vole Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 I was driving round a roundabout during the icy weather and went into a skid into the kerb . Thankfully it was miles away from anyone and I was only doing about 5 mph but the road was like glass .The front wheels mounted the kerb with a bump so I just reversed off and drove home . Since then the steering has been awful . Best way I can describe it is as if the wheel / wheels were 50p shape . The steering wheel judders badly in time with the speed I guess the wheels are rotating and it veers slightly to the left . I have had no chance to have it seen as have worked all New Year . My mate and I did swap wheels around etc and used the spare as one of them looked badly kerbed and I guessed mis shapen . I am going to get it seen tomorrow but not sure I should go to a small garage which does tyres etc and tracking or to the Quick Fit which is a short walk from my house . I have no idea what the damage is but am hoping it is not too expensive a fix , it is an old Skoda which is otherwise well maintained . Any thoughts greatly appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The original sad lad Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 steering rack maybe??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berties Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 My wife managed to perch the grand scenic on a small saddle stone in the snow and had to pull her off,dented the cill in so it's a trip into the body shop,I would get you steering looked at might have just knocked the tracking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 If you have steering wheel shake then it might be a missing wheel weight or a buckled wheel. Also probably worth checking for movement in the suspension, give the wheels a good wiggle and look for movement. Might be worth have a wheel alignment done. Typically there are loads of things this could be, just a case of trying to eliminate possibilities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 I'd say you've buckled a wheel cos it dont take much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzypigeon Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 i did that a few years ago in a little clio and it bent part of the suspension if i remember rightly just replaced the part and had the tracking done and it was all better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprinter Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 My money is on, in the following order by way of an each way bet.... 1) Buckled wheel/ damaged tyre 2) Stuffed bottom ball joint 3) Stuffed track rod end Outsiders, bent track rod or bent bottom arm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vole Posted January 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 Thanks lads . Can my insurance do anything if it costs a bit ? Got fully comp ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philfishers2 Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 sounds t' me to 'av bent the track control arm what model 'n how old? Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 Thanks lads . Can my insurance do anything if it costs a bit ? Got fully comp ? To be honest it wouldnt be worth the paperwork or loss of no claims. Another wheel can be picked up at a breakers yard for around £25 or if its a ball joint you might be looking at £150 so i think your excess could be more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 With all the hassle of claiming, future loss due to a claim and your excess, a claim is only really worth it on a repair over 1k Unless its not your fault of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 Bent track rod. Just done one on a ford focus. £17 for the part from the motor factors and 1 hours labour to fit and re-track it. Plus any damage to the wheel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodge911 Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 could have snapped the steel cords that are in the tyre causing a distorted tyre that gives the symptoms you have descibed. to check jack one side up at a time and spin the wheel while looking across the face of the tyre . or jack it up one side at a time but make sure the other wheel is on the ground then have someone inside start to drive the vehicle in gear slowly letting the clutch out and applying a few revs and watch the tyre for distortion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vole Posted January 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 Its only a 1999 V reg Skoda but its only done 60 k but is the special edition , completely lined with dog hair and at present spattered in cow muck . Would like to get another year or two out of it . Cheers for the insurance responses . Never claimed for anything so bit naive about it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 Its only a 1999 V reg Skoda but its only done 60 k but is the special edition , completely lined with dog hair and at present spattered in cow muck . Would like to get another year or two out of it . Cheers for the insurance responses . Never claimed for anything so bit naive about it . I claimed off someone else for an accident and it cost me £400 (excess) for about 6 months while the claim was decided (in my favour). It also took the loss adjuster 1 month to come back with a settlement, so i wasn't able to replace the car for a month. Claiming off insurance is not an enjoyable experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philfishers2 Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 by what ya've described, this is what 'ad be looking at, after the obvious like rim 'n tyre link should be an hours labour at a garage to fit it.......but ya'll probably get charged fa two hours Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vole Posted January 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 Quick fit or small garage you think ? Quick fit easiest and other one a long walk home . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 1/Take it to quick fit or whoever has a price promise and find out the problem and cost of repair-2/Ring your nearest alternative big tyre/exhaust centre that also has a price promise and tell them that you need such and such doing and that the first garage has quoted you-quote minus about 20%-they have to beat the quote.3/Ring the first garage back and tell therm that garage no.2 has quoted cheaper-they in turn have to beat the price-simples.The whole process should only take 10 minutes and can save you a fortune-I had Formula 1 tyre and exhaust centre change the rear discs and pads on my Shogun last year for less then i could buy the parts on Ebay.Only downside is that some of tge high street quick fit types dont get involved in anything other than basic repairs-but its well worth a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vole Posted January 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 Ta Bruno . Need save every penny I can for me hols in Feb ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted January 4, 2011 Report Share Posted January 4, 2011 I would say it's either your wheel is buckled or perhaps the bottom wishbone or steering rod! If you can remove the wheel take a look at the steering rod and wishbone if it's as bad as you say the damage will no doubt be visible. I assume it's the Felecia 1.3 ? they weren't a bad car actually and parts are cheap enough and the car is so easy to work on it's a DIY job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schern Posted January 4, 2011 Report Share Posted January 4, 2011 As long as you have a reasonable tool box (socket set and spanners) then you should be able to do it yourself. As others have said I wouldn't be surprised if its a bent track control arm, lower ball joint or track rod end. They're all pretty easy to undo and replace apart from potentially the ball jount as that could involve removing the drive shaft from the hub to get to a bolt which is a bit of a pain in the ****. I'd get it up in the air and get the wheel off. Just a quick look should tell you if somethings bent. Work on the principle that everything should be straight so if its bent it's knackered. Bung up some pictures if you can and we can have a look. Ball joint kit will be somewhere around £20, track rod end about £12, track control arm somewhere round £40 including bushes if you're lucky. Labour will be the expensive part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phill.p Posted January 4, 2011 Report Share Posted January 4, 2011 My lad done the same thing last year,turned out to be a damaged wheel (hardly noticeable)and wheel bearing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vole Posted January 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2011 Between Quick Fit who apparently tracked my steering and the proper garage who told me something was badly amiss still , I have kind of got things sorted . Badly mis shapen tyre so swapped for spare but Bottom Ball Joint needs replacing still so need to get the time to do that . Mechanic said he was amazed that Quick Fit let me drive away with the steering in such a state . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted January 5, 2011 Report Share Posted January 5, 2011 Between Quick Fit who apparently tracked my steering and the proper garage who told me something was badly amiss still , I have kind of got things sorted . Badly mis shapen tyre so swapped for spare but Bottom Ball Joint needs replacing still so need to get the time to do that . Mechanic said he was amazed that Quick Fit let me drive away with the steering in such a state . Well he has a reason to say that.... £££ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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