Steering all over the place

[simon291971449]

I've recently just put the whole front end back together. It's all new parts and I was fairly pleased with myself when the wheels went back on. I got what I felt was an approximation of the correct toe-in using string, axle stands and a ruler, but to be honest, it could be miles out. The idea was just to get it driveable enough to get it to the specialist two miles away to get the geometry right.

Problem is that it really isn't driveable. It's wandering all over the place and the relationship between what the steering wheel is doing and what the front wheels are doing isn't always obvious. Vague and sloppy sums it up. Wouldn't feel safe taking it over 25 mph. I'm beginning to worry I've done something stupid when refitting the rack (I did centre it etc.) or some other daft error.

Would the toe-in, camber etc being well out make the car so dodgy to drive? Hoping that's all it is.

Also, the new pads are scraping on the new discs - not binding, just rubbing with that irritating noise. Will that reduce as they bed in and wear down a bit?

Reassurance required!

Thanks

Simon

[davidr]

Hi Simon - first of all congrats on the front suspension rebuild.
My first thought would be have you checked that everything is tightened up correctly?
Did you replace the rack bushes and if so, did you pack them out properly so they can't move? If they have any side to side movement then you will get a sloppy feel. The best way to describe it is that you turn the steering wheel and there is a delay before the car turns but it does so sharply when it does. It will also wander around on a straight road. The bush should be held firmly and possibly packed out so the only movement is the compliance within the bush and not the bush itself.
As for the pads, did you 'exercise' the caliper pistons in and out to make sure they were moving freely and not sticking? They should be free enough so that a small amount of run out in the disc will naturally knock the pads back out of contact when the brake pressure is released.
Hope that helps

[simon291971449]

Thanks David

It was a good learning experience, but it would have been a miracle had I had a perfectly driving car after my amateur efforts!

I didn't replace the bushes on the rack because 1) they are polyeurethane and looked pretty solid, and 2) they weren't for budging! When I reinstalled the rack, I felt it was pretty solidly located - I really had to squeeze the bushes into the apertures, but the symptoms you describe match what's happening pretty exactly. It's going in for rear brake work and then full alignment next week, so I think I'll invest in some new rack bushes and ask them to be fitted while it's in.

The front calipers were newly reconditioned with new everything. I'll ask them to have a wee look at that too.

Appreciate the input. Thanks again.

Simon