j is like on a corsa but ive known other makes and models partially seizing and makin the steering tight. sorry i cant be more help ill have a think and see if i can come up with any other things to try.

[jar_jar89]

lol...sounds stupic but if u still using the original steelies the front ones on mine were slightly wider and taller than the rear ones. when i had the brakes changed the guy at the garage put the larger set on one side and the smaller set on the other. I kinda noticed the car was leaning/learchin ova to one side but it was only fractionaly so i thought it was road camber! however,,,the car steering coloum vibrated more than usual when drivin on the dual carriageway only when beteen 65-75mph and the wheel was slow to correct itself when turning round right hand corners cos of the wheel setup. night sound stupid but try checking the tryes/alloys are all the same size lol..might be ur problem. orther than that maybe it the tracking rod balljoints maybe it the trailing arm pivot is bent or sumin (from an curb hit?), but u would probs have noticed that when lookin at the rods. did u put the indicators cancel lug back on the right way round when u removed the steering wheel if it come off? cos maybe if it upside down or the greease isnt smeared all the way round it rubbing and stoppin the wheel spinning round without ur aid?...but again u would have noticed the indicators not canceling...and i doubt it that tbh anyways cos that just a stupid scenario i pulled out my ass!

[tigger99]

Thanks for the replies.

I've checked to see if it spins freely and that seems fine. I've already check all ball joints, arms etc to make sure there's no bends or anything else. It has still got the original steelies on but they're all exactly the same and there's no unusual vibrations when i'm travelling over 60mph. I did check the anti roll bar which was slightly out of place and that's been put back into it's right position but the problem still persists!!!

Please help........I'm totally running out of ideas on what else it could be.

[jar_jar89]

no idea really. maybe it summin to do with the point where the steering colum come in through the front of the shell. u would probs have to take out the dash to do that though just to check the seal/bearings are all fine and not gunked up.

[tigger99]

Hmmmm, think taking the dash out is a step too far for me but i'm going to check the bearings tomorrow and then drop it in to a couple of garages on Monday to see if they can help. It's funny that it only happens when I turn right and not on left turns.

Thanks for all your help, I really appreciate it. I now know more about my Corsa's steering than putting my make up on. Ha ha.