control arms replaced - stiff steering

Just had both upper and lower control arms replaced. My long time guru recently died very sadly so I had to use a non-vw specialist locally. No more clunking while braking or squeeling on slow hard turns but the steering is very stiff. The wheel will hardly go straight on its own after a hard turn and acceleration. What may be wrong? Will things maybe loosen up as they wear in?
Thanks.

I can't think why the steering would be stiff other than the ball joints being tight due to being new. Nothing a non vw specialist couldn't handle either, it's just bolts after all, regular suspension stuff.

Glad to hear that seatman. They also did an alignment however and said that they didn't have the equipment to do some of the adjustments...

I will check the power steering fluid just in case but I don't see why that would be a sudden problem either.

If they didn't have the equipement for the alignment they how the hell did they do the alignment? Is it hard to turn when the car is rolling very slowly?

imo000 said:

If they didn't have the equipement for the alignment they how the hell did they do the alignment?...

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^^^This! It is stiff because you are fighting a misalignment and most likely tearing up your tires.

I don't know how they could charge you for an alignment and not do it all?! Go get your money back for the alignment and take it somewhere that will do it right.

You're assuming they couldn't do the tracking but I get the impression they couldn't do other adjustments, that's how it reads to me so the tyres will be fine but maybe the castor or camber needs tweaked.

Yes, they said there was one out of four (or more) adjustments (I forget which one) that they could not do. I have read somewhere on here that there is some adjustment only the dealer can do...

The steering is no more stiff on slow moving turns than others. It sure is stiff though... I can literally tweak the wheel back and forth a bit and it will spring back without turning the car.

otty said:

It sure is stiff though... I can literally tweak the wheel back and forth a bit and it will spring back without turning the car.

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That sounds a bit strange I must admit, definitely sounds stiffer than it should. I wonder what they did adjust.

Might be a good idea to visit an alignment specialist if you have one near enough. They tend to cost a bit more but usually know what they're doing and make a better job.


I've replaced a number of these set ups in the passats and audis and it's never been that stiff, just a little stiffer due to everything being tightened up.

Also well worth checking tyre pressures, a soft tyre can make a hell of a difference.

Ya I have had a hell of a time with local shops. My town is really in the middle of nowhere and they only really know American pickups and are not too honest about their capabilities to work on my car.

I may make the 3 hour round trip to the dealer for an alignment. I hear this is something they can generally do well if not cheaply...

Lift the front wheel up and see if the steering is still stiff. If it is, take it back and insist they look at it. This can't be safe. Not sure if it's possible but could they installed left side part onto the rights side maybe?

imo000 said:

Lift the front wheel up and see if the steering is still stiff. If it is, take it back and insist they look at it. This can't be safe. Not sure if it's possible but could they installed left side part onto the rights side maybe?

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Messed up the top arms and screwed up the castor? I wonder if that's possible, can't remember off hand even though I've swapped numerous sets lol.

I know the bottom ones can only go one way though but yeh, you've got me wondering about the tops.

So I took the car to a dealership for an alignment. It helped the steering feel a little but it still feels stiff/strange.

Sometimes there is a feeling of tension(stiffness) and then release especially around the straight ahead steering point. Having a closer look at it it appears that the tie rod end on one side is a bit wonky at the joint. Pics:

"Normal" looking arm:


"Bad" looking arm:


Notice how in the second pic the top and bottom of the joint don't look like they are straight up and down. Also the "ring" above the rubber part appears to be separated from the arm.

Does this look right to you guys? Perhaps I should take a stab at reinstalling this arm?

otty said:

So I took the car to a dealership for an alignment. It helped the steering feel a little but it still feels stiff/strange.

Sometimes there is a feeling of tension(stiffness) and then release especially around the straight ahead steering point.

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That sounds like it could be a steering rack issue, got as ford mondeo I've been dealing with with a similar issue, it;s definitely the rack. With the car off the ground you should be able to grab a wheel and turn the steering lock to lock, it'll make a bit of grumble but it should be smooth all the way. If you feel a notchy bit then yeh, that could be the rack.

This mondeo has it right at the middle, feels really strange to drive.

Reading up on the symptoms of a bad steering rack it does sound like my problems. Wheel not returning to centre after turning, "wandering" feeling on the road, lack of response to steering (parking and the wheel is 90 degrees to the right but the wheels are almost straight), stiff steering. What bugsme it this only started after the control arm job...

It does not seem to be leaking fluid except a tiny top up about twice/year. Any way to inspect this to make sure? Still tempted to see if the steering loosens up. I replaced all upper and lower control arms and tie rods. This would cause some stiffness I'm sure....

Only other thing I can think is maybe a strut top bearing or both but I' wondering if the upper arms on yours are the right way round. If they were the wrong way it would screw up the castor angle because I'm sure one is more curved than the other.

I think it's possible to fit them the wrong way round and that that could have a fairly dramatic effect on the steering.

You could try comparing yours to pics in this thread, just to be sure.

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=280485

Yes I looked long and hard at the pics in that thread and my control arms and it appears they are correct. The arms with the curve at the back are towards the rear of the car. I would hope that the dealer would have noticed this when they did the alignment if it was wrong but you never know...

I think personally I'd undo the track rod ends and turn both struts to check them and if they're nice, free and smooth I'd then have a feel of the rack, push it through one way then pull it back the other, feel for notchiness.

Maybe worth a fluid change if that lot checks out.

Your problem started when the upper control arms were replaced. So the logical thing is to go back and look at that first. Something was done during the control arm intall that made the steering bind. If you lift the front wheels up and try turning the steering wheel, doea it bind too or only on the road?

Im000, just to be clear, all upper, lower control arms, tie rod ends and sway bar links were replaced. I agree though, I will put it up on jack stands and see what's going on before I jump to conclusions. Thanks for everyone's input!

what seatman said

So I think I am ready to declare that all this stiffness WAS just because of so many new steering parts. 2200km after the work has been done (mostly city driving so lots of parking and steering) it has loosened up substantially.

I did test the steering by jacking up the front end and turning the wheels. A little stiff but not notchy.

I still feel a bit of notchiness at the center of the steering range but even that has lessened. It makes sense that the fine adjustments at the center of the range would be a little sticky feeling if the steering parts are stiff.

I may do a power steering flush soon just in case.

Thanks for everyone's input. Glad I didn't throw any parts at it!