Slack in Steering Rack 182?

[ashy_gtt]

Need some advice on the 182, don't usually drive it but went out in it today for a short run. Now when the car is stationary you can turn the steering wheel from side to side about 10 - 15 degrees without it actually turning the wheels!! you can feel it when driving too and sometimes it makes the car follow the contour of the road making you over correct to pull it back in line!

It fees as though there is some backlash / slop in the column? Ive had the car up on axel stands and i've checked that the bolt is tight through the clamp that holds to bottom of the column onto the rack which it is and whilst I was there i had the wife turn the steering wheel i can feel that the column is actually turning where it joins the rack...

I've done a search and seen that there are problems with the columns getting sloppy and needing welding, but as the column is turning where it meets the rack I don't think this is the case?

I guess there could be slop in the track rods or rack but the car is only just over 3 years old, is this a known problem?

Any ideas?

Cheers Ashy.

 

[David Ramsey]

I know you're no amateur so I assume you've checked track rods and ends?

Replaced all of mine in the summer cause mine were starting to go a little, felt like new after

 

[ashy_gtt]

I'll have another look mate, I'm hoping to get under it again at the weekend... I'll check the track rods and bottom ball joints.

 

[powey]

How do you go about checking them? Ive noticed mine getting looser lately

 

[mickstoke]

keep us updated mate as ive got this problem with a 1.2 16v a got. so far i replaced the bottom arms, antiroll link bars,wheel bearings, track rod ends and still i get the same problem and the car drags when on full lock!

 

[Sargara]

Sorry i cant shed any light but im very interested to see what you come up with. I always put this down to "one of those Clio things" as since ive owned it this has been the norm to me.

 

[JD]

my car does exactly the same as above, i have to constantly pull the damn thing back in line and on fast tight corners it just doesnt feel safe/feels very vague (not that i do it often)

took mine down to joshydee and he showed me it wasnt track ends etc. he also said that there is no movement in any of the bushes.

however it is a common clio problem that the actual steering rack teeth come out of place on top of each other . . . difficult to explain.

basically i have bought an ANC steering rack off him for not a lot of money and having it fitted asap.

will let you know the results.

jamie

 

[ashy_gtt]

basically i have bought an ANC steering rack off him for not a lot of money and having it fitted asap.

will let you know the results.

jamie

Aye if you could keep us updated that would be great!!

Its just my wife drives this car with our 3 week old daughter in and I worry that a wheel might drop off etc!! Even thinking of taking it to reno to be checked out If i can't resolve it myself!!!

 

[ashy_gtt]

anyone had any luck with this?

 

[ashy_gtt]

I've had a look at the 182 today, and found my problem. Where the steering column meets the rack there is a UV joint. The pin through this UV joint seems to be worn and its causing play in this joint!!

Anyone know how to fix this problem? I'm gona have to wait until next weekend and pull the column out. Is it fixable? or do i need a new column? or can you buy a new UV joint and swap them over?

 

[Henry]

play in the universal joint itself?

you'd have to check but it's possible the steering column is in two parts - ie. the U/J under the car might be detachable from the rest of the column in the cabin. if not, you're going to have to remove all of it

don't know what's involved in removing the column, but just disconnecting it from the rack can be fun in itself. take care not to damage the boot over the U/J as well (as i did) as they're £40 new from Renault

would have thought your cheapest option would be in a s/h column as they're unlikely to be a pattern part and are also unlikely to be repairable (although could make enquiries/see what others have experience of)

PITA really

 

[ashy_gtt]

Just had another look at it and there was far too much play in the UV joint, I've turned the wheel a few times from lock to lock and the slop got worse an worse until the UV joint eventually failed!!! Its now in two bits and the column is no longer connected to the rack!! It passed an MOT at Reno 2 months ago! Really p!ssed off tbh, if that had happened whilst the wife was driving with the baby in I dred to think of the consequences!!

 

[Henry]

that's shocking - serious failure

i had a little look at mine earlier and noticed that the lower column in the cabin (as it passes through the floor) is splined, which tends to suggest that it is, indeed, in two parts. if so, looks as though you'd have to remove the column to pull it from the floor anyway, before presumably pulling the lower U/J up and out through the cabin

did also wonder if you might be able to find a steering specialist to rebush the joint but, given that it's now failed (unbelievable really), i'd be concerned about doing that incase there's some sort of materials problem with what's left of the joint

have you got any piccies?

 

[ashy_gtt]

Yeah, I've removed the lot now... The main column is splined so the lower section can be removed and a new one re-fitted if I can buy that part from Reno?

Heres some photos!! So glad I had a look at it today, ok the cars now out of action until I fix it but if I'd put off doing this job god knows how long it would of lasted before it fell appart!!

 

[ashy_gtt]

some pics here

 

[mickstoke]

pics fail lol

 

[ashy_gtt]

You should check yours mate, if you have the same problem as me and its that UV joint, I wouldn't want to be in the car when it fails!!

 

[Sargara]

Hi ashy the pics dont work? Could you please try uploading to something like:
http://imageshack.us/

 

[ashy_gtt]

Yeah will do, they worked on my PC at home but for some reason they aren't visiable to everyone else (can't see them on my works PC)

I uploaded them as attachments so I've clearly dropped a rick somewhere!!

 

[ashy_gtt]

try again...

 

[David Ramsey]

What year is the car mate? I'm assuming it's out or warrenty if it's had an MOT

 

[ashy_gtt]

anyway, fitted a good 2nd hand column and its perfect now drives as it should!!

If anyone else has this problem you should check this UV joint asap!

 

[ashy_gtt]

What year is the car mate? I'm assuming it's out or warrenty if it's had an MOT

Yeah mate just out

 

[David Ramsey]

To be honest I'd be tempted to give them a call and pass on a bit guilt about how the wife and kid could have been driving. This should not be happening on such a new car

 

[AndyT23]

I've been feeling a slight bit of play in mine over the last few months and have been checking different things for a couple of months to try track it down. I even had it into my local reno dealers (they are usually very good, rare I know!) and they didn't think it was anything to worry about. I'm just a little bit concerned now :dapprove:.....

I'll have to give this a look when I get it back from the bodyshop where it's currently having damage from being driven into by some silly old sod repaired.

 

[Jamesstone]

Now thats scary! nice find & just in time ashy_gtt

So the question is would this unit normally fail? or was the car in a bash by a previous owner etc that has weakend it.. that is the question as i shore as hell would not like that @ 100+ jellybabys an hour

 

[shiyan]

I have a similar problem, and for me, the most dangerous part is where I'm braking hard in a straight line, and the car moves around as the steering is not loaded

 

[Jeffie]

Does anyone have pics of where I can check this? I have similar issues, there is a clicking that sounds like its just behind the steering wheel, and it has issues self centering.