Steering rack / binding brakes?

Grale1

Grale1

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Hi,

im still having issues with my car pulling left, been on the hunter tracking 4 times this week with the same out come.
could my steering rack be shot? How would I tell if it is shot? Or could I have a binding brake caliper? But how could I tell that as well?
i was thinking maybe it rack related because when engine is running you get more full lock turning it to the left then you do right full lock. Two of the guys I've taken it to think its more to do with the suspension as its been lowered with h&r springs on standard shocks?

starting to loose my patience with this now.
 
i'm struggling in a similar way, but I haven't performed full 4WA yet, doing that in a couple weeks. I've had plenty of suspension, brakes issues and i just wonder whether I'm still tracking badly because my previous problems have worn my tyres so unevenly?
 
I've had my car on the hunter tracking system 4 times this week, and the last time the guy said its prob my suspension causing my issue, but I also think I may have a binding brake, I can't undo the bleed nipple on the rear passenger side, and the last owner to me had a new rear caliper put on the drivers side? So I have changed everything on the front bar the suspension and wheel bearings which ill do next.

Where in Surrey do you live?
 
Is it just your rear tyres wearing or both front and rear have you lowered the car.
 
First and foremost I would check for the 'rear caliper binding issue' then and then check the dampers. This said, either issue is relatively easy to spot.. all you have to do is take the wheels off and check for signs of uneven wear on both discs and look for fluid leakage from the struts.
 
Ther is no fluid leaking from the struts as I looked today when doing the arb bushes, but the passenger side is lower down, to be fair they look pretty tired, I can't undo the bleed nipple on the passenger side rear caliper to even try and bleed it, im getting fed up chasing this issue
 
Fair enough as dampers don't last forever and probably could do with being changed given their age. As regards to nipple just put heat on it to remove. If you haven't got access to the tools, then hand over 20 knicker to a local mechanic who will sort this in minutes or get em to do the lot for 40. I had the same problem and on the same side.
 
Yeah I bled the other three a few months ago but I wouldn't be surprised if this caliper is sticking and causing some of the pulling,
 
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I had the rear of the car on axl stand still afternoon as I finished work nice and early, thought I'd look into the rear brakes binding uneven disc wear, I don't think there is any uneven brake wear happening on either side, but what I did find is that the passenger side rear wheel spins round nicely with ease but the drivers side rear doesn't spin freely like the other side, now I don't know if this is of revive nice with regards to the car pulling left seeing its the drivers side that's not spinning the same???
 
Hi, can anyone tell me the signs of the steering rack when it's on it way out etc, I'm still having issues with the car pulling left, and its getting worse now, the only things for me to change on the front is the suspension, I will be going to buy coilovers very soon, and the wheel bearings as I think mine are making a noise, and the sub frame bushes as mine are pretty split? I can't think of anything else to try to solve this issue.

a3 1.8t AGU it has been lowered with H&R springs on standard shocks
 
Hi guys yes I'm still having this problem with it pulling left on acceleration, this week I've replaced both wishbones both ball joints both track rod ends both inner tie rod arms both front wheel bearings, put fk coilovers overs on replaced the top mounts and the bearings, and also after all this work had the hunter 4 wheel alignment done, now the car feels a lot tighter and stable, but it stills pulls left on accelerations, and it will drift left if you let it coast. I also still have slight play in my steering wheel if you were to turn left and return wheel to centre you can feel a little play in the wheel, I don't get the same if you were to turn it right, so with what I've described would anyone think my rack is shot or the steering column.

simon
 
Cheers mate, I have had a look underneath when its been up on the ramp a few times and nothing ever looks bent but just never know, I'm always feeling its something to do with the steering rack/ column because of play in the wheel and just how it feels driving, I just gets annoying after you do some work to try and sort it and it does fix it, but to be fair everything I've done in the last 2 weeks has needed to be done
 
