Re: problem: steering on '92 Quattro 200 is kind of wiggley

[Robert W Obrien <rwo@u.arizona.edu>]

On Mon, 5 May 1997, Mac is better wrote:

> The steering column on my car has a slight "bumpy" feel to it that occurs
> at fairly regular intervals...maybe 1 to 5 times per second, it seems to 
> depend on the speed the car is traveling.  The bumping feel is most 
> noticable at low speeds, during acceleration from a slow speed to a faster
> speed and during turns.  I suspect it may be a problem with the front
> tires, but i'm not sure.  any thoughts on this?  TIA!
>  
> Chris
> 
Now, I can't speak for the '92 200 (although Mac IS better:) but I
experienced a similar feeling in my 87 5000T and decided to investigate. I
pride myself in keeping ahead of the silly things which strand the truly
uninformed motorist, but what I found scared the *hell* out of me:
One of the tie rod-to-rack bolts had sheared about 3/4 of th way through.
I had replaced the rack a few months previously. Bolts seemed fine then.
No, what scared me was that the previous night I had made a 300 mile
Interstate jaunt cruising at 80. 

I'm not trying to put the fear of God into you, but I thought it was tires
too. By all means, satisfy yourself in regard to the rubber, but don't
overlook other links in the chain.

Regards,
Rob