Suspension, steering issue or something else?

bazz26

Right folks,

Have a small problem with the car where I recently got the tracking done, in the last couple of days I noticed the steering has become rather wooly i.e. not as sharp as it was. Also noticed the steering wheel is slightly off centre.

So was planning to head back to the tyre centre to get the tracking rechecked when coming home tonight on turning into my driveway I heard what sounded like metal screeching from the front driver's side of the car when I locked the wheel. It only sounded for about 2 seconds and cannot replicate since despite locking the wheels in both directions. Had a quick look around the wheel arch and cannot see anything that could have got caught up there so I am assuming that it maybe a worn steering or suspension part that is related to the vague steering issue.

Has anyone any idea what this might be, I plan on giving my mechanic a ring tomorrow but any clues would be helpful? Car is a 2006 Volvo S40 diesel btw.

sundodger5

First port of call is back to where it was tracked. you can not track a car if you have play in any steering component. to track a car first you must make sure there is no play which was not done.
secondly the steering wheel should not be off centre. i have had to track some cars with the engine running due to the weight over the front wheels. the float plates normally cover this problem but some cars it is easier to just leave the engine running.

Midnight_EG

Hard lock + noise would suggest CJ Joint, but wouldnt that be more of a clunk noise?

bazz26

sundodger5 wrote: »

First port of call is back to where it was tracked. you can not track a car if you have play in any steering component. to track a car first you must make sure there is no play which was not done.
secondly the steering wheel should not be off centre. i have had to track some cars with the engine running due to the weight over the front wheels. the float plates normally cover this problem but some cars it is easier to just leave the engine running.

Cheers for that, my first port of call will be the tyre centre and take it from there. Just to add that there were no steering issues prior to having the car tracked but the engine was running while they were tracking it.

bazz26

Midnight_EG wrote: »

Hard lock + noise would suggest CJ Joint, but wouldnt that be more of a clunk noise?

Thanks, definately wasn't a clunking noise, more like a screech, metal scraping metal type sound.

sundodger5

doing tracking can not break anything. the only concern would be leaving something loose.
you will know more after a visit back to where you had the work done.

Midnight_EG

bazz26 wrote: »

Thanks, definately wasn't a clunking noise, more like a screech, metal scraping metal type sound.

I read somewhere about the brakes heatshield rubbing against your wheel maybe? Stick a screwdriver in and push it back, or else whack off the wheel and bend it back


Wheel bearing maybe, also?