Zen Steering Issue

amtak · 4th August 2007, 10:56

All,

My 2005 Zen's steering feels as if its no longer a Power Steering. It takes the vehicle to a side, either right or left plus takin turns is a major task these days. I drove a 2001 Zen and the steering was much better than that of mine. And yes, the Wheel Alignment is done still the problem exists...

Please advise. The car car has run for 30K KMS and the Tyre rotation has been done.

esteem_lover · 4th August 2007, 16:08

If the steering is not stable, then your tyres may have uneven wear. Please let us know the actual condition of the tyres, what tyres they are & how many Kms they have done.

xinome · 4th August 2007, 22:10

yes amtak as esteem_lover said all those are required to help you out

i had the same problem in my alto without EPS edition, and without good thread it was horrible had to massage hands when ever i came back from a drive!
after i bought new tires and plonked them on amazing it feels like i have EPS.

i predit bad tyres and i guess wheel balancing as well!

amtak · 5th August 2007, 01:06

The tires have run for about 30,000 KMS. They are MRF ZVTS and are still in good shape as per the Service guys.

xinome · 5th August 2007, 01:12

amtak please do post pictures of these tires, so we can give our opinions we don't ever ever trust a service guy

amtak · 5th August 2007, 01:39

I'll put the pics tomorrow....

esteem_lover · 5th August 2007, 12:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by amtak

The tires have run for about 30,000 KMS. They are MRF ZVTS and are still in good shape as per the Service guys.

MRFs will normally last for 50k kms. But if you have not aligned & rotated your tyres properly, there could be uneven wear. If there is no uneven wear, balance the wheels & do the alignment & then try.

amtak · 6th August 2007, 11:34

Thanks John. I'll again check it

killjoy · 6th August 2007, 19:40

check your lower arm, probably bent....

nirmalts · 16th September 2008, 09:08

I was driving the 2001 Zen LX of my dad this week and the steering appears to be too tight. My dad was always complaining about it and I used to think it is because power steering is not present in this model.

The wheel doesnt appear to be balanced correctly. I will check this today. What else could be done to make the steering smooth?

Adding a power steering will cost around 38K and this is not an option for me

Thanks

Nirmal

amitpunjani · 16th September 2008, 09:34

Hi

In the rack and pinion steering there is a big Plactic screw. Just ask your mechanic to lossen it up a bit. This would work to some extent,

Amit

aka_iitd · 16th September 2008, 09:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by amitpunjani

Hi

In the rack and pinion steering there is a big Plactic screw. Just ask your mechanic to lossen it up a bit. This would work to some extent,

Amit

Yes it is there in Santro also 2000 model. I got it loosed along with lubrication to get smooth steering experience.

anupmathur · 16th September 2008, 10:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by nirmalts

What else could be done to make the steering smooth?

Get wheel alignment done. Incorrect alignment and toe-in settings make steering harder.

humyum · 16th September 2008, 13:22

Is the tyre pressure correct ? i have the same 2005 zen and run 30 thousand km too and yes with mrf zvts..!!Tyre pressure plays a very important part in the steering feel.
For example i tried the tyre pressure at 30 and the feeling was a very vague steering at high speeds.I could simple turn the steering a little left right at 120 and the car would hardly move an inch in any direction.
At the same time i did the same move at 28 and the car would point exactly where the steering was pointing.
This means the contact patch of the tyres at 28 and 30 is different and hence the different steering feel.
Maybe one of your tyres is losin air slowly and hence the hard steering.If the tyre pressure is perfect along with perfectly aligned tyres with no uneven wear on them, then i would suspect something wrong with the EPS.Maybe a rat has eaten some wires.

kalsu · 24th September 2008, 09:08

I own a 1996 zen had have had this issue but off late has noticed that the steering is too tight. The service guys actually lubricated the something ball bearings (thats what he said) got a little relief..but no resolutions yet my tyres are new MRF zVTs

Quote:

Originally Posted by amtak

All,

My 2005 Zen's steering feels as if its no longer a Power Steering. It takes the vehicle to a side, either right or left plus takin turns is a major task these days. I drove a 2001 Zen and the steering was much better than that of mine. And yes, the Wheel Alignment is done still the problem exists...

