"new" car - wobbling steering wheel

"new" car - wobbling steering wheel

Author
Discussion

Laura877

Original Poster:

25 posts

92 months

Sunday 30th July 2017
quotequote all
Just bought a Astra 1.8 sri 2007.

MOT'd on Thursday, day before I bought it.
4 new tyres fitted.
Advisories; anti roll bar bushes are wearing but not enough to affect car performance
Drop links will need replacing at next MOT.

Just took it on its first motorway journey, drives fine until you hit around 55-60mph - steering wheel starts to pull to the right and wobbles MASSIVELY. Thought at first it might just drive through it when I get to 70mph but it wasn't shifting and onto seemed to stop when the road surfaces changed, but as soon as I got 3-4 miles on it came back. Had torque steering before on a zetec but this is another level, car isn't "pulling" to the right but the wheel is definitely leaning to the right.

I'm hoping it's just the alignment that needs redoing, I would have thought they'd have checked that though when putting tyres on during MOT.

cuprabob

15,722 posts

221 months

Sunday 30th July 2017
quotequote all
Wobbling / vibration is normally down to poorly balanced wheels.

They wouldn't check alignment when fitting new tyres or doing an MOT unless a customer specifically asked for it.

UK roads camber to the verge to assist with drainage so a little right steering wheel is needed to stop the car drifting to the left under normal circumstances, even if the alignment is perfect.

If you bought from a dealer, take it back and have them fix it

Laura877

Original Poster:

25 posts

92 months

Sunday 30th July 2017
quotequote all
Private sale unfortunately. However the water pump, cambelt and head gasket were all changed at the same time as the wheels were changed so can't complain.

So if I take it to the garage on pay day (two weeks to go) I'm looking at having them check the alignment and balancing? Do you know what the rough price is for this?

L99JKB

182 posts

137 months

Sunday 30th July 2017
quotequote all
40-50 quid for a decent alignment. The problems you mentioned from the MOT won't be doing it any favours though. I'd want to sort them first and then get it aligned.

Laura877

Original Poster:

25 posts

92 months

Sunday 30th July 2017
quotequote all
IM trying to avoid shelling out a fortune a week after spending a grand on the car, lol. If I can get it all fixed for under £200 that would be a bonus though.

L99JKB

182 posts

137 months

Sunday 30th July 2017
quotequote all
Do you know where the tyres were fitted? Maybe they didn't balance a wheel or two correctly after fitting the new tyres? Might be worth asking them to check.

Laura877

Original Poster:

25 posts

92 months

Monday 31st July 2017
quotequote all
I don't know where the tyres were done but I can only imagine that it's the same place to car was MOTD (as it was all done at once) however they're not on the invoice for the MOT.

The garage it was MOTD in is a good 80 miles away too, will just take it to my mechanic.

Laura877

Original Poster:

25 posts

92 months

Wednesday 2nd August 2017
quotequote all
Been to the garage

Problem no 1 - no locking wheel nut. VX dealer wants £40+ just for one. Gotta go to a different garage to try and get it off next week.

Problem no 2 - mechanic thinks it's something else as the problem comes and goes at speed.

Told not to drive it fast until next week when it goes on the ramps.

JONATHAN_11_80

34 posts

100 months

Thursday 2nd November 2017
quotequote all
Sounds like its kit a kerb and bent something.