[Steering & Suspension] Vibration in steering wheel when I'm turning slowly left or right.

[Gunner]

Hi folks, im new to this forum, I have just recently bought a 2014 berlingo 1.6 hdi. I was very happy with the van at first, but after about 2 weeks, i started to feel vibration in steering wheel when turning left or right, when im turning into roundabout or parking, iv brought it back to the garage where i bought it, and they have changed the power steering pump and the rack, but its still the same, I've read some of the forums here about recalibrating the steering and driving for a few days, but i haven't seen any change. I'm just looking to know has anyone else experienced this, i would be grateful for any info on what to do, as any garage i've spoken to don't seem to know. TIA

[cancunia]

Welcome to the forum.
Did the garage check the wheel bearings?
How many miles /KM has the van done?

[Gunner]

Cancunia thanks for your reply, wheels bearings were checked also there fine, van has 154000 km, van is in good nick..

[jj9]

Strut top bearings?

Jack the front of the car up at both sides so there is no weight on the front wheels, is the vibration still there when turning the steering?


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[Gunner]

Jj9 i will try this today, ill let you know how it goes, thanks for your reply...

[Gunner]

Jj9 iv tried doing what you said, but hasnt made a difference, still vibration through the steering wheel when turning at low speeds,

[brodfather11]

I would have thought a CV joint worn or breaking up ?

or mud flap rubbing on wheel when near full lock which you would'nt get at high speed.

[Gunner]

Brodfather11, thanks for your reply, no none of the above, are the problem, i cant seem to figure it out. Really baffled ?

[jj9]

As brodfather mentioned a worn CV joint can cause a knocking which often translates to a vibration, but if you have the vibration when the front is jacked up and the wheels aren't turning I would be inclined to look elsewhere first, that said you never can rule out anything when trying to find faults like this.

I know you said you had tried recalibrating the steering but you could give it another go... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzzzZjX-51k

Take a look at the Universal Joint that connects the steering column to the rack beside the bulkhead, these can become dry and give tight notchy steering, a spray of lubrication & coat of grease will keep the joint happy.  

I would try feeling for the fault, with the wheels off the ground place your fingers on components as the steering is turned and see if you can feel the vibration, the coil springs, the lower ball joint, the track rod end / steering rod from the rack, the ball joint ends of the anti roll bar drop links.

The power steering pump is controlled with electronics, could be something to do with that lot?

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[Sol]

Also worth checking the coil springs aren't rotating when the steering turns, independently of the strut top. I've had this before and the spring had jumped the little detent bump at the ends so it was turning in the spring cup. It made the steering wheel feel like it was juddering very finely when turning.

I suspect the very tip of the coil had snapped off so the spring started rotating. Wasn't so noticeable on the road. Just when parking. Every now and then it gave a noise as it passed the detent bump and dropped back into the groove (very faint twang from inside)

Have you turned lock to lock smoothly while parked with the windows both down to see if you can hear anything?