Please advise. The car car has run for 30K KMS and the Tyre rotation has been done.

4th August 2007, 10:56	#1
amtak Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai - The city of Sea Link!!! Posts: 2,915 Thanked: 899 Times View My Garage	Zen Steering Issue All, My 2005 Zen's steering feels as if its no longer a Power Steering. It takes the vehicle to a side, either right or left plus takin turns is a major task these days. I drove a 2001 Zen and the steering was much better than that of mine. And yes, the Wheel Alignment is done still the problem exists... Please advise. The car car has run for 30K KMS and the Tyre rotation has been done.
	() Thanks

4th August 2007, 16:08	#2
esteem_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Madras/Py Posts: 7,556 Thanked: 502 Times View My Garage	If the steering is not stable, then your tyres may have uneven wear. Please let us know the actual condition of the tyres, what tyres they are & how many Kms they have done.
	() Thanks

4th August 2007, 22:10	#3
xinome BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: I am lost.... Posts: 339 Thanked: 0 Times	yes amtak as esteem_lover said all those are required to help you out i had the same problem in my alto without EPS edition, and without good thread it was horrible had to massage hands when ever i came back from a drive! after i bought new tires and plonked them on amazing it feels like i have EPS. i predit bad tyres and i guess wheel balancing as well!
	() Thanks

5th August 2007, 01:06	#4
amtak Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai - The city of Sea Link!!! Posts: 2,915 Thanked: 899 Times View My Garage	The tires have run for about 30,000 KMS. They are MRF ZVTS and are still in good shape as per the Service guys.
	() Thanks

5th August 2007, 01:12	#5
xinome BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: I am lost.... Posts: 339 Thanked: 0 Times	amtak please do post pictures of these tires, so we can give our opinions we don't ever ever trust a service guy
	() Thanks

5th August 2007, 01:39	#6
amtak Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai - The city of Sea Link!!! Posts: 2,915 Thanked: 899 Times View My Garage	I'll put the pics tomorrow....
	() Thanks

6th August 2007, 11:34	#8
amtak Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai - The city of Sea Link!!! Posts: 2,915 Thanked: 899 Times View My Garage	Thanks John. I'll again check it
	() Thanks

6th August 2007, 19:40	#9
killjoy BHPian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 753 Thanked: 317 Times View My Garage	check your lower arm, probably bent....
	() Thanks

16th September 2008, 09:08	#10
nirmalts BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Stuttgart, Germ Posts: 252 Thanked: 7 Times View My Garage	I was driving the 2001 Zen LX of my dad this week and the steering appears to be too tight. My dad was always complaining about it and I used to think it is because power steering is not present in this model. The wheel doesnt appear to be balanced correctly. I will check this today. What else could be done to make the steering smooth? Adding a power steering will cost around 38K and this is not an option for me Thanks Nirmal
	() Thanks

16th September 2008, 09:34	#11
amitpunjani BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 451 Thanked: 109 Times	Hi In the rack and pinion steering there is a big Plactic screw. Just ask your mechanic to lossen it up a bit. This would work to some extent, Amit
	() Thanks

16th September 2008, 13:22	#14
humyum Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 2,752 Thanked: 5,428 Times	Is the tyre pressure correct ? i have the same 2005 zen and run 30 thousand km too and yes with mrf zvts..!!Tyre pressure plays a very important part in the steering feel. For example i tried the tyre pressure at 30 and the feeling was a very vague steering at high speeds.I could simple turn the steering a little left right at 120 and the car would hardly move an inch in any direction. At the same time i did the same move at 28 and the car would point exactly where the steering was pointing. This means the contact patch of the tyres at 28 and 30 is different and hence the different steering feel. Maybe one of your tyres is losin air slowly and hence the hard steering.If the tyre pressure is perfect along with perfectly aligned tyres with no uneven wear on them, then i would suspect something wrong with the EPS.Maybe a rat has eaten some wires.
	() Thanks