garyb Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 Chaps... Had to take evasive action in a country lane earlier... which meant hitting a large verge on the nearside in the process Ever since, the car won’t go straight unless the wheel is turned nearly a 1/4 to the right. Other things of note... 1 - The steering feels fine! no wobble or noises even up to 70mph 2 - There is no visible movement of the wheel in the arch, it seems to sit about the same place as it did before 3 - With the steering wheel turned to the right a tad, to make the car go straight - the wheels appear to both be true and ok.... 4 - The car doesn’t pull, even under braking. Idea's / options of where to start? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdb Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 Get the tracking checked? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 bent a track rod would be my guess, I would suggest checking it out but bearing in mind the vehicle if it drives straight and true with no wheel wobble I'd suggest undoing the nut that holds the steering wheel on and moving it slightly so it points straight either that or live with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clueless1 Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 Agree it sounds like tracking. Out of interest is the turning circle different on full lock both sides? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 check for bent rods on lower suspension but fairly likely it is a tracking "jump". Get those lasers on it at your local tyre centre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted October 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 Turning circle feels the same! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 check for bent rods on lower suspension but fairly likely it is a tracking "jump". Get those lasers on it at your local tyre centre. cost of it might mean its a write off though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JA3llis Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 Id put my money on suspension damper been bent. The tracking will be 100% out also castor and camber angles. You will need a steering geometry too be 100% sure. 1/4 of a turn out is loads and loads you could ov slightly twisted the front sub-frame if it has one how fast were you going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wabbitbosher Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 Chaps... Had to take evasive action in a country lane earlier... which meant hitting a large verge on the nearside in the process Ever since, the car won’t go straight unless the wheel is turned nearly a 1/4 to the right. Other things of note... 1 - The steering feels fine! no wobble or noises even up to 70mph 2 - There is no visible movement of the wheel in the arch, it seems to sit about the same place as it did before 3 - With the steering wheel turned to the right a tad, to make the car go straight - the wheels appear to both be true and ok.... 4 - The car doesn’t pull, even under braking. Idea's / options of where to start? Going to have to Jump on you all now , Depends what you were driving at the time , best bet is get it to a Competant Mechanic Right away !!! Bent track rod ? Yes if the car is 30 years old or a landrover (then its more likley a droparm or draglink ) any way i could give you 101 names of bits you may have bent , The long and short is dip in your pocket and get a Trained eye to look at it You could be a Danger to yourself and other road users , might even be breaking the leware Wabbit PS by a trained eye i dont mean your local tyre "Fitter" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted October 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 I still like alex's idea.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wabbitbosher Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 Doubt if its a write off , if you had severe suspension damage the car would pull to one side , could be quite serious steering damage tho , saying that if the car is only worth £300 then it may well be a write off I still say get it looked at dude ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 its a 4x4 wabbitbosher start your list now I want 101 things it could be before tea if its driving straight with no clunks etc then odds are its ok and you've knocked part of the alignment out, steering components are made of metal that tends to bend rather than break for the simple reason that otherwise it would be dangerous if you could snap a component and not be able to steer at all. Its a 4x4 with chunky tyres and its not blown one out so says it didn't hit that hard. If you wanted to get it in somewhere and get it jigged every time you hit a kerb thats one thing but on a 4x4 with little value its not really worth it. And before you give the life or death argument I'm sure Gary is sensible enough to not drive it were it to feel any worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted October 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 Honestly.. it feels no different to before the bump! Impact was around 10 mph... I'm taking it to the local 4-wheel alignment place in the morning... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 it'll be fine but bet you never get the steering wheel straight again its annoying as hell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wabbitbosher Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 its a 4x4 wabbitbosher start your list now I want 101 things it could be before tea if its driving straight with no clunks etc then odds are its ok and you've knocked part of the alignment out, steering components are made of metal that tends to bend rather than break for the simple reason that otherwise it would be dangerous if you could snap a component and not be able to steer at all. Its a 4x4 with chunky tyres and its not blown one out so says it didn't hit that hard. If you wanted to get it in somewhere and get it jigged every time you hit a kerb thats one thing but on a 4x4 with little value its not really worth it. And before you give the life or death argument I'm sure Gary is sensible enough to not drive it were it to feel any worse. And ive Never seen a Track rod end pop off after a slight bump ! or a drag link bend up on a landrover only to snap two days later "Ere grandma you dont want to suck eggs like that" WB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 landrovers excepted as lets face it they are a tad easy to break or rusted parts fall off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted October 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 I spose I could crash it into a hedge on the offside to even things up ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wabbitbosher Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 can't you get SS to do that I hear he's qualified in modifying your 4x4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted October 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 Funny that... I bet it was already weak thanks to the impact with the iron bar a few weeks ago. Perhaps I should send him the bill ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 can't you get SS to do that I hear he's qualified in modifying your 4x4 hahaha, ain't that the truth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth Stalker Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 Now now chaps. This is exactly the reason why you won't be driving the new hilux The other night out foxing was like having Jenson Button at the wheel, how can you make a silent approach while doing 30 mph across a bumpy stubble field SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr lee Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 The other night out foxing was like having Jenson Button at the wheel, how can you make a silent approach while doing 30 mph across a bumpy stubble field SS :lol: :no: Sounds like the lad that drives mine at times. 'let's go nice and steady with as little noise as possible...' 'No worries....' *accelerator floored* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted October 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2009 All sorted Took the truck down to the local tracking / geometry place - They confirmed that nothing had been bent and we're able to adjust it all back to normal! Before After Change out of £40 and the Steering feels better than ever... Chuffed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted October 24, 2009 Report Share Posted October 24, 2009 that's good news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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