Megane Steering Issues

[MarcB]

So i have now got a steering issue on my Meg 175 DCi

The car has sat outside my house for around 9 days and its not moved, I jumped in tonight and started it with no issues and drove up the road.
Came to my first corner and it was crazy with the wheel feeling really stiff and hard like a 1980s ford escort.

When i turned the wheel with some force the wheel normally spins back a little with ease but it never and the car started to veer to the left and i had to force it back.

I have now heard a bad clunking / twanging noise from the passenger strut and spring along with a bad noise coming from under the car in the centre along the steering rack itself.

Does anyone know of any common issues ?

 

[Adey]

does it have the same suspension hub setup as the 225/230/r26? if so could be the swivel bearings

 

[andybond]

Yeah , its the same.

The lack of self centering is a symptom of swivel bearings as Adey said.


Just check you havent snapped a spring as well.

 

[MarcB]

Springs are less than a year old and are OE Cup springs front and rear.

Is this what i need reading the swivel bearing ?

New GENUINE RenaultSport Megane RS 250 265 upper bottom ball joint RENAULT SPORT

 

[andybond]

No , that's for the 250/265.

Have a look in the shop. You need those ( £15 a side )

 

[andybond]

Still , eyeball the springs.

 

[Paul B]

Ok... firstly ... check your springs.... they can snap even when sat still, stationary ... secondly... check your tyre pressures as even a few PSI low can give heavy steering...
Thirdly... check your power steering fluid and the manual bleeding for this....is full turns to the left and right , engine off... wheels raised from the ground... start engine, 3 full turns to the left and right with engine running... turn off.. lower car and top up fluid if needed... if you needed to top up, you have a leak somewhere..., top mounts are usually noisy, but not heavy..

lastly, yes... swivel bearings are a pain but do seize up when not in use, they get worn grease gets hot,lack of lube and they fail....not always noisy ....,always replace as a pair for both sides.....

 

[Ewan]

Do the mk2 meganes have hydraulic power steering? Thought they were electric..

If they do have hydraulic power steering, where is the reservoir located?

 

[Brigsy]

EPAS on the 225 iirc not sure about the dci

It will most likely be dry/seized hub bearings. Same happened on @Sheryl_O 's megane, was fine then steering was all over after a layup, they will have been partially seized beforehand. With a bit of driving they will free off to a degree but they need changing really, its an easy and cheap job however

 

[Sash]

Definitely probably hub bearings, they probably look like this....


When they should look like this...

 

[MarcB]

Well just a heads up on this.

The 175 Dci comes with electric steering so i know its not low on fluid.

Took it over to my Renault Sport Specialist ( SWR Stirling ) and had them check it over.
The top mounts and springs are perfect and its the N/S hub bearing has gone and it needs replaced.
There is a lot of rust round it i have been told thats it is needing changed so going to do the pair.

Can someone who has done the job how long they roughly take on a "Bad Day"