About 6 months ago on way to work i pulled left out of a junction, heard a knock / slight bang (sounded as if it came from left {NS} ) - i thought another snapped spring....

But no - car hadn't dropped in height as i have experienced in the past with snapped springs.

Thought nothing more of it after i inspected it, other than maybe i left a socket somewhere under the bonnet (after sorting alternator a few weeks prior) and it fell out of wherever.

Car has been driving fine but 6 weeks ago i heard a right old knocking / grumbling even on a flat straight rd, i thought coming from under n/s floor pan - typical drop link or bearing noise, but i replaced them about a year ago or 6k miles ish. Jacked up full front end, checked springs,  struts + top ends, wheel bearings, drop links with nothing found.

Had no noises since ! but i noticed the steering is now slightly out to the left whilst driving straight - so today jacked up full frontend and checked everything including track rod ends which have no play in them.

In my experience If it was a track rod end then i would expect some amount of uneven tyre wear ? but the tyre wear is perfect, no scrubbing etc, and you can normally see / feel it whilst someone is turing steering whilst i bar the hub.

I also today on a good flat private road, braked and i feel a very slight judder in steering, braking with no hands on the steering it pulls slightly to the left.

After todays inspection i noticed n/s wishbone front bush looks a bit grotty, rear bush of the wishbone looks good as does hub ball joint - i am now veering my suspicions into the n/s wishbone.

I know i have answered my own diagnosis into the issue but would like the opinion from the usual lads with more experience than i have.

well, couple of arms ordered, decided against poly bush and ball joint replacement as economics of the motor aint worth it.

Will replace the nsf spring whilst it's stripped down as i didn't have time to do it last year.

Hmmm....

replaced both control arms (inc pinch bolts) and steering is still out of alignment, about a thumb width to the left.

And what a job it was getting the n/s pinch bolt out  😬

Back to the drawing board, probably look at track rod ends next - if that fails - then onto steering...

Actually i may go straight for steering adjustment but been thinking (maybe overthinking) and going to swap front whhels onto rears first.

Edited July 6, 20223 yr by fullwavebridge
going mental