Steering - Club Astra 2001 Estate

I've just been to the garage to check all 4 tyre pressures on my mum's
Astra. Something's wrong somewhere, it's like you're driving on ICE,
but weather condtions are fairly okay at the moment. There's an
every-so-slight feeling that the power-steering is occasionally
pulling a little to the left, like a nudge. Any ideas? Oh, and the
front tyres are at 31 yet look as if they are deflated a lot.

 

What is it like maneuvering on full lock, or lock to lock? does it feel at
all strange, like
you have to somehow turn the wheel more than normal? I do have something in
mind
but I dont want to say just now as I dont want to panic you un-necessarily!

Mike

 

What type of Astra (year, engine size, trim), & what tyres (make,
type, size, & how old).

Have you used your own trusted tyre pressure gauge - it is not
unusual - oh bugger off Tom Jones - for garage air line gauges to
be not calibrated correctly. If you don't have your own gauge,
try another garage. Don't forget that tyre pressures need to be
checked and adjusted with the tyres COLD. Also, there is a knack
to getting the correct pressure reading from garage airlines.

Don't forget that, just like your engine needs time to warm up
from cold, so do your tyres. Some brands/types of tyres are
particularly prone to feeling "strange" in cold weather, until
they have warmed up a bit.

Also something else to consider, last winter, some councils
started to use a "different" salt compound for winter road
treatment. There followed a number of complaints, particularly
from motorcyclists, about the roads being a lot more slippery on
these treated roads. (Naturally, local councils buried their
heads in the sand, denying any problems with the new salt mix).

Rgds
Sean

 

I presume the tyres are OK?

If you still have a problem after confirming the tyre pressures are
right I would pop in to your local Vauxhall garage and ask for some
free advice. They should be happy driving the car with you and giving
you advice.

If there is something wrong you might get an out-of-warranty
contribution if the mileage is reasonable and it has a Vauxhall service
history.

 

Well, to be honest, that line made me panic un-necessarily anyway lol.
I've rechecked the car and so has mum, the steering doesn't feel like
it has to go further than it should.

 

Well you must have very much more understanding vauxhall dealers around
your way.

 

/me throws his panties at you.

Yeah, we checked the tyres with a garage gauge, a regular footpump and
a new digital gauge. The garage was showing a slightly higher reading,
so we decided not to trust that.

Funny you should say that, cos I passed my test in the summer. I began
learning around this time last Winter - it was extremely icy but
whatever they were putting on the road made it feel safe. I was out
yesterday in some minor ice, roads gritted and ended up going about 5
mph everywhere. Whatever they're putting down now is different in
colour to last year - white now, not yellow. I think I may skip
driving until the summer returns

 

As said earlier, they are okay. Nice tread on them, about a couple of
months old, weren't cheap either.

I know our family mechanic would do this, but last time I went to
check out the rattle on my Corsa, Vauxhall stated they would need 40
quid just to look things over

 

I find new tyres tend to squirm a bit until they're more worn in.
There's a *huge* difference between wet and dry traction and some tyres
are appalling in the wet or cold. It coudl eb that you've got some
suspension wear, the alignment is out or just plain that you're not
driving very well.

 

Sorry to worry you, but something about a car steering funny cropped up on
this group a while back. I told the guy
it sounded a lot like his steering rack had come loose and was floating from
side to side when the wheel was turned.
His attitude was along the lines of 'whatever...' . I guess he was a serious
prick!

FWIW, look under the bonnet and try to see the rack. with the engine running
to work the power steering, have someone turn it from lock to lock while you
watch the rack for movement.

Mike

 

Cheers, I'll do that this morning

 

Excuse the delay, Me and Christmas don't get on.

I've done the above personally with our mechanic (the non-Vauxhall
guy) - nothing's wrong with the actual steering. It does appear that
it was the cold weather in some way - since it has warmed up a little
and the problem seems to be absent. I'm going to take the car for 5
minutes at a time - every day - for the next couple of weeks and will
report any changes.