Kia Sorento - steering like a shopping trolley

kennethsmyth

I have a 2007 Kia Sorento - Auto GLS - 70,000kms.
This is a four wheel drive torque on demand system with a low range selector.

Lately the steering seems to be getting lighter and lighter, basically wandering as i drive over bumps ridges etc.. It feels that sometimes i am going straight on a road and it can vere left or right. Have had it up on stands and doesnt seem to have anything loose on the front, the two front tyres are about a year old and have slight wear on the inside edge but not too bad and generally the car drives straight if you let the steering wheel go.

Its really annoying me now and i feel so pissed with the car i dont feel the good things about it. help please

hiluxman

seen this before, the shocks are a bit rubbish, id say thats your problem

kennethsmyth

I'm not so sure about the shocks, its 2007 and only 69000kms on it, 99% on road.

Based on the wear on the inners of both front tyres it might be that when i last got the tracking done they toed out the front instead of toed in. This would account for the wear and as the wear has got more the effects are now showing more. - the car is steering itself more and the steering feels light.

What do you think of it??

E39MSport

control arm bushings OR steering gear OR bearings I'd say. Or all of the above.

Jack the front up and see if theres any play on the usual 6 o clock and 3 o clock positions.

kennethsmyth

Yep thought it might be bushings or something loose, had it up on axle stands under the frame. Shook everything and nothing moved until i put my back out:eek:

So either i didnt shake enough or nothing is wrong with it and i'm going mad in my head. Checked the tyres again and the wear is very slight so the toe/camber is probably ok.

Going to have the toe checked anyway and let them shake around as at least they'll have a lift even if they charge a couple of quid it will put my mind at rest. However if bushes and toe are good, then i'm left with the possibility of the rack having a prob:(

hiluxman

if possible get it checked on a four post ramp, sometimes its easyer to spot worn bushes when the suspension is in it natural position like it would be on the road rather than fully extended when its on a two post ramp, if the toe wasnt set correctly, the tyres on the front would be worn on the inside or the outside, not both sides, what pressure have you in the tyres?
shocks on these are fairly poor in my opinion, it makes them handle like a boat when they are worn

E39MSport

KennethS,
I reckon you won't feel any play in the bushings with your hands alone. Defo bearings but not bushings imo.

Had a similar issue with one of my cars, turned out to be control arm bushings but they felt fine by hand.

Get a crow bar in there and give it a good yank.

Also, if the bushings are quite bad then the centre of the arm connected to the chassis or sub frame will be off in relation to the centre of the hole that it is connected up to. You can check this visually.

Hope you get it sorted.

kennethsmyth

hiluxman wrote: »

if possible get it checked on a four post ramp, sometimes its easyer to spot worn bushes when the suspension is in it natural position like it would be on the road rather than fully extended when its on a two post ramp, if the toe wasnt set correctly, the tyres on the front would be worn on the inside or the outside, not both sides, what pressure have you in the tyres?
shocks on these are fairly poor in my opinion, it makes them handle like a boat when they are worn

Both tyres are only worn on the inside edge, (very slightly) not on outside and inside, the tyre pressures are spot on at 35psi which is correct for the 17" rims and Gls body. The body is a little rolly but it has always been, this is light steering and seems to have bump steer. With that in mind i'm thinking of checking the toe with the added pretence of checking the bushes. It is possible that the front right wheel bearing is starting to go as i can hear a little whirl noise now and then but there is no movement that i can see.

gofaster_s13

E39MSport wrote: »

KennethS,
I reckon you won't feel any play in the bushings with your hands alone. Defo bearings but not bushings imo.

Had a similar issue with one of my cars, turned out to be control arm bushings but they felt fine by hand.

Get a crow bar in there and give it a good yank.

Also, if the bushings are quite bad then the centre of the arm connected to the chassis or sub frame will be off in relation to the centre of the hole that it is connected up to. You can check this visually.

Hope you get it sorted.

No control arms on Sorentos, top balljoints give a good bit of bother on them.