LCR front suspension floating problems

[bigkid]

can any of you fellow LCR owners give me some advice on any suspension problems, i,ve just had a rather scarey moment this morning, put my LCR into a rhd bend at 45 mph and the only way i can describe it as the front end just seemed to float and go all loose and the car wanted to veer to the left as if it were understeering.

Now, this is,nt the first time this has happened,

3 weeks ago it did the same on an S bend and yesterday i went over a level crossing and as the car ran over the train lines it jumped and twitched to the left.

I know the roads are really greasey at the moment, but this just feels as if the whole suspension is loose on the front end, its not a loss of grip problem to me, it feels as if something is not right with the suspension. also the ESP is coming in at low speeds when i turn a corner and the ride quality has gone terrible, really abismal.
I,ve put this down to the crap state of our roads but now i,m doubing this, Ive had the car 10 months and it was,nt this bad wnen i first had it.

As of this moment the car has done 20k miles and still under warranty and been looked after well, can anyone give any advice, the next stage is a trip to the dealers and i dont want to be fobbed of by them as you do to be armed with any info would help

cheers.

 

[Ruddmeister]

The short answer is I don't know and haven't seen this before, but the most common problem with LCR suspension is failed dampers.

Have a look at them with the wheels off see if they are leaking......do you get any problems at motorway speeds (droning sounds, vibration etc?)

 

[Mr_Magistus]

Ive got a smiliar type of problem bigkid. The dealers tell me it was ok but sometimes it just feels as thou the wheels arent connected to anything. Would be interested to know what you find out.

Have checked the tracking and pressures on mine but hasnt helped at all......

 

[Brucel]

Ive got a smiliar type of problem bigkid. The dealers tell me it was ok but sometimes it just feels as thou the wheels arent connected to anything. Would be interested to know what you find out.

Have checked the tracking and pressures on mine but hasnt helped at all......

Hi guys

I am suffering the same problem.... It feels like you steer and nothing happens almost like the power steering is a second behind your movement with the wheel....

I have had problems ever since I had my wheel bearings replaced.... I have lost a lot of confidence turning into corners which is now making me paranoid... Another feeling is like it on ice....

 

[rst_cupra_r]

mine is bit like tht im havin all the bushes changed an top mounts are knacked all done by my dealer

 

[Brucel]

Hi Jamie

I will suggest this to my dealer and see what they think? It is still under warranty so they should do it...

 

[rst_cupra_r]

yeh just suggest it they can check them parts in 10mins worth a try

 

[bigkid]

Yep the feeling is as though its on ice when it happens, its like understeer and then oversteer as it twitces around to the rear, its quite scarey.

Is it common for all the dampers front and rear to fail ?

 

[Brucel]

Yep the feeling is as though its on ice when it happens, its like understeer and then oversteer as it twitces around to the rear, its quite scarey.

Is it common for all the dampers front and rear to fail ?

That is exactly how mine feels..... I have had this since the bearings were changed could this be that? Also when they changed it my tracking was out for about 2 months could this cause damage to the dampers?

I am glad other people have the same problem.... I have been chasing my dealer for months...

 

[Spanky]

The symptoms sound like either, a worn Track Rod End (or Tie Rod End, same thing) or ball joint, if the car doesn't make any clonking sounds, then it would be the Track Rod Ends, these can cause the car to wander round corners, or cause the wheel to move in either direction slightly going over bumps, it can feel horrible sometimes, but they are easy to replace, and the car will need the tracking done once replaced.

Not sure if a dealer would change under warranty, they may go down the 'wear and tear item' route......

Hope this helps.

 

[Mr_Magistus]

The symptoms sound like either, a worn Track Rod End (or Tie Rod End, same thing) or ball joint, if the car doesn't make any clonking sounds, then it would be the Track Rod Ends, these can cause the car to wander round corners, or cause the wheel to move in either direction slightly going over bumps, it can feel horrible sometimes, but they are easy to replace, and the car will need the tracking done once replaced.

Not sure if a dealer would change under warranty, they may go down the 'wear and tear item' route......

Hope this helps.

Ive got another problem which i think might be related. When i reverse or pull away and have got the wheels on nearly full lock it creaks and shakes the steering wheel almost as thou your driving over loose stones..

Any ideas anyone?

 

[Spanky]

Ive got another problem which i think might be related. When i reverse or pull away and have got the wheels on nearly full lock it creaks and shakes the steering wheel almost as thou your driving over loose stones..

Any ideas anyone?

That doesn't sound too good, does your car make any clonking sounds over bumps, while driving..?

 

[Mr_Magistus]

no and its not always clunking when driving its just sometimes normally when its been parked up for a bit..

Its been in the stealers and they couldnt find anything wrong with it.

 

[rst_cupra_r]

mm tht sounds like cv joint or ball joints m8

 

[Mr_Magistus]

Noticed it first just after i'd had my tracking done....

 

[Spanky]

Maybe whoever did your tracking have knackered one of your rod ends.... as they adjust them to align tracking.

 

[andycupra]

my first insticnt when reading this was track rod ends.

if it been since the tracking was done i dont see any reason to change my mind.

but if not that the it would be something else in that area, cv, wheel bearing etc.
even the bushes in the wishbones.

sounds like something has far too much play in it. but track rod ends ithink is favourite.


dont suppose you heard a click or bang or clonk sometime after the tracknig was done?
did they mention if it was out by alot?
alot of places are not good at ensuring slack is taken out when adjusting.

 

[Brucel]

my first insticnt when reading this was track rod ends.

if it been since the tracking was done i dont see any reason to change my mind.

but if not that the it would be something else in that area, cv, wheel bearing etc.
even the bushes in the wishbones.

sounds like something has far too much play in it. but track rod ends ithink is favourite.


dont suppose you heard a click or bang or clonk sometime after the tracknig was done?
did they mention if it was out by alot?
alot of places are not good at ensuring slack is taken out when adjusting.

Mine has been since the wheel bearings were done and a mate who worked at the dealer said they had real problems getting them out, resorting to hammering one??? Could this damage the ball joint?

I will get it on Warranty as they have messed me about loads... it took them four visits to sort the wheel bearings for a start!

 

[Fidge]

Does the steering wheel still sit central when driving straight? If the track rod end was out, you'd see that the steering wheel would be off centre! It Could be a drive CV joint if noisy when accelerating whilst turning! Otherwise I'd say it was the near side damper, probably needs replacing!

 

[Brucel]

Does the steering wheel still sit central when driving straight? If the track rod end was out, you'd see that the steering wheel would be off centre! It Could be a drive CV joint if noisy when accelerating whilst turning! Otherwise I'd say it was the near side damper, probably needs replacing!

Right....

Well mine was off centre to the right and once it had been back in for the trackin it is now off centre to the left? It goes straight though... well with the usual LCR camber and tramlining problems.....

Sounds like track rod ends for me? right?