Loose Steering Issue

[Bobfin]

Hi Guys,

was wondering if anyone out there has had a similar issue. Have found recently that the steering feels slightly loose, when driving across lanes on motorway or over uneven road surfaces the steering pulls slightly before any response in the steering wheel. There is no noise just the feeling that the wheels are moving very slightly before you feel anything on the steering wheel. I have recently had 4 wheel laser wheel alignment so issue isn't there. Had the car out for a 20mile run on country road and found when i stopped there was slight movement on the steering wheel but not on the wheels. Had the car into local independent Audi garage, they carried out road test but said they couldn't find anything obvious. Would appreciate a heads up on this before a trip to Glasgow Audi.

Any info on this would be appreciated,

Thanks

[Madmonkee]

Steering rack bolts loose? Worn suspension bushes is my guess

[sonny]

Odd, I would have said tracking is out hence why its pulling (tramlining). What width tyres is it running, wider than 255s?.

If lose steering rack bolts these will make a clunking noise when at low speeds reversing etc.

[adsgreen]

Loose steering rack bolt (generally pass get one) is the first thing to check. Even a main dealer doing all three (and a couple are a pig to get too) no more than 100 quid.
With the car sill and engine off but ignition on turn the wheel (so you've no power assistance) from one side to the other. If there's a noticeable clonk felt through the steering then worth checking the bolt.

Otherwise worn track rod / bush could do it.
But surprised not found as they can be easily spotted with the car in the air. Shouldn't be any play in the wheels.

[toyneg]

I had similiar symptoms last year so took it to Camberley Audi and they ended up replacing all the top bushes and Suspension arms (they did check for the loose steering rack bolt but it wasn't that), got some goodwill from Audi aswell on the job and they gave me 50% off the standard price to do the work. job done

[Bobfin]

Thanks Guys,

gives me somewhere to start.

[zed_hn]

Guys how do you get to the steering rack bolts, I know there are 3 and that one of them is under the ecu cover chamber where the battery terminals are but the others are under that how do you get to those?

Help needed

Cheers

[adsgreen]

A lot of cursing and swearing.
The one under the car can be got with a very very long extension bar.

[daveh]

Any solution on this one yet? Got mine going in Friday to get checked for similar issue.

[Bobfin]

Had car into Glasgow Audi, went out with mechanic for a road test, he couldn't really feel any issues with the steering but they then had the car in for inspection and came back with nothing. Quite surprised as i'm positive there's something not quite right. excuse my ignorance but how obvious is it when suspension bushes are worn ? can this be seen from under the car to the trained eye and the same for the steering rack bolts ? this is driving me crazy !

[TonyHayers]

Had car into Glasgow Audi, went out with mechanic for a road test, he couldn't really feel any issues with the steering but they then had the car in for inspection and came back with nothing. Quite surprised as i'm positive there's something not quite right. excuse my ignorance but how obvious is it when suspension bushes are worn ? can this be seen from under the car to the trained eye and the same for the steering rack bolts ? this is driving me crazy !

Does it feel a bit like driving a boat? Like feels really slow to respond to steering input and feels hard to drive straight at pace?

[Bobfin]

Hi

Never driven a boat so on that one not sure, it just feels that there is very slight play on the front wheels when going over uneven surfaces, nothing major but annoying, its noticeable at higher speeds also, you feel slight steering pull without movement of the steering wheel, its kind of hard to explain.

[Bobfin]

Any solution on this one yet? Got mine going in Friday to get checked for similar issue.

Did you have any luck with you car on this issue ?

[lengster1]

Im also eager to pinpoint whats causing this as mines also doing it,cant see or feel any wear in joints when on the ramps but way more lively than when it was 2 yrs old.

[daveh]

Yeah I posted in the 'tramlining' thread,forgot I'd commented on this one as well. New front suspension arms fitted, made a vast improvement but still not 100%. Went back in and had all 4 wheels aligned. Front ones were out by a bit they said. That was it sorted then. Had new Michelin pilot sport tyres fitted all round as well to get rid if the Pirelli p-zeros. Like a new car now. If you're suspension is ok then hopefully all you might need is wheel allignment done which would be cheap fix.