She's gone strange!!! dodgy brakes/handling

[boneybradley]

For the last few day's my car has had the following problem's

1. steering going heavy when braking or turning left. I know the steering will differ when braking but if you steer left and brake at the same time it feel's like someone has switched off the power steering
2. travel/pressure needed on brake pedal varying. sometimes she need's a good shove to brake and then other times I can stop virtually just touching the pedal
3. skittish handling (she's a ditch finder at the mo!!!). It feel unstable/different to normal

The worst bit is every drive is different and these problem's can come and go during one drive!!!

I am thinking sticky caliper!!! Any body have any other idea's.....

[robster23]

Is it just when turning left or simply when being off the gas?

If it's the latter then it could be the PAS pump - currently mine has a problem with the release valve meaning that unless the revs are up the PAS pump does not have enough power to activate the steering which means when off the gas and trying to turn it gets really difficult to do so.

Failing that - I would have thought if it was a sticky caliper that the car would drag to the left all the time as the brake is stuck on?

[EvilScotsman]

Maybe the lower arm, or antiroll bar bushes for the skittishness mate, mine are fecked and any bit of rough road makes the car feel like a pram on cobbles! It hops and wibbles al over the place, but still corners ok on a smooth road.

The brake pressure varying could be a loose caliper, sticking caliper, intermittent air-leak to the brake servo (or blocked servo valve) or an ABS fault.

The steering thing could be a loose pump or broken bracket causing the pump to swing right during left turns, taking tension off the belt and hence no ps? Just guessing here tho - weird fault.

I dont think the three things are the same fault but may be related in some way tho I suppose :O)

[tommk3cab]

they cant be all the same fault surely! did they all start at exactly the same time? and when they come does it do them all together, if that makes sense? like will it be unstable dodgy steering and breaking then dissapear all at the same time too? if so that is really wierd and could be some kind of electrical fault as i cant see why they would all be connected, even then though, the unstability could not be caused by this, im stumped!

[boneybradley]

Update....... I today checked my tyre pressure's and the rear passenger side was down to 13psi!!!!! and the rest at 30psi..... I also checked my pas belt and she seem's abit loose and will change at some point..... Looking at my tryes the tracking is ooooooouuuutttt!!!!

so this week my plan is change pas belt, get the tracking sorted/checked, I also have new anti roll bar mount's and link arm's sitting unused on my shelf and will get these fitted by the tracking place.....Also while i am there i will get it put on there roller's and check the brake's

Worst thing is i cannot do this work myself!!! I have being poorly since before christmas with glandular fever and still feel weak!! I was informed i shouldn't have caught this at my age (good old doc making me feel old )............

[EvilScotsman]

Ahhh Glandular Fever - Ive had that and it sucks mate Hope you get better soon.

[robster23]

Yeah dude - feel better, had it at school. It's rubbish.

[Len]

I had GF when I was 19. Yes a very long time ago! Left me with an intolerance to penicillin!

Tyre pressures are a first check - people dont realise how much they effect handling!
Yea change the PAS belt - once you start adjusting it it dont take long before it needs replacing anyway.