I have a brain teaser here... Steering problem!
04-14-2006, 05:13 AM
#1
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I have a brain teaser here... Steering problem!
Background: So I got my control arm bushings replaced, also I got new tires and they are balanced perfectly, the wheels without tires spun on the balancing machine real well also. Just got a new 4 wheel alignment, and everything was able to get into spec, without a question. The steering rack is leaking from the seals. Servotronic has pretty much been off since the new rack (reman'd Blau unit) was installed by an Audi dealer 3 years ago.
Now my question is: When driving down <B>CERTAIN</B> roads, the steering wheel has a weird left to right shake at any speed, 20-70. Since everything is new suspension wise and the tires are perfectly balanced (checked again yesterday), and the alignment is in Audi S6 spec. The only thing I can think of is that the rack since its leaking from the seals, its causing all the road imperfections to be felt in the steering wheel.
Am I crazy, is it something else? Or could I have pinpointed it perfectly?
Now my question is: When driving down <B>CERTAIN</B> roads, the steering wheel has a weird left to right shake at any speed, 20-70. Since everything is new suspension wise and the tires are perfectly balanced (checked again yesterday), and the alignment is in Audi S6 spec. The only thing I can think of is that the rack since its leaking from the seals, its causing all the road imperfections to be felt in the steering wheel.
Am I crazy, is it something else? Or could I have pinpointed it perfectly?
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04-14-2006, 11:07 AM
#8
That is pretty wide and likely very stiff. Try a bit less toe-out OR....
adjusting the pre-load on the steering rack. The preload is a nut/screw thing on the rack near the electrical connector for the Servotronic. Add preload by turning clockwise (IIRK, there is a lock nut you need to back off first - and then retighten after you make the adjustment). Don't add too much preload or the steering won't re-center properly.
04-15-2006, 08:06 AM
#9
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Re: tramlining? certain tires are worse than others
Could someone please define tramlining for me. I've seen it on the web in three differant places in the past two day and I evidently am an idiot because I've never heard the word used before in relation to suspension geometry or alignment issues. Is it like ackerman?
04-15-2006, 08:56 AM
#10
Tramling is where your car follows the small ruts in the pavement, as if you were on ....
the railway tracks that street cars (aka "trams") run on. The tires follow these ruts and if the ruts change direction (slightly), your car follows them, even though it is a different line than you are steering.
If you lived in Toronto, San Francisco or most European cities (where they still have street cars (the ones on rails)), you would be able to relate to this better.
HTH
If you lived in Toronto, San Francisco or most European cities (where they still have street cars (the ones on rails)), you would be able to relate to this better.
HTH