smashweights Posted September 26, 2009 Report Share Posted September 26, 2009 heard a Jetson's-like wind up noise from the front driver side yesterday, then a small POP. no noise. today i was driving home from gahanna to grove city and twice the car tried to jerk to the right (without a concurrent change in steering wheel). then i was taking the 71N to 270W ramp and the car dove right and lost control, thank God no one was taking the opposite ramp cause i would have slid into them. WTF is going on here? too late for a shop tonight but so much for driving back to dayton tonight... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kawi kid Posted September 26, 2009 Report Share Posted September 26, 2009 just a hunch but maybe you hub assembly is fucked up. that is just me reading quick and not putting much thought into i though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReconRat Posted September 26, 2009 Report Share Posted September 26, 2009 Front wheel drive? Maybe that was a bearing failure you heard. Maybe the CV joint on the left side. Although I'd think it would be noisy if broken... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kawi kid Posted September 26, 2009 Report Share Posted September 26, 2009 Front wheel drive? Maybe that was a bearing failure you heard. Maybe the CV joint on the left side. Although I'd think it would be noisy if broken... kinda what i was thinking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheezle Posted September 26, 2009 Report Share Posted September 26, 2009 Tyrod?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smashweights Posted September 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2009 (edited) 97 jetta, FWD. been a lemon since i drove it off the lot, literally. this might be the "fix it and sell it" point for me.guess i better go get the plates on the R6 renewed so i can get to work next week... Edited September 26, 2009 by smashweights Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smashweights Posted September 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2009 +1.. get rid of that German piece of shit. technically it's mexican-made. i was hoping it'd last til next summer when a truck would be more economically-sound (lots of driving right now), but that might just have come sooner than planned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hue jass Posted September 26, 2009 Report Share Posted September 26, 2009 You could be low on turn signal fluid. Also, check the muffler bearings. They can fool ya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disclaimer Posted September 26, 2009 Report Share Posted September 26, 2009 You said you heard a *pop* huh?That's tough, if it was a *rugga rugga whirrrrr bang* or a *screech whizzzz burgle burgle fizzz* then I might be able to help you. You sure it wasn't a *pop pop chug clunk*? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smashweights Posted September 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2009 thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smashweights Posted September 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 firestone said only thing they've noticed wrong is some loose struts up front and leaky struts in the back... would that cause the car to steer hard right suddenly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jporter12 Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 firestone said only thing they've noticed wrong is some loose struts up front and leaky struts in the back... would that cause the car to steer hard right suddenly?Something broken!Sorry, but I don't put a lot of stock into what these chain stores have to say! Some of them have a few talented techs (I know a couple of them!) but they employ just about anyone who can HOLD a wrench. That said, I wonder what they mean by loose struts up front? If there is something physically loose, as in coming apart, they should have been more serious in telling you about it! There's not much about a front strut on those that could be loose. WOrn out, and not dampening properly would be a different story. Leaky rears seems to be pretty common on VW/Audi's. If the "looseness" in the front struts is just them being worn out, and not dampening properly, that's not likely your issue.If you've had a noise, then a pop and now the wheel darting out of control, it sounds like a wheel bearing. It was probably dry, the ball bearings in it got worn too much and the pop was them coming out, then the rest came out and the wheel darted on you. The bearings on that should be pressed into the sterring knuckle, and the wheel hub pressed into that, all held together by the CV shaft's outer joint housing.That's just a guess, since I can't see the car from here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hue jass Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 firestone said only thing they've noticed wrong is some loose struts up front and leaky struts in the back... would that cause the car to steer hard right suddenly?Neither of those things would cause a car to steer hard right suddenly. Seriously, if you've got a car that all of a sudden steers itself hard to the right all by itself, you need to get the entire system professionally checked out. Do you feel any roughness or surging in the steering rack when you turn lock to lock? I don't know what loose struts means. I do know about worn strut plates. They're the upper mounts that have a flat bearing in them that allows them to pivot to steer the car. If they're worn, you'll feel and hear roughness when you turn lock to lock. Struts should not be loose. They're like motorcycle forks in that they are bushed high and low to be solid against side forces. If you can wiggle a tire, that's pretty bad on a car with McPherson Strut suspension. It would have to be seriously loose to cause the deadly condition you're talking about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smashweights Posted September 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 not sure if they used the term "loose" exactly, just that the only thing they noticed to have an issue was the struts all around and something about not maintaining good contact with the ground as a result. i asked about the joints etc and he said he didnt notice anything like that, but they'd look it over again.As for the questions, no, there's no noise right now at all. The steering does not surge when turning it side to side completely while parked and i dont notice any odd feedback from the wheel while driving.Know any good, more locally owned shops in the grove city area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hue jass Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 Sounds like it could be a defective or worn steering rack. Check the fluid level. make sure the easy stuff is checked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jporter12 Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 I've done a few ball joints on those if I remember right.