What are your tyres like, same make? Budget or premium? I've had many a tyre new one old cause pulling to either side after a full all wheel alignment, swap the tyres around side to side, it costs nothing to do. Measure the rack tie bar threads, make sure they are roughly even threads exposed on both sides
 
Tbh the tyres are different makes and different tread depths, but I have swapped the front 2 from side to side and it still pulled to the left, I am saving to have new tyres ( faulkens ) all round. I think it's more to do with the rack as there is a small amount of play in the steering wheel, I read something about the "knuckle " bush in the steering rack?. Not to sure what this is
 
Since I've owned the car ( 2 years ) it has pulled to the left on acceleration it done it before remap. But it does also drift to the left if you let it coast or just come off the acclerator. I will try and upload a video when I can as ill need someone to video it for me,I've found it hard to get a garage to drive it to see what I mean with the pull, it's not camber related as it pulls left if I drive on the right side of the road when no other cars are about.
 
Hmm, you're done in surrey. I'll help you film if you're willing to wait like a week for me to get back in the country. After that, have you though about taking the car up to badger5? Long drive, but will be worth it
 
I haven't got one as the printer ran out of ink, I stood and watched the guy do it, and to be fair to the guy he did get it all in the green the toe was really out for left front wheel and both sides where adjusted not just the one side like I've had before,

yes I may just have to take you up on that offer at some point
 
No adjustment on the a3's on the rear and no caster or camber adjustment either, I do feel its steering rack related because of the play, may hav Etonian see how much audi would charge to have a look at the rack
 
Not to sure what you mean, but was on the hunter alignment machine and every was in the green so I take it everything is in alignment as should be, but its hard to say without the print out for me to put up, so i'll have to get it and put it up, it feels 100 times better now than when I got the car, the garage that carried out the work and done the alignment reckon its torque steer? But I'm only at 187hp or was when it was remapped
 
the back needs to be aligned to the front,all green means nothing tbh,numbers after do,torque steer accelerating yea but coasting no,if you can get the print out that would be ace!
 
Ok, I'll try get a print out even if I have to go to another garage, I do understand that it should go to a wheel alignment specialist but I don't know of one in my area or a garage with a good rep,
 
audi upgrades
Probably a stupid idea but if it's under acceleration could it be engine mounts? I had this on an old car of mine, wasn't an A3 though
 
Tyres pressures are all good, I need new tyres as the drivers front has badly worn on inside edge, but it pulled to left even when I put that tyre on I've swapped them around on the opposite corners and all the same left pull,
 
Driving the car today and it feels so bad now this left pull is getting worse when you accelerate feels very unbalanced almost like something is loose, getting very down with the car now as not sure what else to look for
 
it will pull to the left as thats the shorter of the shafts,is it that bad or do you have 500hp lol
 
It's bad as soon as I touch the accelerator you feel it go heavy on the left and then pulls lefts, it's hard to explain. Maybe it need to go to a vag specialist
 
Just to say if this helps anyone's else, its my new ball joints have failed within 3 of being fitted, passenger side is a lot worse than drivers side
 
Check the following
  • Tyre pressure the same on both sides
  • Same tyres on both sides
  • Tyre tread depth, inner and outer
  • Arm bushes not perished
  • Camber, Caster and Tow alignment
  • Brake disc temperature should be the same on both sides
  • Steering lock is equal left and right (number of turns)
  • Gap between wheel and wheel arch the same
  • Both drive shafts exists(!)
  • Wheels can turn freely with hand, while on jack stands.
Torque steering will result as a tugging sensation in the steering wheel.
If engine dog mount is perished, changing gears would be difficult. However, if engine side mount are perished, this could cause a number of issues!

If you find that you can’t turn the wheels freely, I’m quite certain that you may have a sticky brake piston. If driving it gets worse, then braking is being applied.
 
Cheers for that some good info, just changed my balls again so need the alignment done, think I may have a sticking brake on left side rear as I can hear a noise coming from there when reversing when moving at slow speed
 
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