steering wheel alignment

[perner]

Hello, I have a problem with the steering wheel not allways beeing in line with the wheels when going straight forward. Sometimes my steering wheel is "leaning" towards the left and sometimes to the right.

This doesnt, thank god, happen during a drive but its up to when I start the car the steering wheel centers in different possitions. Hope you understand my bad english and what Im trying to say

Anyone have any ideas, can it be that the cars steering adjust itself everytime I start the car and I have som sort of fault in the steering rack? If the wheel was allways in the wrong possition I would have got it fixed and centered but this is something else.

Cheers,
Per

 

[Matt]

Have you checked the tracking mate?

 

[Woody]

Hi Per. Our Vee did the same thing. We popped it into our local Vee expert, Scott @ SG M.Sport, he changed a track-rod end and had the cars tracking realigned. It's all sorted now.

However, alot of steering issues can simply be put down to adverse road camber or heavily worn surfaces!

Hope this helps.

 

[perner]

Is it very bad to drive with this, can it lets say loose steering one day when driving? I havent driven another V6 so I dont know how the feel other than mine, but maybe Im losing much feel with it this way.

Can renault sort this you think or do I have to find an V6 expert in Sweden (impossible I think). Is there something I can check myself to narrow down the problem so I know whats OK in the steering rack and joints?

Thanks,
Per

 

[Spike]

hi, its quite a worry as steering is important, is there any free play or side to side movement with the engine off? this would indicate track rod ends or worn rack, more important it could be a loose rack! get underneath and have a look whilst someone rocks the steering for you, try to get the front tray out and look under there, if you dont feel confident checking it go to a professional, any renault dealer will check this for you, as will most private or smaller garages, dont take any chances!

 

[perner]

Im going to get the car in the weekend and hopefully check it out on an ramp to see whats what. It just passed swedish MOT in about a week ago, doenst slack and loose rods show up in that test?

Just the front under tray thats need removing? A number of bolts and its off?

Thanks,
Per

 

[Jamesv6]

Yes that's basically how to get access by removing the front under tray.

A tip.... Remember how you removed it and put it back that way.

 

[perner]

Hello again,

after checking under the tray it seems that the bushes holding the steering rod (?) is really worn, because the whole thing keeps going to the sides your turning at. When turning to the left for example then turning back fast the steering dont align in center position but a little bit to the left, and same thing when doing it to the right.

Do any of you know if these are easy to replace, Im not 100% certain that its just this thats causing the problem but those bushes needs changing anyways. Can someone help out with a Renault partnumber or if its two.

Cheers,
Per

 

[perner]

Its the bushes on the steering column I think its called. Are these numbers correct:
77 01 470 760 KIT BEARINGS

And are they for one side kit or a pair?

Thanks,
Per

 

[Jamesv6]

The picture shows item 6 as 77 01 470 760 KIT BEARINGS

Looks like you need 2 kits.

 

[perner]

Thanks, I will order this right away. Has anyone replace those and have som information on how to do it, it looks simple but you never know

 

[perner]

Many thanks to Paul Temperton @ Renault Parts Direct for the help of ordering these, really a great guy and fast service!

Im still up for information on the best way of changing the parts, going to do it myself so all the help is appriciated

/Per

 

[Jamesv6]

Some rather technical info In the Knowledge Base

STEERING ASSEMBLY
Power assisted steering rack

 

[Spike]

I think you have found your problem, with the tray off should be easy fix as you dont have to remove the rack, just slacken things off and slide them out to the side. could have been quite nasty!

 

[perner]

Yes problem solved! It was those rubber mounts for the rack. The left hand one was really worn. Changed those and the upper bolts and now its smooth as it should be when turning the steeringwheel and the alignment is perfect.

Its a nice feeling when you actually get it right when you try to mend something

Cheers,
Per