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smashweights Posted September 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 they also said one of the calipers was sticking. could that be the problem? i'm getting to the "fix it and sell it" point with this hunk of junk. pissed i just put a new head unit in it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReconRat Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 (edited) they also said one of the calipers was sticking. could that be the problem? i'm getting to the "fix it and sell it" point with this hunk of junk. pissed i just put a new head unit in it...Yes, a brake caliper piston stuck either open or closed can cause a sudden pull to the one side or the other. And brake parts can make a lot of noise, I'm not sure about the Jetson's sound though. Any part dragging on the rim will make quite a lot of noise.I replaced both once, when one was sticking closed and dragging. One sticking open can be just as bad. The result was suddenly pulling left when I hit the brakes, and then suddenly pulling right when I let off the brakes. Then it would release the pistons a bit, and everything would be normal again.edit: Point is, something broke and effects the steering. Either suspension, or brakes. The Firestone mechanics haven't found it yet. Edited September 27, 2009 by ReconRat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hue jass Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 Yea, it would definitely be good to have all this information. Good luck, man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 (edited) Could be ball jointsCV JointsSteering RackHub/wheel bearingCould be StrutsTransmissionCould be struts especially if they are loose at the top because it would change the front end geometry with a pop.Could be ball joints for the same as above.Never seen a tie rod end pop and let you keep driving, normally those will make you park it at the side of the road with a pigeon toe look on the front wheels.Wheel Bearing or hub bearings, never seen one of those make a car swerve when they fail. They are noisy as hell after they loose a roller.Never seen a Rack and Pinion fail causing the car to swerve, they usually get sloppy or leak.now the whining sound then a pop. It could be a CV boot failing and then flying off while in motion, that would certainly would cause the car to swerve. I would hope that Firestone would have caught that. Final drive in the transmission could do that as well.Brakes dragging would cause the car to pull one way or another, not a spontaneous swerve. I believe the dragging brakes are a problem not the problem. Please post what you find Edited September 27, 2009 by Lost brake info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smashweights Posted September 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 so sounds like it might be a brake piston then? the "jetsons" sound i mentioned was just a high pitched whine that grew in intensity and volume with speed and vice versa. it did not make this noise at all the day the car was having steering issues. like i said, firestone pointed out the piston and the struts as the only problems they noted on inspection and havent found the parts to quote me as of yet.i guess the piston would make sense. if one of them was sticking open/shut that seems like it might fit what i'm experiencing. everyone i know's first thoughts was the joints/bearings/etc like has been suggested, but there was not free play when tugging on the wheel while up on stands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jporter12 Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 I'm still voting for it being a wheel bearing, or ball joint, unless a caliper was coming loose and rubbing the inside of the rim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReconRat Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 so sounds like it might be a brake piston then? the "jetsons" sound i mentioned was just a high pitched whine that grew in intensity and volume with speed and vice versa. it did not make this noise at all the day the car was having steering issues. like i said, firestone pointed out the piston and the struts as the only problems they noted on inspection and havent found the parts to quote me as of yet.i guess the piston would make sense. if one of them was sticking open/shut that seems like it might fit what i'm experiencing. everyone i know's first thoughts was the joints/bearings/etc like has been suggested, but there was not free play when tugging on the wheel while up on stands.I hope it's just the brakes. But if the steering wheel wasn't pulling at the same time, I'd thing more likely suspension parts. It's hard to tell without being there and listening and looking. That noise might even have been the power steering pump? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smashweights Posted September 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 dunno, i'll ask them to check that pump out, they seem to think the suspension isnt the problem... gonna have to ride the bike into work the next few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReconRat Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 I'm still voting for it being a wheel bearing, or ball joint, unless a caliper was coming loose and rubbing the inside of the rim.Yeah, I was going to mention looking inside the rim. It happens often enough. I still think that popping sound was a bolt or part breaking somewhere... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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