**Model:** Monty… Standard 998 Designer
**Year:** '88
**Description of problem:** Has gone very light/twitchy on the steering over the last few days. Seems to give a little more steering left to get anywhere. Right nice and sharp though. Suspect our encounter with a Mini-eating Pothole might have knocked something askew… :S
Where should I start?
**Any non-standard parts that might be involved with the problem?** Nope. Had new tyres just before Xmas, Yokos. No mods. New steering rack in Oct too. All shipshape in Bristol fashion.
> Eliminate the easy stuff for starters: tyre pressures, bindings brakes. Check the back too. Then look for excess play, track rods ends, tie rods etc.
Hit the pothole dead on at 40 on a dual carriageway with the left front wheel. It had enough force to knock the headlamps out of alignment and half the fuses loose - which I’ve since sorted.
Tyres are all fine. Checked as soon as I picked up on the change in handling. They’re a matter of months old, literally.
Brakes aren’t sticking…no pull to either side on the front or shrill noises. No loss of function or fluid leaks. Stops on a proverbial dime.
Steering rack was replaced in October with a new (not recon) one. Have checked U-bolt, all fine there too.
Back end replaced fully almost a year ago due to crash, new subframe, suspension, panels etc…what should I look at there?
Will get someone in the know to check the other potentially offending items as I don’t have facilities to get Monty off the ground and investigate in those areas. Just me and a jack at this end
Just pull, push 'n lever stuff to see if it moves where it shouldn’t, the only bit that might fool you is the bottom balljoint as it has a spring loaded seat. You’ve got two sides for comparison. Compare the ride height of both sides, symptoms and cause hint at a knuckle joint - easiest / most reliable to look at the gap between the top arm and the bumpstop.
Visually check tie bars for straightness, this would affect camber and caster on one side and could change the steering feel.
Get to a garage and get tracking checked
Get wheel checked for buckling and out of balance - although you would noramlly be able to feel if these were wrong all the time whilst driving.
