Team-BHP > Technical Stuff
Register New Topics New Posts Top Thanked Team-BHP FAQ


Reply
  Search this Thread
11,357 views
Old 17th March 2008, 15:07   #1
Newbie
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Kolkata
Posts: 23
Thanked: 0 Times
Skoda-Octavia (2.0 Petrol) - Steering Wobbling

Hi,

I have a Skoda-Octavia (2.0 Petrol); the car is about 4 years old. I have done 50 K servicing recently and immediately before that the tie-rod of my right-front wheel was bent. This was replaced by the dealer. Post which I have done a complete wheel alignment check and found everything was perfect until recently I figured out that while doing high-speed > 100 KMPH the steering wobbles. My A.S.S adviced me to change the complete steering column which will cost atleast 45 K. Just wanted to know if this is due to the steering or some problem in suspension. Just FYI when my tie-rod was bent steering was shaking vigorously while I was driving to my A.S.S.

Please help.

Thanks and Regards
dibbasu
dibbasu is offline  
Old 17th March 2008, 15:30   #2
Senior - BHPian
 
vikram_d's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 2,427
Thanked: 1,185 Times

Check wheel balancing. This is the most common culprit for high speed steering wobble.
vikram_d is offline  
Old 17th March 2008, 15:31   #3
Team-BHP Support
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 14,860
Thanked: 27,949 Times

Sounds like you hit a big pothole. Since the wobbling happens at a particular speed, have you tried wheel balancing ? Might be worth spending Rs 1000 rather than 10's of thousands!
ajmat is offline  
Old 17th March 2008, 15:59   #4
Senior - BHPian
 
PatienceWins's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 2,416
Thanked: 807 Times

It seems like wheel balancing issue. Get the balancing done.
PatienceWins is offline  
Old 17th March 2008, 19:06   #5
Newbie
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Kolkata
Posts: 23
Thanked: 0 Times

Thanks to all of you. I will get the balancing done and let you alll know the result.
dibbasu is offline  
Old 17th March 2008, 20:03   #6
BHPian
 
Xehaust's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mumbai
Posts: 846
Thanked: 81 Times

Also happens when your tyres need changing if they are wornt out or very old (say 3 yrs or more).

Happened to my Astra when i went over 70. It happens at different speeds with different cars and different circumstances. Got the tyres changed and its perfect.
(Dint know much about cars at that time )

EDIT: Have your tyres been changed since you bought your car?

Last edited by Xehaust : 17th March 2008 at 20:05.
Xehaust is offline  
Old 17th March 2008, 20:30   #7
Senior - BHPian
 
iraghava's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Bhaiyyaland
Posts: 8,033
Thanked: 265 Times

Also while getting the balancing done ask the dealer to also check the tyres & to ensure that none of them have any sidewall bulges in them especially the wheel which took the impact which led to the bent tie-rod.

In all probability whatever caused the tie-rod to bend might also ahve caused a sidewall bulge leading to balancing issues at high-speeds.
iraghava is offline  
Old 18th March 2008, 19:31   #8
BHPian
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Chennai
Posts: 54
Thanked: 2 Times

45K is too much for steering column. The price is for steering column alone or steering column with rack?
Ramesh75 is offline  
Old 19th March 2008, 15:50   #9
Senior - BHPian
 
dinu2506's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 1,077
Thanked: 958 Times

I too believe it could be either due to
1) Wheel balancing
2) One of the tyres might be having a bulge
dinu2506 is offline  
Old 19th March 2008, 15:56   #10
Senior - BHPian
 
spadival's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Melbourne, AU
Posts: 1,773
Thanked: 26 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by dibbasu View Post
Post which I have done a complete wheel alignment check and found everything was perfect until recently I figured out that while doing high-speed > 100 KMPH the steering wobbles. My A.S.S adviced me to change the complete steering column which will cost atleast 45 K.
Didnt you get the wheel balancing done along with the wheel alignment check? You can get it done at an independent tyre shop rather than the A.S.S. Sounds like your A.S.S is trying to pull a fast one on you.
spadival is offline  
Old 19th March 2008, 15:57   #11
BANNED
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Mumbai ( Borivali )
Posts: 328
Thanked: 0 Times

Wheel balancing my friend balancing , Get it chked
nicejits is offline  
Old 2nd April 2008, 19:18   #12
Newbie
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Kolkata
Posts: 23
Thanked: 0 Times

Hi,

Got the balancing done; the problem has reduced a bit. But it still exists. Worst part is when the car is not running or steering lock position when I push a steering wheel a little then I can feel some sound like something has been broken inside the column. Any clue?
dibbasu is offline  
Old 2nd April 2008, 23:44   #13
Senior - BHPian
 
shuvc's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kolkata
Posts: 2,913
Thanked: 352 Times

How did the tie rod get bent?
@razor4077 had a 2.0 octy in his family. IIRC he had also mentioned that the steering was wobbly above 120. He might be able to give some inputs.
shuvc is offline  
Old 3rd April 2008, 00:17   #14
Newbie
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Kolkata
Posts: 23
Thanked: 0 Times

I was hit by a rail fish-plate which was on the road. But it was changed.
dibbasu is offline  
Old 3rd April 2008, 23:46   #15
Senior - BHPian
 
JayD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Cochin! At last
Posts: 3,236
Thanked: 2,568 Times

Check the wheel rim for any bends. Or is it done while balancing??
JayD is offline  
Reply

Most Viewed


Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Team-BHP.com
Proudly powered by E2E Networks