(T) strange steering problem

when going over bumps/potholes in my Stilo it kind of rips the steering from me, say if my left wheel goes over a pothole my steering jolts to the left for a second.

Also when turning left or right and I go over a grate the same thing happens

I've had the wheel aligment done about a month ago and it was way out but I haven't hit any kurbs or anything like that since...

Any ideas?

This can be due to size of the wheels you have on your car Dan Erm what size ar they ? I had a puncture about a fortnight ago in front nearside and left my car at tyre place for them to fix I now have the old problem of car pulling to the camber of the road which wasnt there before

They're the standard 205/55/16

Check for play in your track rod ends, that'll cause it to suddenly veer off.

What mileage do you have?

I have 51k miles.

Thing is i took the car to a garage for them to have a look at a knocking noise im getting and he said he checked all the driveshafts etc and there was no play in them at all so I'm assuming he would have checked for play in the track rod ends at the same time.

Only other thing I can think of is the electric motor for the power steering being too sensitive?

I'll check for play in the track rod ends tomorrow.

knocking sound over bumps and twitching/ veering off course is VERY track rod end.
Jack it up and do a vigorous lateral check (9 to 3 o clock) on the wheel for movement. Try to hold the track rod end and feel for knocking too if you can

It happens on both sides as well, could that mean that they've gone on both sides?

Yes indeed.

TRACK ROD END 2
Track rod ends tend to be much heavier knock which you feel right up through the steering wheel and affects steering too. Particularly noticable knock if you hit a bump whilst on lock. The car may even veer one way whilst you change gear and then back again.
I'd be surprised at 51k miles if both anti roll bar links and track rod ends weren't worn. My first track rod end was gone at 35k miles



ANTI ROLL BAR LINKS
tend to make a light knocking, more of a rattling noise over slightly rough surface but they don't affect the steering course. Tend to be quiet on a smooth surface and then more of a rattle on rough surfaces. You may have this

My car is making this same kind of noise for past two weeks and now i can hear a slight knock when I move the steering wheel from left to right while it passes trough center, I can see a joint at the linkage end but noise comes further down maybe from the steering rack I took her to dealer this evening, they will call me tomorrow , car is new: only 2230 Kms so this is not good at all.

hi guys,
don't know if i have the same sort of problems? The car occasionally pulls to the left more than just with camber of road, other times it will pull to the right slightly and yet other times will drive straight . do'nt know if this is part of the same sort of problem?? car now done 48K

Exactly the same as mine rackham115, I have no idea what it is now though. I've checked droplinks, trackrod ends, driveshafts.

had the tracking done twice (helps a bit but not alot) but now I'm lost for ideas.

"don't know if i have the same sort of problems? The car occasionally pulls to the left more than just with camber of road, other times it will pull to the right slightly and yet other times will drive straight . do'nt know if this is part of the same sort of problem??"
Try the front tyres on the fully loaded recommended pressures and see what you think. Recommended pressures are just that, up to you if you find a better setting suits your tyres and loads. A slightly soggy tyre meant the car's weight pulled the tyres over and kept on going! My camber following ceased immediately after pumping up to a firmer setting

you know what decks I've always thought that the tyre pressure in the handbook were a bit too low. What are yours pumped up to?

I have 205/55/16V and the fronts are on 2.3bar. The difference was immediate, hope it's the same for you guys

2.3 bar? What's that, about 33psi?