Steering wheel not returning

[demented]

When turning left or right the steering wheel will stay in one of these position and not even attempt to return.

The steering doesn't wander, it runs straight but although the car steers, its doesnt feel like I have full control.

Its a 98 Escort Si with power steering. The power steering seems to be working as it should, very little effort required to turn wheels and lock to lock is 1 and half turns from centre position.

This issues with steering has only occurred very recently.

Any idea's ?

[Jordan99940]

i think this is due to the cars caster if the wheel doesn't self centre. personally wouldnt know how to solve it this is just a guess

[demented]

i think this is due to the cars caster if the wheel doesn't self centre. personally wouldnt know how to solve it this is just a guess

 

 

Approx 6months ago I fitted new lower balljoints/Wishbones to both sides keeping the original tyres on, although slightly worn on the edge the tyres were still legal and while fitted, I had no issues with the steering.

 

Approx a month ago I had two Linglong tyres fitted to the front, from the moment these tyres were on; the issue with the steering occurred.

I watched the tyre fitter fit the tyres and that's all he did and due to a past incidents, I even jacked the car up myself to prevent the possibility of the floor being damaged.

 

As the car seems to steers as it should, I didn't believe the cause is the tracking, although I planned to have this checked, as of yet I haven't.

 

Whenever I mention its only occurred since new tyres fitted, everyone I speak to says, its not the tyres, its the steering or susspension.

 

It was only yesterday when It was pointed out to me that the steering wheel was not retuning, I never even noticed that but could feel something was not right.

 

My only other guess, is the the new wishbones I fitted could be of poor quality ?

[stoo2000]

You should always have the Tracking checked if you change the lower arms (wishbones).

[demented]

Tracking has be set and was only very slightly out, however problem still persist.

 

On acceleration, my car pulls in a different direction to what I'm steering and the slightest of bumps in the road, I lose stability.

 

I believe the issue lies with the poor quality track control arms/wishbones, new off ebay at £18.95 for two, I should of smelt a rat ?

 

I believe the rubber bushes are moving within the frame.

 

 

Back to buying Partco from now on.

[skydivebaz]

well i took my mondy 3 in for alignment last week here in cold Germany after changing the tires, track rod ends,ball joints, drop links and the rear drop links and one stabilizer bar and Fcuk me would it drive! no over a bump it would jump side ways and bang and steering was everywhere. when i turned you felt the wheels turning uneven. Oh put polly bushes in the subframe. yes mondeo i know but put on the machine all four wheels on lasers and into the compute and the German was laughing.

 

Asked how the hell i manged to drive here and said in his be english "for me you are a wekord" as in the worst readings ever!!! 35 mins later and 62 euro i was off the ramps and god it drives like a dream !!! Amazing

 

 

So get your alignment done !! whenever you mees with suspension!!

[demented]

well i took my mondy 3 in for alignment last week here in cold Germany after changing the tires, track rod ends,ball joints, drop links and the rear drop links and one stabilizer bar and Fcuk me would it drive! no over a bump it would jump side ways and bang and steering was everywhere. when i turned you felt the wheels turning uneven. Oh put polly bushes in the subframe. yes mondeo i know but put on the machine all four wheels on lasers and into the compute and the German was laughing.

 

Asked how the hell i manged to drive here and said in his be english "for me you are a wekord" as in the worst readings ever!!! 35 mins later and 62 euro i was off the ramps and god it drives like a dream !!! Amazing

 

 

So get your alignment done !! whenever you mees with suspension!!

 

 

Thanks for input regarding your experience.

 

The issue with my steering only occurred when I replaced the tyres.

 

The symptoms I was experiencing, in my opinion was far too serious to be the tracking, that's why I didn't want to throw money away paying for the tracking to be checked, especially when I suspected the cause was the recently fitted wishbones.

 

By posting a message on here, I was open to other member's experiences and opinions.

 

I've had many cars over the years and from my own experience when the tracking is out, tyres may wear excessively on the edges or in extreme circumstances, a tyre may force itself to take one path, while the car is driven in another.

 

My car would drive normal most of the time and only feel like I was driving on ice/jelly when I accelerated.

 

I have since had the tracking checked at a cost of £25 on a four wheel alignment device which measures the tracking from the centre point of the car.

 

The passenger side wheel was slightly out and although adjusted by the garage the problem still persist.

 

Without driving my car, the garage have described the symptoms I've been experiencing. Their conclusion and from past experience, its the bushes in cheap the track control arms (wishbones) which wobble and move when under load.

 

Like I may have already said, I purchased cheap Wishbones, thinking what a bargain, it was just coincidence they failed when new tyres where fitted.

 

As the car has been off the road, I have still not fitted the new wishbone.

 

The garage which adjusted the tracking, said when the new wishbones are fitted, they will adjust the tracking for free.

 

 

If problems still persist when new wishbones fitted, no doubt, I'll be posting on here looking for answers.

 

 

However, my steering is still not returning after a turn, I'm sure this is something more than the wishbones/tracking?

 

 

Thanks

[16Vrhys]

Caster angle is the self centring part thats why choppers have long sloped handle bars to run in a straight line mostly lol so id be looking at chassis damage or shocks?

[georgeh811]

i had the same problem with my mk5b after buying wishbones off ebay, i then when to cheap accessory shop, begrudgingly paying out for yet more wishbones, after a few days the same problem returned. at that point enough was enough and from then on it was genuine ford every time

[stoney]

bottom steering column universal joint will be seized / seizing

[ScORTED]

Wishbones bushes at a guess possibly multiple problems including one with the column UJ (as stoney points out) or the rack itself.