EL Ghia steering; a couple of related questions

**Polyal** · 26-08-2006, 09:30 AM

Hey Guys

Earlier on in the week I got some 16's put on, so I really didn't think there would be much of a change to the steering feel. But was I wrong, im to lazy to check the specs of the stock ghia rims, but there would be max 1' difference in the width, so 2' of more contact all round.

Its alot heavier, which to be honest isn't such a bad thing because if anything it was too light before, but I became accustom to it.

So the first question is, has anyone else noticed such a change when replacing there stock rims? Alot of people go bigger then my rims so I am just curious.

Secondly, and perhaps its related, every second day or so my power steering pump is whining alot louder than usual. Obviously normally I dont notice it, but some days its very audible.

So maybe its my pump dying and not the rim change that has made the efforts greater?

Anyone elses pump randomly make loud noises? Its definately a whine, not a clunk or anything else like that. Hard to describe the sound really.

Cheers

efgiar · 26-08-2006, 09:44 AM

yeah check the fluid in ur power steering. otherwise get someone to sit and turn the wheel while its whining and try find out whether its in the rack or the pump, most likly would be the pump, just replace it with a recod one or just a second hand one

Spak · 26-08-2006, 12:00 PM

Yeah, sounds like more of a pump issue than the rims. I put 17's on mine and the worst I got was a bit of tracking with the wider tread, thats it.

Psycho Chicken · 26-08-2006, 12:05 PM

I just put 225s on the front and barely noticed a difference.

What size are the new and old tyres? Pressures might have something to do with it.

**Polyal** · 26-08-2006, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho Chicken

I just put 225s on the front and barely noticed a difference.

What size are the new and old tyres? Pressures might have something to do with it.

Right now I have 225's, so I dont think its that big of a jump, Ill go see what the stock ones where.

Pressure I presume are fine, tyrepower put it all together so I assumed they did pressures then, ill double check later though, they look fine.

Spak, I have noticed a HUGE amount of tracking (if thats the same thing as traming lining?), never had that issue before either.

niko · 26-08-2006, 01:12 PM

maybe the tyres are off balance or u need a wheel allignment mine used to do the same wen i slapped on some 17's, it was the TOE that was out

Spak · 26-08-2006, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

Spak, I have noticed a HUGE amount of tracking (if thats the same thing as traming lining?), never had that issue before either.

yeah, same thing. I have 235's on the ghia.

NC_GHIA · 26-08-2006, 01:21 PM

I noticed a differantces betwen 14"s and 15"s but not on width...

Aaron_EF8 · 26-08-2006, 02:03 PM

What sort of tyres are they, and what tyres were the old ones? Directional tyres are bad for tramlining. Check the tyre pressures, I never trust anything a tyre store does after working in one.

The wheel alignment will be out after fitting the new wheels too, so that could be the cause of the problem. Adding more castor will help with the tramlining too.

blownba · 26-08-2006, 03:12 PM

it may be that the offset of the rims you have fitted may be greater. Increasing wheel loads to the steering and suspension. Just like the big lever versus little lever syndrome

**Professor Farnsworth** · 26-08-2006, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

Hey Guys

Earlier on in the week I got some 16's put on, so I really didn't think there would be much of a change to the steering feel. But was I wrong, im to lazy to check the specs of the stock ghia rims, but there would be max 1' difference in the width, so 2' of more contact all round.

Its alot heavier, which to be honest isn't such a bad thing because if anything it was too light before, but I became accustom to it.

So the first question is, has anyone else noticed such a change when replacing there stock rims? Alot of people go bigger then my rims so I am just curious.

Secondly, and perhaps its related, every second day or so my power steering pump is whining alot louder than usual. Obviously normally I dont notice it, but some days its very audible.

So maybe its my pump dying and not the rim change that has made the efforts greater?

Anyone elses pump randomly make loud noises? Its definately a whine, not a clunk or anything else like that. Hard to describe the sound really.

Cheers

I've replaced rims on 3 cars, the first el went from stock to 17", steering was the same. BF went from 17 to 19, steering was lighter afterwards, the EL V8 i have now went from 15 to 18's, steering is lighter, like the BF. Talk about palm steer.. and my pump isn't very spritely i can tell you that, it whinges but it did that when i bought it. So maybe it's another issue. I've found that the higher the tyre is, as in the 235/40/18 or the 245/35/19.. the percentage figure of the tread width (sidewall height) the heavier the steering, but when you put wheels on that considerably drop the profile, it makes it lighter. That's in my experience anyway.

EFFalcon · 26-08-2006, 03:27 PM

from 15's to 17's mine got heavier.
but i prefer the feel now then to when the 15's were on it.

CAMS290 · 26-08-2006, 06:00 PM

I got my Ghia back from the tyre joint this afternoon.
I had 4 new tyres and an alignment done.

Funny thing was it had a camber kit in the right hand side only ????

I got a secondhand kit for the left side and had it fitted and aligned again.

It is on the stockie 205/65/15 tyres and wheels, ,but the steering feels really weird off centre ???? Comparing it with our BA and VY Commy.

Is it a trait with the speed sensitive steering, or is my steering rack stuffed ???

**Polyal** · 26-08-2006, 06:31 PM

yeah with SSS (thats speed sensitive steering..lol

) it has no centre feel what so ever; dont even bother comparing BA steering with it.

The profile of the tyres is 50, and Ill have to check the pattern, they are either bridgestone potenza's or trunza's, ill look later.

The offset is fine because they are factory rims, so its not that. I might go back tomorrow and see if it needs an alignment. If that doesn't fix it then buggered if I know whats going on.

Oh and the old rims where 205's btw.

**Professor Farnsworth** · 26-08-2006, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAMS290

I got my Ghia back from the tyre joint this afternoon.
I had 4 new tyres and an alignment done.

Funny thing was it had a camber kit in the right hand side only ????

I got a secondhand kit for the left side and had it fitted and aligned again.

It is on the stockie 205/65/15 tyres and wheels, ,but the steering feels really weird off centre ???? Comparing it with our BA and VY Commy.

Is it a trait with the speed sensitive steering, or is my steering rack stuffed ???

mate one thing to know is, EL Ghia steering has no feel whatsoever. I've had two and they've both been very ordinary at feeding back to the driver what's going on at the treads. Also i think you're describing something similar to what my current EL does, with the 'weird off centre' you describe. Mine has a dead centre, i describe it as 'play'. It's not nearly as bad at low speed, but once up to 50 or 60km/h + you get a dead zone in the middle where you can basically steer like they do in american movies and it does nothing to the direction of the car. Is that what you mean ? It's far worse in this el than it was in my 4.0 litre version. Either way i still love the parking speed steering in it, feel or no feel.. so easy.