Hi,
I have a problem with my steering on my stilo . The power steering is working and there is NO power steering light lit up (indicating NO issue). But when I drive and I am just slightly turning right my steering wheel is like sticking it will move left or right but i get resistance when trying to turn left. It is anoying the hell out of me especially when on a prity straight road (sticking after turning slightly right the car just keeps going right until I turn left with resistance). I want to give this car to my wife who will drive the kids but I am scare to give it to her with this issue.

I ran Fiatecuscan with the modified vag.com lead and cleared all the error codes from all the modules as there were afew in each module (except ABS) but non of the codes were active except the passenger seat weight sensor issue. which I will look at after this steering issue.

I have now driven the car for a week and check for errors again. There are no errors in any of the modules except the passenger seat weight sensor issue.

I have the free vesion of Fiatecuscan and I believe there are no options to calibrate the steering in there. The sticking issue happens at the same point in the turning circle. I am stuck and cant think of what to do next.

Please Help any help will be greatly appreciated and thankyou in advance for your responses.

Regards

NeoKuli

Maybe check your steering track rod ends. An excessive amount of play can give the feeling of free and easy and then a sudden resistance to turning

Also check the suspension top mounting bearings aren't sticking or breaking up. To check this, you'd need to jack the car up and disconnect the track rod ends. Then you should be able to rotate the suspension freely.

Deckchair5 said:

View attachment 81948
Maybe check your steering track rod ends. An excessive amount of play can give the feeling of free and easy and then a sudden resistance to turning

Click to expand...

Thankyou very much for your quick reply i will check that first thing tomorrow and report back.

I was hoping you would answer Deckchair5 I read your earlier post (June 2008) with detail on how to change the timing belt on a 1.2 16v stilo titled timing belt on stilo question and have posted another question on that It is title Timiming Belt Kit Help plese help me with that as I believe that is also an emergency (im not going to drive the car untill that is sorted)
Thankyou for your Help

Regards

Neokuli

Davren said:

Also check the suspension top mounting bearings aren't sticking or breaking up. To check this, you'd need to jack the car up and disconnect the track rod ends. Then you should be able to rotate the suspension and freely.

Click to expand...

By the top mounting bearings do you mean the rubber at the top that hold the suspension leg in (I also have a VW Sharan and had to get these changed recently).

Procedure to follow; Once I have jacked up the car I should undo the track rod ends.

Then rotate the suspension, but what am I looking for here? Something sticking or ??

Also just a quick note the chap i bought the car off had a new wish bone in the boot do you thing that could be related??

Thankyou for your quick responce its much appreciated.

Reagrds

Neokuli

In between the two parts of the rubber mounting is a roller bearing plate.

Yes....you would be looking for something sticking.

Hi,
I investigated Yesturday and found that my drivers side wishbone was damaged at one of the pivioting points. So I replace the wishbone. This has made my steering wheel off centre, the steering sticking is now even worse, (i will need to get the tracking done but ideally once all steering work has been completed).

The daylight was very quickly disapearing so I moved the steering with the track rod ends attach to see if anything was sticking. I didnot feel anything would it have been obvious if there was a problem? or should i have tacken off the track rod ends as the procedure of rotating the wheels would be usless without removing them? (the tracking rod ends were secure)

What should be my next step? Should I get the tracking done? and see if it makes a difference or should i take the track rods off and turn the wheels?
to see if it is the top mounts? ( once the vehicle is jacked up there is reduced presure on the top mounts could this hide the problem)?

Other than the top mounts could ther be anything else i need to look at?

Regards

Neokuli

To check the track rod ends for wear I do a few things
1 With everything still attached I move the wheel forcefully from side to side whilst looking at the track rod end for any lost movement
2 I get someone to waggle the steering wheel from side to side whilst looking at the track rod end
3 I get someone to waggle the steering wheel from side to side whilst I hold the track rod end, feeling for any knocking

Tracking won't affect your knocking problem but it will need to be done now you have changed the wishbone

hi Deckchair5

Hi Deckchair5 I have no knocking just steering sticking at the same place then veering to the right. Do you think it could be the top mountings? i will check the track rods again tonight

Nothing so simple as something under the dash fouling on the steering column is it?

Davren said:

In between the two parts of the rubber mounting is a roller bearing plate.

Yes....you would be looking for something sticking.

Click to expand...

Hi, is it possible to move the roller bearing to a different position i am thinking if i can move the sticking bit to the right full lock position then i can use the steering normally with out having to replace the top mounts.

Also to check if it is the top mmounts i am going to spray grease between both rubbers to see if that helps the unsticking of the steering wheel. (as in the morning i dont get much sticking at all, my thinking this is due to water mosture on the bearing and hence it being less sticky??)

any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Regards

Neokuli

The bearing plate is sandwiched between the two rubber parts of the top mounting. You may be able to spray grease into it, but if it is the bearing plate that's causing your problem, it's more likely that some of the rollers or the metal plates have broken. No amount of grease would cure that.

Davren said:

The bearing plate is sandwiched between the two rubber parts of the top mounting. You may be able to spray grease into it, but if it is the bearing plate that's causing your problem, it's more likely that some of the rollers or the metal plates have broken. No amount of grease would cure that.

Click to expand...

I lifted the car turned the wheels and did feel a little bit of sticking when turning left (at the point where the steering sticks).

I tried sparying the grease and it has help quite a bit. i still get the sticking but it alot less resistance to put it straight.

Tomorrow i will have a go at the top mounts i have ordered the kit from eurocarparts 47.5 + vat (SKF) for both sides. Question is do i need to do both sides? as i am sure it is the Drivers side mount. (other than this issue the mounts seem in good nick no movement at all.

I have spent a fair bit on this car so far and was just wondering that if the top mounts dont fix the sticking issue then could there be an issue with the steering rack?? (hope not)

Regards

Neokuli

If only one side is sticking and you've identified which side, then you only need to do that side.

You will need a yolk type spring compressor to remove the spring to fit the new top mounting parts. If you've never removed a spring before, it can be a very dangerous process. There's some information in post #22 of this thread:

https://www.fiatforum.com/stilo/169795-stilo-multiwagon-ride-height-2.html

Make sure you fit the bearing plate the correct way up as in the diagram below, The two parts of the top mounting must be lined up as in the diagram and once refitted to the car, the holes in the mounting should also line up with the hole in the top of the suspension turret under the bonnet. With the wheels straight ahead, you should be able to pass a 3mm (ish) rod, e.g. a Phillips screwdriver blade, through all three holes without resistance.
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Hi,

I replaced the top mounts and they aligned up perfectly but this has not sorted my steering sticking problem. The old mounts looked in good condition but just to eliminate them i put the new ones in. But i still get the sticking after turning slightly right.

I have to get the wheels aligined and will get that done on Monday (one chap had a go today but got stuck as the drivers side track rod nut was seized with the inner rod, he heated the nut and got it moving a bit but gave up after about 30 mins). I think i might have to loosen them first before i take it to the tracking place on Monday any advice?? also the slight bit off tracking adjustment seems to have helped but i might just be imagining it as i want the problem so badly to go away.

I am so pissed at the moment as the top mounts was just a waste of money and time the old mounts taken out looked better quality than the new ones put in.

Please help!! What could the problem be??? (my thoughts are only two components left are steering rack and steering column unless i have missed something)

Regards

Neokuli