Technical Marea 1.6 steering

[stevec]

A friend of mine has a 2001 1.6 marea 80K, he says it drives fine in a straight line, but when he turns a corner the steering goes tight, and then 1 of the wheels feels like it locks up and the car lurches, it does it when turning left and right. Oh and it makes a crunching noise.

I suggested it might be the differential.

Also if it is the diff would a gearbox on a 51 reg brava 1.6 fit? Seeing as it's the same engine.

 

[Renegade_8]

AFAIK you are OK with the Brava gearbox. I wonder if you have a drive shaft problem though. If you jack the car up one side and with the wheels straight ahead spin the raised wheel and it turns fine then the diff is working. You can also check the wheel bearings while you are there.