Dangerously Eratic Steering

[coombsfh 2]

Leading up to hitting a rock and mildly bending the track rod on the left hand side the other day the car used to torque steer a bit on hard acceleration.

Having hit this rock the other day my car now veers viciously one way when you accelerate (the gentler the more pronounced it is) and the other when power to the wheels drops (ie clutch down or let off the accelerator)

It is a real pain as I have no confidence for gear changing on overtakes etc.

Please advise as the veering when i accelerate and slow down and change gear is just getting dangerous.

 

All advice apreciated.

(had tracking done the other day as best I could considering bent arm-also tightened front subframe bolts today...no change)

 

Many thanks

Fred

[205wrc 16]

It sounds very much like worn bottom arm bushes. Also check where your bottom ball joint goes in to the hub just incase the pinchbolt is loose or the hole has become oval.

[inferno 1]

the bent arm could be the problem

[tidypug 5 2 Cars]

when you hit the rock it could have pulled your tracking well out so this could be another problem

[jonarob 0]

I'm having a similar problem. My top mount bearings are going - could this cause similar symptoms or is it not only my top mount bearings?

[pugrallye 0]

also check your strut towers for blowing out and your subframe for bent brackets as these also buckle/ move

[Foltan 0]

if the driveshaft goes then it pulls dramatically to one side whilst accelerating. i couldnt accelerate whilst going round a right hand bend because it would pull back round to the left!

[notamondayfan 44]

i hadve had this problem twice. 1st time the lower arm was shagged, 2nd time the pinch bolt was shagged.

 

the bolt is only a couple of quid, so worth changing to be safe neway. and make sure u get the right bolt from peugeot.

[205wrc 16]

i hadve had this problem twice. 1st time the lower arm was shagged, 2nd time the pinch bolt was shagged.

 

the bolt is only a couple of quid, so worth changing to be safe neway. and make sure u get the right bolt from peugeot.

 

Or go to your local factors and get the (Black) allen key head bolts as they are a stronger grade of steel - 12.8 instead of 8.8. They will probably be cheaper than Peugeot anyway. I've changed all of my suspension bolts to these.

[coombsfh 2]

Thanks for all the advice chaps.

Being a novice I am currently learning how to check what is broken so today i checked and it turns out to be knackered lower arm bushing on the left (front bushing).

I now have 3 choices:

>Replace only one bush (bearing in mind I will have to find someone willing to let me use their hydraulic press)

>Replace both bushings as i have the wishbone off in the first place. (Again a hydraulic press will be necessary

>Replace the entire wish bone (More expensive but gets the ball joint done at the same time)

 

Which sounds the best option?

Please advise,

Again, Thanks for any advice or help you have offered.

Fred

[C_W 3 1 Cars]

You don't need a hyradulic press to put wishbone bushes in. The most difficult part is getting the old one out. I drove a small socket through the bush pushing the centre part out by screwing it down a threaded rod but I'm sure there are other ways. Once the centre metal bit is out you can hacksaw through the outer and then it just taps out.

 

The new bush will then just slid in if tightend up in a vice or hammered in.

[Guest Red Man]

I would be really interested to hear how you get on and whether it solves the problem - as I have exactly the symptoms you describe - and having spents weeks working on the rear beam I am very keen to get the handling back in order.

 

Dave

[coombsfh 2]

The difference is stunning.

There is no erratic steering at all. Feels very stable

I am unsure as to the condition of my rear beam but all seems ver very good at present...appart form a bent track rod and bad tracking but that will be sorted very soon.

Many thanks and good luck.

fred

[Guest Red Man]

The difference is stunning.

There is no erratic steering at all. Feels very stable

I am unsure as to the condition of my rear beam but all seems ver very good at present...appart form a bent track rod and bad tracking but that will be sorted very soon.

Many thanks and good luck.

fred

Thanks Fred,

 

Looks like this will be the first thing to try whn I get back from my hols - it certainly needs to sorted as high speed progress is kind of interesting at the moment!

 

Dave

[Guest Leemc2006]

I now have this exact same problem..

 

Where is the best place to pick up these spares other than Peugeot themselves?

 

Using the search is good

 

Cheers

 

Lee

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

lee any motor factors should be able to get either bushes or wishbone's, in fact pretty much every suspension component is still widely available.

[davev 1]

at less than £20 for both sides bushes i cant see the point looking anywere else, unless peugeot dont have any in stock.

 

general opinion seems to say there the best and last the longest.

[Rob_the_Sparky 9]

Well mine did this even after having both wishbones replaced. Turned out to be trackrod ends. They felt fine until you put some real pressure on them - they then moved...