16 replies to this topic

[Jammy]

This might me being crazy, or high on Pritt Stick or something, but my steering seems to have got lighter recently. It feels as if the tires are slipping, and sometimes it can feel like im turning the steering wheel but it isn't turning the wheels. I had thought the tires might be low on grip but checked them and they seem fine. Checked that there isn't any play in the wheels and that all seems fine, as well as tie-rods, etc being straight and not loose. Does this sound like anything might be wrong?!

I have 10 inch wheels, a jack knight steering rack, rose jointed fully adjustable tie-rods, just in case you need to know.

Does anyone recommend anything for me to check?!

[Dan]

Have you put too much air in your tyres?

[Cir-clipalot]

Random thought - havent just washed the car have you? (wet tyres while rest of road is dry?) Caused myself a few nervous moments the other day because of this!

[miniman5]

check the front wheels are on....

[Guess-Works.com]

My first thought was as Dan, tyre pressures.

[Guess-Works.com]

My second thought, was ball joints, check them for wear, may need a shim removing.

[Jammy]

Well I haven't changed the air pressure at all, but I will check them anyway. Will also check over the ball joints for wear.

[Dom]

how much air pressure are you putting in the tyres?

[Jammy]

I've never changed the air in the tires, never even had the valve caps off. Thats why I doubt it is that, because the amount of air has pretty much always been the same since I got the car and its only recently I've noticed this. And I've checked to see if any of the tires are a bit deflated and they're not.

[Guess-Works.com]

Quite the opposite, if the steering goes light, then the pressure in the tyre is too much, ie you only running on the middle ( like a bike tyre ).

I generally run about 26psi in the front and 28 in the rear ( 165/70 10's ), a bit more squidgy at the front than normal, but I like it like that !

[Jammy]

Hmm, I was about to say I wouldn't expect the tyre pressure to go up, especially as I haven't touched the tires. But then we have had some warm weather, which may cause the pressure to increase in the tires?!

Hmm, would this explain why it sometimes feel like I'm turning the wheel but not turning the tires. Think I may get my dad to drive the car and see if he notices anything.

[Pavel]

GUessworks, most people put more in the front since the engine is there!

I use 30F28R and don't have any problems

[Bungle]

I run 30 psi on all corners

[Prawn]

i run really low pressures in all my tyres, due to having a fair bit of neg camber up front, i found that on 30 psi the insides of teh tyres were disappearing in just 2000miles, which isnt overly cost effective!!!!
i now run about 26 front and as low as 24 rear, which feels great to me.
i did however find on a particularly hot day, after the car had been standing in teh sun, that i got EXACTLY the same problem as you with light and vague steering.... due to the harder tyres because it was so hot!!!!


the only other time my steerings gone light was about 15 mins before the bottom arm pin snapped on a roundabout, and the wheel disappeared up inside the wing!!!!

[Guess-Works.com]

As I said, I like it like that, but also is a factor of the number of speed bumps around me, the reduction in pressure in the tyres compensates the the fact I dont have too much suspension movement in the front as the car is lowered, hence I can ride them with a little more ease, as for the back, that only follows the front, therefore that has normal pressures.