Technical Weird Steering

[bugsymike]

Hi anyone solved the issues mine does wander a bit at speed above 110 and feels like i am floating , aparently the mechanic changed the top mounts , but i hear something from the front when turning similar than what it had when changed the top mounts, good tires (Michelin) and when i have some load on suspension big uneven road bumps it clunks from the front , also poor center return from the steering. Honestly drives terrible besides city that is ok. Already changed tie rods.

Re the steering feel and poor centre return I would have the tracking/wheel alignment checked as it sounds to be "toeing out" to me.
This is where both front wheels if exaggerated , appear to be turning outwards.
In reality it only needs to be a couple of mm or so to give the result you are noticing.
Note, only have the steering alignment done after checking as advised by @koalar and any faults rectified.

 

[RalphM]

First thing to check tyre pressures, over inflation by only 1 or 2 pei can cause this.

 

[koalar]

I would start with sorting the clunking from the suspension first

Any alignment will be out again when whatever is loose or worn is replaced or tightened

Fingers crossed it will also fix the wandering

 

[bugsymike]

I would start with sorting the clunking from the suspension first

Any alignment will be out again when whatever is loose or worn is replaced or tightened

Fingers crossed it will also fix the wandering

100% Agree @#121. "Note, only have the steering alignment done after checking as advised by @koalar and any faults rectified."

 

[Luisc]

Vague steering
Clunks over bumps

Both sound like worn bushes

Check the rear bush on the suspension arms

One way here there are others

Panda 100hp metal tapping noise front end | FIAT Panda (Mk3)

Have had a metal tapping or rattling noise over rough ground coming from the front end ever since I got her 6 months ago. Just had the drop links and anti roll bar bushes replaced and it's made no difference. The garage said the next culprit might be top mounts, however I had the shocks and...

www.fiatforum.com

Could be the top mounts? Also hear a growling noise when turning the steering wheel for both sides

 

[Luisc]

100% Agree @#121. "Note, only have the steering alignment done after checking as advised by @koalar and any faults rectified."

Indeed , i need to solve the issue first and then alignment

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Could be the top mounts? Also hear a growling noise when turning the steering wheel for both sides

Top mounts? need to be checked, but can't see them causing vague steering. - or could they? maybe if the bearings are so severely corroded as to be almost solid? The usual problem with top mounts is when the bearings corrode but still allow the steering to operate. If this is the problem, turning the steering lock to lock will often produce clunks and bags as the corroded bearings cause the springs to wind up before releasing with a loud bang. if only mildly corroded then sometimes you'll hear grinding noises as you turn the steering wheel - wouldn't describe it as a growling noise though. I have heard a power steering motor which made a loudish growling noise though.

The more usual "suspects" are drop links and the rear bush on the suspension arm.

 

[koalar]

This thread is confusing, it was dead for several month

Then resurected

With I have the same with new top mounts fitted

changed the top mounts,

Now with a suggestion of it could be the top mounts

Could be the top mounts?

Am no longer sure who we are trying to help and with what

 

[Luisc]

This thread is confusing, it was dead for several month

Then resurected

With I have the same with new top mounts fitted



Now with a suggestion of it could be the top mounts



Am no longer sure who we are trying to help and with what

Honestly i think they did not Change only lubricated the mounts.... Always suspected that... I changed mechanic , and i changed the top mounts two years ago and now the problem reapeared, my case is boat like feeling at speed and clunkiness Over some speed bumps, and also poor returning steering wheel, and the rubbing sound from the wheel arches at low speed.

 

[koalar]

boat like feeling at speed

clunkiness Over some speed bumps

rubbing sound from the wheel arches

All sound like the suspension arm bush

That would be my first thing to check

What model

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

All sound like the suspension arm bush

That would be my first thing to check

What model

Top mounts renewed just 2 years ago? I think unlikely they are going to be the present problem. I agree, much more likely something to do with suspension arms/bushes.

 

[Luisc]

Top mounts renewed just 2 years ago? I think unlikely they are going to be the present problem. I agree, much more likely something to do with suspension arms/bushes.

The thing is i suspect it was not changed... Could be terrible wrong but not a single Mark on the top nut and the mechanic was not what i call carefull with cars.
But could well be arm bushes , would be prefereble put Fiat ones rather aftermarket right?

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Honestly i think they did not Change only lubricated the mounts.... Always suspected that... I changed mechanic , and i changed the top mounts two years ago and now the problem reapeared, my case is boat like feeling at speed and clunkiness Over some speed bumps, and also poor returning steering wheel, and the rubbing sound from the wheel arches at low speed.

But you say here that they were changed two years ago?

 

[koalar]

Top mounts renewed just 2 years ago? I think unlikely they are going to be the present problem. I agree, much more likely something to do with suspension arms/bushes.

It's the first thing to check for a number of reasons

A small amount of movement is amplified at the ball joint end

It does depend on where and how it driven but an average is something like the original bushes are good for 10 years or 50K miles

Whereas some of the replacements are shot after a year or 10K miles

A lot of the braking and accelerating forces are transmitted through this one small bush

As an example, when was doing 20+K a year I was replacing the bush only at 6 to 12 month intervals for nearly 10 years, I could feel when they were due when the wheels went over the cats eyes

That's just under 40 bushes

Where as a large amount of movement on the top mount results in a tiny amount of movement of the ball joint

It's normally the top mount bearing you can feel turning from lock to lock

It's rarely a wandering issue

These lots of other causes.such as inner track rod, but I always test the common, obvious first as a good percentage of the time, there's no point in going any further,

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

It's the first thing to check for a number of reasons

A small amount of movement is amplified at the ball joint end

It does depend on where and how it driven but an average is something like the original bushes are good for 10 years or 50K miles

Whereas some of the replacements are shot after a year or 10K miles

A lot of the braking and accelerating forces are transmitted through this one small bush

As an example, when was doing 20+K a year I was replacing the bush only at 6 to 12 month intervals for nearly 10 years, I could feel when they were due when the wheels went over the cats eyes

That's just under 40 bushes

Where as a large amount of movement on the top mount results in a tiny amount of movement of the ball joint

It's normally the top mount bearing you can feel turning from lock to lock

It's rarely a wandering issue

These lots of other causes.such as inner track rod, but I always test the common, obvious first as a good percentage of the time, there's no point in going any further,

Absolutely agree.