Technical scary road handling

[J.R Racing]

Where abouts are you? I have been running Seicento's for about seven years now so would be happy to come and take a look over it.

I have to go visit my girlfriend tonight who lives Nr Oxford and will be travelling up the A34 from where I live in Hampshire.

I'm not an expert mechanic but with a firm knowlege of these cars may be able to point out something really obvious, I also know how a car should and should not behave.

I would have said a bent Alloy wheel could be the culprit but it sounds like you have rectified that if that was the problem. I say this as I did this myself driving through a massive pot hole in the road some years back in my Seicento.

If you are interetsed Private Message me and I can always give you a phone number.

Thanks.

 

[ycming]

right right from experience with the honda, it only makes a knocking sound turning one direction yeah ?

I think it could be a crack steering rack. (not expensive to get second hand)

Ming

 

[George1000]

pardon?

so sorry posted reply to wrong member, it was a comment on an earlier reply? please accept my most humble apologies, you guys have been amazing.

 

[George1000]

right right from experience with the honda, it only makes a knocking sound turning one direction yeah ?

I think it could be a crack steering rack. (not expensive to get second hand)

Ming

Oh No!!! is it safe to drive???
Also sound very expensive especially as we only have a local expensive garage!

 

[ycming]

Hmmm if it the steering rack, then they should spot a crack in it when they are inspecting the car!

If u get the parts, then i would say 3 / 4 hours labour ? (that is just my estimation!)

Ming

 

[Brooky]

Hmmm if it the steering rack, then they should spot a crack in it when they are inspecting the car!

If u get the parts, then i would say 3 / 4 hours labour ? (that is just my estimation!)

Ming

it shouldnt take that long for a rack. 1/2 hours more like

 

[George1000]

Thanks for that!
I will post wheel arch measurements later to see if that helps with diagnosis?
Plus describe the noise better when fully turning the wheel to reverse?
Thanks for your help

 

[Brooky]

Jack the car up and spin the wheels, just to check there not bent.

 

[George1000]

sounds like somthings been bent
probably the lower control arm
get a tape measure out
measure the distance between the wheel rim and the wheel arch on both sides at the front
see if theres any glaring differences

on the point of money,dont risk lives over cash
if it feels unsafe then dont allow it to be driven

just measured the arch to wheel rim -
on bad side drivers front = 9.5cm
on passenger side = 10.5cm
does this difference mean bad news?
Please help

 

[rooster]

dont mean to be cheeky or anything, but i assume you have checked the tyre pressures? just you say you have had an alloy replaced, i would be checking the tyre pressure's and the direction of the tyre, these factors can make a car handle very strange!!

 

[rooster]

just measured the arch to wheel rim -
on bad side drivers front = 9.5cm
on passenger side = 10.5cm
does this difference mean bad news?
Please help

you dont say to which point you measured? you need to measure form the back of the wheel, and the front of the wheel, on both sides, other wise measurements are useless!

 

[George1000]

dont mean to be cheeky or anything, but i assume you have checked the tyre pressures? just you say you have had an alloy replaced, i would be checking the tyre pressure's and the direction of the tyre, these factors can make a car handle very strange!!

Yeah cheeky?
we have checked tyre pressures and had the tracking done?

 

[rooster]

Yeah cheeky?
we have checked tyre pressures and had the tracking done?

lol ok i didnt men it to sound cheeky, lol! also the direction of the tyre, if its a directional one and has been fitted the wrong way round

 

[George1000]

you dont say to which point you measured? you need to measure form the back of the wheel, and the front of the wheel, on both sides, other wise measurements are useless!

I measured from the centre top edge wheel arch to the edge of the tyre, just tried measuring the back of the tyre upto the bottom of the spring base?
Drivers side 6cm passenger side 7cm?
or am I still doing it wrong?

 

[George1000]

lol ok i didnt men it to sound cheeky, lol! also the direction of the tyre, if its a directional one and has been fitted the wrong way round

not sure about that one??

 

[George1000]

not sure about that one??

please let me know how would I be able to check that??

 

[fingers99]

If it's directional it'll often have "directional" on the sidewall and always an arrow or suchlike "direction of rotation".

You could do a lot worse than pop it in to KwikFit, explain the issues, get them to take a peek and re-do the tracking. Less than £30 IIRC.

 

[rooster]

I measured from the centre top edge wheel arch to the edge of the tyre, just tried measuring the back of the tyre upto the bottom of the spring base?
Drivers side 6cm passenger side 7cm?
or am I still doing it wrong?

sorry for the pants pic but you ideally need these measureents from either side

 

[George1000]

If it's directional it'll often have "directional" on the sidewall and always an arrow or suchlike "direction of rotation".

You could do a lot worse than pop it in to KwikFit, explain the issues, get them to take a peek and re-do the tracking. Less than £30 IIRC.

Sounds like a plan, will definately give that option a go, thanks very much for all your cheaky imput, but you have made a suggestion that has indeed calmed me down (worrying).
I have also asked my daughter to drive carefully and miss all pot holes until we can get to quick-fit.
Living in a small viallge its 3/4 hour to out nearest town with a quickfit.

Have a great weekend!
Rooster great name, my daughter love the band by the same name, saw them in concert, Oxon.

 

[Brooky]

just measured the arch to wheel rim -
on bad side drivers front = 9.5cm
on passenger side = 10.5cm
does this difference mean bad news?
Please help

thats prity standard......called the cento lean.

drivers side suspension always sag abit more than passengers side