Page 1 of 1

Super light steering wheel? Opinions needed

Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2005 8:51 am
by AKs_SlickPolo
ive just had a few probs with my alloys but its all sorted. but today after driving for a long period i found the steering being super light, i mean when i go over generally bumpy uneven roads or manhole covers the steering decides to turn it self a bit on its own, its like very airy and light. Is this a problem, a guy at work said it may be the alloys need more weights on em when balanced?!? but i dont think this is the case.

Im thinking that the whole point of alloys is this (being alloy and not steel) and the fact that when you have tires new the thread is a bit glazed, so this just needs to be worn off.

its kinda like the steering taking control over road imperfections a bit too much, obviously the whole point of holding the steering wheel is for you to take control of your car, but it requires a bit more attention, you're kinda feeling the road more. When i say the steering is turning a bit, i mean when road is bumpy, not when braking. As i tried braking on a newly layed flat road and it brakes straight without control and no judder or pulling to one side. So i dont think its tracking. hope ive described it well enough.

is this normal or not normal? Any ideas on what could be wrong?

Thanks for your help in advance!

Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2005 10:58 am
by DScape
Just to let you know, I've got it as well ! Maybe it's normal, although who knows?!

Mine was going in yesterday for wheel alignment, tracking, replacing bushes, sorting the rear drums and fitting my coilovers....was gonna see if it was any different after that first before I start thinking its a problem.

But unfortunately it couldn't go in yesterday in the end :cry:

Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2005 11:30 am
by ukmic
Make sure your tyre pressures are right, I have pumped mine way over the limit the garage said it was extremly dangerous and I could of killed myself :O but the handling was amazing! thats why you shouldnt use a foot pump lol now its heavy :( especially when manouvering at about 10mph

Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2005 1:03 pm
by AKs_SlickPolo
cheers, glad to know i aint the only one, i think ill get my tracking done too.

@ ukmic - yeah its risky to run overinflated tyres, i dont think mine are that much though. Was this on the BBS wheels that you were sorting out, as u said on Porka.net? ill run down to the petrol station in a bit and lower it anyways. What pressure r u putting? ive got 195/45/15 tyres.

Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2005 6:59 pm
by AKs_SlickPolo
the tyres had 36PSI, and this was with the tyres cold. i reduced it to 30psi and now the car handles as well as it did before :D

One more thing guys, do people commonly get problems in inflating tyres with metal valves at petrol stations? i had to practically force it in to get the pressure gauge to put air in rather than take it out. two tyres were struggling and were just letting the air out, whilst showing error on those crappy petrol station inlflators. one tyre got deflated almost completely and i had no choice but to drive it to another petrol station about 1/2 a mile away, which still didnt inflate it, so drove it back home and used those electric halfords tyre thingys.

i know i shouldnt have driven it but had no choice, no jack, no spare wheel, breakdown service ph no at home :oops: im assuming they are either faulty valves or just typical metal valves, as they are a bit restrictive than rubbery ones.

There is a light concentric scuff/score on the tyre wall would this have f**ked that tyre up internally?

Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2005 7:44 pm
by ukmic
AKs_SlickPolo wrote:cheers, glad to know i aint the only one, i think ill get my tracking done too.

@ ukmic - yeah its risky to run overinflated tyres, i dont think mine are that much though. Was this on the BBS wheels that you were sorting out, as u said on Porka.net? ill run down to the petrol station in a bit and lower it anyways. What pressure r u putting? ive got 195/45/15 tyres.
nah these were on my steelies great little wheels :) still waiting on my bbs alloys 8 days today... hopefully he'll ring by tuesday cant wait :)

oh and put the phone number on your mobile if you have one, it helps trust me :P also carry a space saver wheel they help too :) and dont think it will have caused permenant damage for 1/2 a mile unless you was being stupid turning corners quick etc... I have seen cars run on flat and still be ok but I may be wrong. why not try getting a garage to check it over?

Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 1:27 pm
by AKs_SlickPolo
http://photobucket.com/albums/y268/AKS_ ... o-0127.jpg

http://photobucket.com/albums/y268/AKS_ ... action=vie w&current=Photo-0127.jpg

This is the piccy of the mark. it seems more like a rub mark i think, but no signs of cuts or fraying e.t.c.

the mark i mean is nearer to the tyres road surface, looks like a darker concentric mark in the piccy.

its on both sides, meaning inner (not inside, towards the brakes) and outer tyre walls. it sort of looks like a fold/crease, but there is one there already ( on all tyres) as the tyre wall sort of bends over the wheel lip as its rim protection jobbies. im hoping it is just a mark, ill wash it off and put some tyre dressing on it, but because i do loads of dual carriageway/motorway journeys, i want make sure its okay, especially only being just 2 days old rubber.

ive made room for my spacesaver wheel back now, as well as learning not to drive with a very low pressured/almost flat tyre again!

let me know what you reckon GUYS?