Nagging steer-r-r-ing issue

[RaptorSA]

Hi guys.

I'd like some feedback from those of you in the know.
A few weeks ago I went to the parent's place for 'ye 'ol pain in the ass Christmas family gathering. Since they live in the middle of nowhere I decided to drive via the N17. Big mistake. When I reached the 60KM strip between Bethal and Ermelo I got caught up on the worst possible road... Single lanes, potholes, debris, drunk taxi drivers, heroin induced truck drivers, tar eating demons, dead babies, fiery pits of hell, volcanoes, you name it.
I tried driving as carefully as possible but still had the occasional grind-my-teeth-moment as my poor car with it's low, hard suspension had to navigate its way over the cobbled road of hell...

Anyway, so since then I've noticed a slight change in the way my steering feels. The wheel alignment and balancing seems fine, I know how to identify probems like those.

The problem is it almost feels as if the steering is a bit more "loose" and as if there is a lot more high frequency vibration coming through the steering wheel. I also know that before I had absolutely no play on the steering, so when turning the wheel the tires moved immediately with no "dead spots" whatsoever. Now, there's this slight "click" that happens when I drive extermely slowly and pluck the wheel from left to right. I think there's some kind of minute "dead spot", like something is a little bit loose and that's what's causing the vibration whenever the road gets a little rougher than normal.

Has anyone had something like this before? Do you know if it could be a bigger problem, or if someone just needs to check out the steering rack or something?

At first I thought it was just in my head, but after a few weeks I'm convinced I'm not just being full of crap, especially after doing the slow driving steering pluck maneuver.

One of the main reasons I bought the car was because of how absolutely perfectly balanced and awesome it handled. Now this poblem just keeps nagging at the back of my mind while I'm driving. I'd like to have it fixed ASAP since my car's due for its next service.

It's a 2001 "Miata" Mazda MX-5, real wheel drive, and yes, it does have power steering.
Any feedback would be appreciated!

 

[Carbon_Fibre]

Control arm bushes? Mine had to be replaced during last service on my 3 series (M-Sport). Fortunately, covered by motorplan.

 

[RaptorSA]

Control arm bushes? Mine had to be replaced during last service on my 3 series (M-Sport). Fortunately, covered by motorplan.

Thanks dude. I have no idea. I'm just trying to gather as much possibilities as possible so I don't sound like an idiot when I have my car checked. You know how bad "idiot tax" gets when dealing with servicing shops. :erm:

 

[Draconia2]

you need to take it to atleast 3 people to have it checked out , i had the same type of problem with the loose steering but with a more of a bumpy ride when i turned the wheel there would be this noise from the right wheel , supa quick said it was steering rack and cv joints , tyre city said it was the steering rack and bent rims , my uncle who is a ship engineer checked it out and said its just the shocks , changed shocks , problem solved. only R900 for the whole job as he did it hehe

to bad you stay in randburg otherwise i would have recommended him to check the car out.

 

[RaptorSA]

you need to take it to atleast 3 people to have it checked out , i had the same type of problem with the loose steering but with a more of a bumpy ride when i turned the wheel there would be this noise from the right wheel , supa quick said it was steering rack and cv joints , tyre city said it was the steering rack and bent rims , my uncle who is a ship engineer checked it out and said its just the shocks , changed shocks , problem solved. only R900 for the whole job as he did it hehe

to bad you stay in randburg otherwise i would have recommended him to check the car out.

EXACTLY. I'm thinking about taking my car to a "better known" servicing dealership like Steve's Auto City in Midrand. I just want to make sure I know what I'm talking about, also, getting a list of components and prices online might help since I don't want to be charged 300% for somethings I could have ordered myself. The first time I had my car serviced I got charged about R2K just for disk skimming 2 wheels. I feel like such an idiot for falling for that. This time I'm making sure...

Want to save as much cash as possible and push it into my free flow, branches, ECU piggyback and dyno savings...

 

[Draconia2]

dont worry its only my second year owning a car but with good advice you cant go wrong, now i dont know any sites that will save you cash on ordering parts coz my uno is stock with only custom rims and sound but if you find any good sites please do past it along LOL

 

[Draconia2]

EXACTLY.

yup , just go through a few workshops to make double sure , i always thought i could trust supaquick but now that a white oke(im also white btw) tried to make me pay R1200 for just a fitting of a steering rack and the part, i wanted to punch him after i heard its actually the shocks