Strut bearings?[re. 90q Back Together Again!]

[Ben Swann]

[The strange thing is when I lift up the car and manually try to move 
the wheels there is no play like I had when I had a tie rod issue with 
my 4kq...  I guess I'll look a bit closer at it though...

David
90q 20v 203K miles]

And guess what is not loaded when the wheels are off the ground?

Hint - strut bearings.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ben Swann 
  To: david at epicfoto.com 
  Cc: quattro at audifans.com ; 200q20v at audifans.com 
  Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2004 9:26 AM
  Subject: Strut bearings?[re. 90q Back Together Again!]


  [From: David Thoresen <david at epicfoto.com>
  Subject: 90q Back Together Again!
  <snip>
  However, it definitely seems there is something wrong with the 
  steering, the steering wheel it still stays slightly left after making 
  a left turn... and vice versa after making a right turn...  Its VERY 
  scary on the freeway when the steering wheel wont "turn" the car in 
  this play area.. (about 10* either way)

  I just want to see if anyone has the same issue before throwing more 
  money at it... is there anything I can check without taking the rack 
  off?

  Thanks!

  David
  1990 90q 20v]

  David,

  I would suspect one  of your strut bearings may be binding.  This is what happened on my 200q20v - would pull in one direction then the other after the wheel was turned.  The bearing when they go bad will bind and twist the spring causing the steering to be pulled in one direction or the other.  This can be accompanied by a clunk sound.

  Ben