Pulling to the left & humming noise

[Jiggy Josh]

Under acceleration my BRM pulls to the left slightly, and then when coming off the throttle it pulls back to the right. It isn't TOO bad yet as its only just noticeable, but I want to get it sorted.

Not sure if this is related, but whilst driving along above 40/45mph there is a slight humming noise which sounds like a failing wheel bearing. (Not sure which side or if it’s from the front or back :S)

Also on the previous MOT there was an advisory for "play in the steering rack" or something.... Could all these things be related or are they likely to be separate problems?

Thanks, josh

[Fast Alan]

How hard are you accelerating when this happens as your gonna get some torque steer

Humming probably as you say a wheel bearing beginning to go or caliper slightly stuck on,jack up wobble and spin wheels to check...may have to wait for it to get worse

No one can awnser my steering rack problems so going to chat to a firm I use to know that does repairs/replacements...bugger on these as you cant get them anymore

[BRMark]

How are your tyres? uneven wear could give you that.

Also you'll soon learn that the suspension set up of the BRM means that the car reacts to every imperfection in the road surface - especially the slow lane of the motorway where the wagons have left tramlines!

[BRMark]

Oh yeah and as Alan points out - check your front calipers for sticking! rusting slide pins are a common pain in the ass - one side holding on will cause your car to pull.

[Ritchy]

worn trackrod ends/ ball joints ect jack up feel for any play in the wheel

[Jiggy Josh]

Had the car in the air and looks like the rear drivers side wheel bearing has gone.. managed to get one from my best mate who works at a parts supplier for £49 :D (RRP was over £90 :-o)

So it looks like the pulling issue is unrelated to the noise. I dont think its torque steer as the 160 does this and its a different feeling. I dont have to be accelerating massively hard. I couldnt tell if there was any play in the wheels but one of the tyres is wearing quite badly on the inside edge.

Hopefully it will just be wheel alignment or something, but could a faulty steering rack result in the same symptoms? What can be done if they arnt available anymore :S

[Fast Alan]

Thats what Iam trying to find out ive a worn inner track rod so basically play in the rack and as you I also have a tyre worn on one edge,having a holiday couple weeks off in few weeks time so I will see if I can do some visiting to old freinds/garages and see if its possible to get the play taken out.Ive had it done on other cars before

[Fast Alan]

Just to add other racks from the same 200 range would probably fit but we seem to have a rack with a quicker lock to lock ratio and I dont want to loose one of the BRM features and dont really want to buy second hand

[Ritchy]

zr rack? youd feel if there was any play n the rack because there would be play both sides

[mafcaw]

Just had pulling problems with my wifes Touran, but it was down to tyres, both Michelin Energy with the same pattern amd both with 3/4mm of tread left (had been on the rear). The problem was rubber compounds, one was German, the other Italian, the direction of pull would change if the wheels were swapped around.

I also had problems with vibration on my Fiesta, but found after checking the rim I had two flat spots, caused by hitting pot holes back in January

[mafcaw]

Steering racks -

My BRM brochure states a turning circle of 10.7m, whilst the info I've found on a 2001 ZR 1.4 fitted with 205/50 R16 tyres is 11.60 m - so a slight difference.

I suppose its like shock absorbers, we will have to take what we can get in the future

[Jiggy Josh]

hmmm...

One of the front tyres looks as though it may have been run flat at some point judging from the state of the sidewall.

The rear has new tyres on though so will swap the fronts and backs tonight when i do the wheel bearing and see if there is any difference!

[Jiggy Josh]

got it sorted :)

Fitted the new bearing and swapped the front and rear tyres and one of those sorted it out.. no longer pulls at all under load! woohoo!