Hi guys, the steering on my Punto doesn't feel great, had a look under the car & am wondering if this bush which has badly perished is to blame - I bought this car just after it passed its NCT (MOT) at the end of July, I can only imagine the bushes didn't look much better when it passed the test - i would have thought bushes as perished as this should have been a fail, or maybe I'm unlucky & the bushes have perished very quickly indeed!

However, though its a crappy pic, do you guys think this is the anti roll bar bush, & if so should i replace both sides at the same? Also would this be causing the vaugness in the steering?

Cheers!

I wouldn't have thought ARB bushes would cause steering vagueness, but you are right to replace those bushes. They're very inexpensive anyway.

Tease those ARB bolts very very carefully

plenty of Wd40 presoaking and possibly a good dose of heat as well

If you snap the bolts - its drilling time or new wishbone

If the steering is feeling vague, i'd say it wont be ARB, it'll be a dying track rod end or bottom ball joint

Is there any signs of "weird" tyre wear?

Ziggy

doesn't seem to be any weird tyre wear, tyres look fairly even to be honest.

marktoby said:

doesn't seem to be any weird tyre wear, tyres look fairly even to be honest.

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Get a quick hand brush and wipe the grit off the tyre

Then rub your hand one way on the shoulder of the tyre and then back again

Does one side feel rough in the sense that the groves seem raised?

Repeat for both shoulders for both tyres

Also ensure the tyre pressures are up correctly, as a low tyre can cause a drag in the steering, making it feel "vague" as that tyre isn't reacting quick enough

Ziggy