GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: gor131-x on 12 October 2009, 19:31
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Bought this about a week ago,the brakes werent in good condition so decided to change the discs and pads.the tracking was also out.
so i changed the discs and pads however on the left side,i turned the steering track rod pipe just as a temporary thing until i got the proper tracking done,but(and i think that was the cause),when i took it for a drive,the steering will automatically full lock to the right!
it is sh** scary and also,when going over bumps,the wheels will go all over the place.i took the left wheel off and turned the rod back but its still the same,im guessing thats whats done it and can the tracking being out really cause your steering to be so bad and scary?
this is my third car in my car history,1st 2 being passats,so not clued up on the golfs,this site looks really helpful and is a good laugh form what ive been reading lol.
the car is a golf mk3 1.4 se AEX engine code.
thanks
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also,the brakes arent really that sharp,is that because they're not bedded yet or is it because the system needs bleeding?
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bump anyone???
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make sure there is no play in the wheel bearing and check the track rod ends are tight? But it would have to be a lot of movement/slop! :shocked:
and get the car up on a jack,so both wheels are suspended, get one person to hold the steering wheel, and another to move each wheel side to side, and see if theres any movement there, it might trace a fault?
Apart from that, i'm out of ideas.
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Check the following.
1) Tyre pressures
2) Play in the steering rack or track rod ends
3) Any movement in subframe or wishbone bushes.
4) Is the brake sticking
5) Well worth having the camber and tracking checked
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I doubt its tracking alone, but thats the first place to start. Find a decent place that do full laser tracking and give you a report.
Then come back and give an update.
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right,i got some new wheels today,had 16's on it when i bought it but prefered something smaller so got 15s.
got them balanced and when the guy came round t do the tracking,he couldn't do it.
the tracking was definitely out and i mean one side was on 11 and the other was 21!
he said seomthing about the there being no more thread left on the track rod end and it still wasnt dead center?
i read something on here about not touching the driver side track rod when doing the tracking? when i mentioned this to the tracking guy,he said thats a load of bull,how are you supposed to do the tracking from only one track rod?
i didn't argue because i wasn't sure if i read it right my self.
but the steering going crazy is due to the tracking because even though the track rods are not adjusted properly,it has stopped going crazy however its still no where near perfect.
now is this garage talking baloney or do i just give it loads of wd40,loosen em up and give it to another garage? or di have to change my steering rack and track rod ends according to this garage?
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Both track ends should be set the same, try another garage and yes wd40 should help.
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Maybe the steering wheel is not in the correct position for the steering rack?
I had this issue on my Pug when I fitted a new steering rack.
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right,got the tyres tracked from protyres in stockport,they didnt have a problem with doing the tracking,now he did say the car is still pulling to the left and said it might be thats its had a hit on the passenger side sometime before.it doesnt pull a lot but it still pulls.ive put a new hub on the passenger side so its not that,any otehr ideas what it might be?
oh and he also said the track rod end is ever so slightly bent,just something to conside in the future,could that be the cause?
i need some spigot rings because the wheels still shake on high speeds,im pretty sure thats the spigot rings
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bump any idea why the car is pulling left even after tracking and balancing?
if it has had a bump on the passenger side then what would need changing? driveshaft? suspension? wishbone?
like i said,the only thing thats ever so slightly bent is the track rod end
ill see if i can take a pic tomorrow and put it up
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bump any idea why the car is pulling left even after tracking and balancing?
if it has had a bump on the passenger side then what would need changing? driveshaft? suspension? wishbone?
like i said,the only thing thats ever so slightly bent is the track rod end
ill see if i can take a pic tomorrow and put it up
I think you have answered your own question, a bent track rod end will not be helping.
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My old opel manta had had a bump on the n/s and thus pulled that way - the bottom arm was bent and the chassis had a very slight crease - enough to make it pull!
Hope this helps..
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Pretty good bump to bend a track rod!
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track rod it is then!
ive just ha da look at the alloys to find a spigot ring for it,however the alloy centre diameter is 57.1 and the cars is 54 or 55(was using a ruler,couldnt meausre it proper) but im sure about the alloys diameter,i rang motorsport wheels in stockport and they said that the golfs hub is 57.1 also so it shouldnt need it?if so then why is still shaky on the motorway around 60mph?its not balancing as ive had that done
little little problems are becoming headaches! but i still love the car,good fun and great fuel economy!
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Did you see the wheels put back on when they were balanced?
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right ive put some spigot ings on ands its improved the car a lot,hwever theres still a minor amount of shaking.
ive done everything i know and now im out of options.
and yes i was with him when he balanced the wheels and put them on the car,i only had the front 2 balanced.
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Just to check - so you have replaced the bent track rod and got spigot rings all round?
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ive not replaced teh track rod,ive taken a picture of it,ill upload it as soon as i can find my nokia cable to transfer it on to computer
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if its pulling it probs the caster angle, but on golfs you cant adjust it, check if you lower arm or subframe is bent, because this will affect the castor angle, if not the the lowerarm bushes are probs worn.
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right here are the pics of the passenger side track rod end
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p191/gor131-x/15102009578.jpg)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p191/gor131-x/15102009579.jpg)
and my golf mk3
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p191/gor131-x/14102009570.jpg)
and my other ride
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p191/gor131-x/14102009574.jpg)
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Off topic, looks like your cv boot is leaking
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mine pulls slightly to the left and i've been laser aligned too...
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i cant see the bend
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Off topic, looks like your cv boot is leaking
+1
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ref; shaking - get your rear wheels balanced.
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The track rod end is supposed to have a 'bend' in the casting.
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right so:
1.get the rear wheels balanced
2.the cv boot has no rips or anything,so where could he leak be coming from,ill leave it a few days as i did spray a lot of wd 40 when opening the track rod ends
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I would say the clip has failed.
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you mean the tie clip hlding it? so do i just take that off and put another one on? i noticed today when i turn right,its makes a clicking noise so is that the passenger side cv or driver side?
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are both of your track rod ends the same? because they're both supposed to be like the 1 you've got pictured
my only other thought is maybe a bent subframe or something structually bent because it sound like you're doing everything you could do to try and fix it :undecided:
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the subframe looks fine and so do both track rod ends,its was the tracking guy who said the track rod on passenger side is bent?
im going to change wishbones and track rods when funds allow and then see how it goes,until then,its only a minor shake and a minor pull to the left and ill just put up with it!
thanks guys,you've been really helpful
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If CV is clicking turning right then its passenger side.
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havwe you checked wheel nearing in relation to vibrations, might be worth checking cvs too
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wheel bearing would make a noise wouldnt it? theres no noise coming from eitehr side and yeh the cv boot sounds knackere by the looks of it if its making a noise when i turn right
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vibration/noise same thing
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then a wheel bearing could be an option to consider,would it help if i told you that its worse in the morning when i start it and once warmed up,the shaking decreases a lot