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serious steering/suspension problem

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stuff n that

Post subject: serious steering/suspension problem

Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 5:31 pm

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Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2009 1:25 am
Posts: 304
Location: barnsley
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hey all just wondering if any one can help me with a big problem on my 94 fiesta si 1.6, a few of months back i had the symptoms of fucked bottom arm bushes ( pulling to one side when accelerating and braking), so i went and bought a cheap set (Â£18) each, this sorted the problem for about 3000 miles then the problem came back so i went back to the shop i bought them and got a new set free, put them on and the car drove fine then about 2 months ago i was driving down a country lane and my drivers side brake siezed on at about 60mph which made the steering wheel go mad (left to right really fast) so i pulled over and the disc was on fire, got my dad to bring some tools and free'd the caliper off and drove home steady using the handbrake, next day i got a caliper from the scrap yard and some new discs (Â£22 for both), since then the car has been pulling like mad to the right on acceleration and just generally unstable at the front end so i bought a set of delphi lockheed bottom arms because i thought that was the problem again, fitted them and got the tracking done, still pulling to the right badly, steering wheel is at 11 o clock position when im driving straight and steering seems heavier on the right then the left.

i know this is a big description but the problem is really annoying now and becoming dangerous, hopefully some of you can help, because i dont have a clue what the problem is and i dont have the money to be throwing at new parts for them not to sort the problem out.

thanks in advance

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james_rs

Post subject: Re: serious steering/suspension problem

Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 10:34 pm

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Joined: Mon Jun 19, 2006 10:22 am
Posts: 1503
Location: Hertford, Hertfordshire
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cheap wishbones wont last long, get some lemforder ones they will do the trick.

is your car lowered?

If steering wheel is off centre, chances are youve bent a track rod/ track rod end is dead or you might just need your tracking done.

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stainlessmole

Post subject: Re: serious steering/suspension problem

Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 10:40 pm

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Joined: Thu Dec 25, 2008 12:16 am
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Location: Southampton, Hampshire
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Yeah, the first problem you had, i had when i first got my Si. Turned out to be one of the shock absorbers was leaking, so i got a brand new pair of those from fords, and i also got 2 new wish bones and anti roll bar drop links for the sake of it.
Rides perfect ever since.
But it sounds like you have a more serious problem mate

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stuff n that

Post subject: Re: serious steering/suspension problem

Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 5:27 pm

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Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2009 1:25 am
Posts: 304
Location: barnsley
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thanks for the replys :thumbsup:

i dont think its the wishbones now because ive got some good quality ones on and the car isnt lowered. there is also a slight knocking noise from the front drivers side when i hit small potholes but im pretty sure thats the anti roll bar link

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Tiababy

Post subject: Re: serious steering/suspension problem

Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 11:37 pm

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Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 9:24 pm
Posts: 828
Location: Farnborough, Hampshire
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Mine was pulling to the left like crazy when my wishbones were on the way out. Mainly during acceleration as yours is.
Replaced wishbones and haven't had the issue since.

Even though they are good quality best bet is to check in case the got some damage when the brake messed up

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dawnrs

Post subject: Re: serious steering/suspension problem

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 11:08 am

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Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2010 11:52 pm
Posts: 276
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mine was pulling too when braking, turned out to be the brake pipe hoses collapsed got braided ones now, after changing the calipers it just goes on and on and on :lolz:

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mattu101

Post subject: Re: serious steering/suspension problem

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 9:12 am

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Joined: Fri May 22, 2009 7:04 pm
Posts: 101

If the noise sounds like a dull thud bouncing as you go over bumps then take your car to some speed bumps and listen as you go over them for noise of a leak from your shock absorber (if yours has gas type shocks) you can normally quite easily hear the air come out when the shock has a leak, if you have a leak you'll need a new shock, preferably get a pair.

To check your wishbones jack the car up get a lever bar underneath the bushes and move them up and down to check for free play, if they have any beyond a little rubber deformation then you need new wishes, you can normally tell if your cars wishbones are gone because when you accelerate, brake, take off acceleration (change gear) your car will pull left/right. Dead wishbones sound more metallic than a dead shock, but they may never make a noise depending on there design, mk4 fiesta's are easier to diagnose audibly whilst mk3s get more pronounced steering instability ime.

If you can visually check your track rods n ends are ok then i'd take your car back to where you got it tracked and nicely ask them to double check they haven't 'crabbed' your cars tracking, a lot of places don't reference to the rear beam and merely adjust your track to an overall -0.45', if you've just had your lower arms done then 2-wheel tracking will likely still be out and in some cases I have seen 15 degrees plus out from the fiesta rear beam whilst the front still has an overall near correct value.

An easy way to check if your tracking is out is to simply look at the tyres, if they have wear on one edge (likely the inner edge) then that points to your tracking being out. The fact that your steering wheel does not stay centre pretty much confirms to me that the garage crabbed your tracking, lower arms normally wouldn't change the cars self centring point.

Hope that helps a bit, I'd check your pads if you didn't change them when they stuck ( I take it you did ).

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