Jasoncmor

Hi all.

Car is a mk4 fiesta 1.25.

I have a problem with the tracking / wheel alinement, I've had it realigned 3 times now i think, (I've had the car 5 1/2 years) and not long after its been realigned, it will go out again. Is there something that is causing this to happen?

ALso, I have recently noticed that when turning, usually right) at low speeds I can hear a high pitched noise, not very loud, but loud enough to hear, its sort of a rubbing noise I'd say.
Any clues as to what that could be?

Cheers, Jason

studabear

worn suspension arm bushes, but in 5 years a mot should have picked something up.

is someone bouncing it up and down curbs?

Jasoncmor

I had the arms replaced around 2 / 3 years ago if I remember.
And no, I'm not bouncing up and down curbs.

Curbs and ramps, speeds bumps, pot holes ect are a pet hate of mine and do everything possible to avoid them. Or if I have to go over them, go as slow as possible.

Jasoncmor

Also, ill it be easy enough for me to replace them myself?

Oranoco

When arms were changed were they O/E or pattern? Often find pattern parts to be pretty naff

Jasoncmor

Honestly can't remember.

Jasoncmor

Looking on ebay, there is someone selling a "kit" which comprises of

For around Ł70. Is it worth replacing the whole lot?

Cheers, Jason

KW-rscos

Check the steering rack as well as I had the same thing on my Escort, after I replaced the lower arms (which are known for being shocking) it was better, but still not right, when it went in for the MOT the Tester asked if it was easier to turn one way than the other, which it was, I replaced the rack and job done, very similar symptoms to what you have described.

Jasoncmor

Stupid question, but is the steering rack something that could leak fluid?

Cheers.

Jasoncmor

OK, I found that one out for myself ^^.

But there's a couple of other things.

About 6 months ago when I got new tyres on the car, the front drivers side was unevenly worn, cannot remember weather it was on the inside or outside of the tyre, this is also when I got the tracking realigned last.

And something I have noticed recently. Sometimes, when I reverse, going into full lock, (this is hard to explain) the steering almost falls the last bit to hit full lock, sort of like its going down, and the steering is following it, like its rolling down, if this makes sense?

Jason

Jasoncmor

Earlier today, I was reversing out my drive, I was turning the wheel to about half way and then as I kept going, the steering pulled itself all the way to almost full lock, hopefully this explains the issue I have better?

Jason

Jasoncmor

I jacked my car up quick to have a look just on the drivers side, and it looks as though the bushings are going / gone in the lower suspension arm, and also thinking it could be the ball joint thats causing me the problem, so it looks like i'm going to have to replace the arms, which have the ball joint already attached to.

Just to clarify, the bushing in the arm is all split, not terribly but still split, its not in pieces, and I assume that means It needs replacing?

And another thing, I noticed when I took the wheel off is the Hub assembly? The part with the bolts on you put the wheel on, was very slightly loose behind the brake disc, when I had the wheel attached, I check for play and couldn't feel anything, its just when the wheel is off, i moves very slightly, just a fraction, is that a problem?

CHeers.

Jasoncmor

Since paying closer attention to this issue, If I go over a raised man hole cover for example, the front of the car bangs and so does the rear, weather I'm going 10 miles and faster. Could it be suspension mounts or something aswell?

Jasoncmor

I been out playing today and if I go over a rough bit of road, over a shallow pot hole, raised man hole cover, over a drain there is clunking / banging from both the front and rear and on both sides, and I can feel the vibrations / bump through the car, But If I go over a speed bump the shocks absort the bump and I can feel it do that, and without any clunk or knock or anything.

I've tried rocking the suspension arms and they seem solid, the bushes in the arm have small cracks appearing in them, the boots around the ball joint, cv joints all seem fine, no cracks or leaks.

I gave the cv joints a little shake and they move very slightly backwards and forwards, only very slighly, but I dont remember them moving in any other direction.

Hopefully this helps on diagnosing the problem a bit better.

Jason

Jasoncmor

One other thing, I have just been through all my reciepts and found out what the arms were that was replaced. They were OE parts and was brought & fitted in june 2007, lol.

Do these arms wear out that quickly?

Jason