Pulling left because of power steering?

[Tomrun]

After having 4 wheel alignment done a few times, trying different things.
After fitting now ball joints, track rod ends, track rods, whiteline anti lift kit, wishbone bushes, drop links.
Had top mounts and bearings done not too long ago.

Everything is pretty much new and it still wants to pull left!

if I hold the steering wheel straight it drives straight but if I let it go the steering wheel drops to the left and steers the car towards the curb.

it's not the camber because it happened even if the road cambers to the right.

if I sit at lights with the engine running and take my hand of the steering wheel it will drop to the left.

I have done some more research and read that it could be a faulty power steering control valve leaking or biasely pumping fluid to the left.

Anyone experienced anything like this?

 

[mechanic69]

I'm assuming that your tyre pressures and tyre wear are equal as I had that recently.


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[Tomrun]

yep just check pressures today and all were fine.

Tyres are the same, put on the same time and have the same wear

 

[NHN]

I have seen the exact same issue on another's car, they haven't found the issue yet, but only thing left in the chain is the rack.

Been aligned 4-5 times then it goes out by itself, bizarre.

 

[Marek196c]

if you got some problems with rack, more than pulling to left or right you will get the play on it (like will be a lot easier to move for few first degrees the steering wheel). Maybe someone put few dents wrong the SW and actually it's a bit to left meanwhile you thinking it's straight?

 

[Tomrun]

if it is a rack problem what rack would I be looking to replace it with?

is there anyways I can just replace the power steering valve on its own?

any tests I can do before I spend loads more money?

 

[Marek196c]

on bench or take it to mechanic who's should know how to check it (with 10-20 quids normally would do it).

 

[Tomrun]

Sorry what do you mean by on bench?

 

[DJ_26]

Sorry what do you mean by on bench?

He is saying that you should remove the rack and put it on the workbench at a power steering specialist. You will have to approach an actual power steering specialist rather than your local garage. These guys can put it on their bench and test the electrical and mechanical components of the rack and see what's wrong.

EDIT: where are you based? Someone can hopefully recommend you a power steering specialist. I've looked myself near me and found two.

 

[Tomrun]

I live in North London or chelmsford ways.

might be a silly question but is the power steering electric or hydraulic? don't know alot about it tbh

 

[DJ_26]

I live in North London or chelmsford ways.

might be a silly question but is the power steering electric or hydraulic? don't know alot about it tbh

Power steering in an A3 8P is fully electric.

Ok well there is a place next to lakeside shopping centre or another place in greenwich that will do it.

Lakeside:
http://propowersteering.co.uk/Contact-us.html

Greenwich:
http://www.power-steering.co.uk/contact-us/

 

[Tomrun]

Cheers mate I will give them a call and see what they say.

 

[DJ_26]

Cheers mate I will give them a call and see what they say.

That's ok mate, please do update this thread whatever happens and if you do go with one of the two companies I mentioned. If you do end up getting a new rack, do find out if they are fitting a new gen 3 rack (This will require an adaptor wiring loom from the dealers).

 

[Tomrun]

what she the differences between a general 1 , 2 and 3?

and what one would I have in my 2009 58 s3?

why did the change them? was it because of these problems?

 

[Marek196c]

normally audi revisiting the components to get them better. Famous Head Cylinder on BKDs in fact there are A (crap), B (better but depend what you find) C and D. with sw racks are the same. BTW yeah by mechanic I meant the specialist (also if few general mechanics got right tools to do it).

 

[audismart]

Alignment needs resetting at the ecu.

Start the car, take it to a flat piece of road.
Stop.
Turn steering wheel full left and then full right and back to the middle.
Drive forward 10 meters.
Stop.
Repeat if necessary.

 

[DJ_26]

what she the differences between a general 1 , 2 and 3?

and what one would I have in my 2009 58 s3?

why did the change them? was it because of these problems?

Gen 3 is the most reliable unit an least fragile I suppose. Have a word with @Keram and he can tell you what unit you have in your car. He knows his stuff when it comes to steering racks. Yeah VAG probably made these revisions as they must have had quite a few rack failures/discovered potential problems.

 

[Michael O'Connor]

Alignment needs resetting at the ecu.

Start the car, take it to a flat piece of road.
Stop.
Turn steering wheel full left and then full right and back to the middle.
Drive forward 10 meters.
Stop.
Repeat if necessary.

Is this possible on a 2006 A3 8p? Mine is pulling to the left after a 4 wheel alignment on saturday afternoon. I had new tyres and alloys fitted sat morning but it was definitely not pulling on the way TO the alignment place, or on the way back, but only noticed it this morning on the way to work

 

[audismart]

Take it back to them and realine again, free of charge. they are obligated to get it right as they have made the car un-road worthy.

 

[Michael O'Connor]

Take it back to them and realine again, free of charge. they are obligated to get it right as they have made the car un-road worthy.

That's just what I did mate. Thanks for the heads up on where I stand on it though legally. Luckily the guy is a nice bloke and didn't mind me dropping it off for the day and picking it up later. It's sorted now!