VR6 steering

[VR6man]

Hey guys

Great site

I'm about to purchase a 96 VR6 and come across some weird steering.
Turning left is fine but turning right the steering seems to harden up making the steering heavier.
Doesn't seem normal to me, any one encounter such a problem.

[DUB 20V]

welcome, sounds a bit weird, what color is it aswell? sound interesting.

[AusScare]

Power steering pump going..?

[VR6man]

@ DUB 20V

The cars black with a full service history

@ AusScare

I'm pretty sure it's not the pwr st pump.
Recently had a service and fliud changes.

There's no steering noises or shudder, just feels heavier turning right.

[MattyT]

Mine does a bit too. I just chalked it up to being something model specific.

[VR6man]

Interesting, does yours have a slight variation between left and right?

[rayray086]

Welcome.

Turning left is fine but turning right the steering seems to harden up making the steering heavier.
Doesn't seem normal to me, any one encounter such a problem.

Any noises when this happens? If there are, could be that something is rubbing - I had a similar problem and found out my driveshafts were fouling on the body. These are easy to spot if you jack up the car and look for any excessive scratches in any one area.

If there are no noises, could be that your tie-rods are gone?

[VR6man]

thanks for the replies guys

@ rayray086

no noises at all, car is quiet and smooth.

will check tie-rods , thanks again

will be picking up the car on saturday arvo

[noom]

I recently experienced some roughness in steering. And then one day when I had to do a hard right to get into a parking lot, I felt something break behind the steering wheel, and then my airbag light came on.

Turned out that this is something of a problem with mk3s and polos ... VW charges heaps for this part. Mine cost me $400 to fix.

[Mrk_Mickey]

I recently experienced some roughness in steering. And then one day when I had to do a hard right to get into a parking lot, I felt something break behind the steering wheel, and then my airbag light came on.

Turned out that this is something of a problem with mk3s and polos ... VW charges heaps for this part. Mine cost me $400 to fix.

.......what broke exactly?

[noom]

The part name escapes me ...

But there is this spring loaded thing situated behind the steering wheel, and apparently that has electrical contact with the airbag ...

I will go and look at my invoice and report back later tonight.

[TassieGTi]

There would be plenty of those around second hand and its not a common problem.

[The_Hawk]

Mine does a bit too. I just chalked it up to being something model specific.

Mine does it too, maybe a model "feature"?

[VR6man]

I recently experienced some roughness in steering. And then one day when I had to do a hard right to get into a parking lot, I felt something break behind the steering wheel, and then my airbag light came on.

Turned out that this is something of a problem with mk3s and polos ... VW charges heaps for this part. Mine cost me $400 to fix.

I did plenty of hard rights in it trying to provoke unwated sounds or warning lights but nothing.

The steering in the one I'm getting is still smooth but heavier turning right.


If I can't find the problem, then I'll put down as a model "feature".

[Shteifen]

that part that makes the electrical contact for the air bag, and horn and whatnot is the slip ring. you can mess it up by turing your steering wheel with the shaft not connected. so dont do that. but you probably wont so dont worry about that. you'd have to be doing something weird to do that i would think.


maybe your right handed and your right arm is stronger turning left...? i dont know, i have no input with the left and right turn thing im just talking crap. good luck though

-steve