Poor Handling & Groove Sensitivity

Good day, everyone.

'On my Golf III Comfortline, manufactured in 1997, I've noticed a deterioration in driving performance. While this has occurred over the last 15,000 km of its total mileage of 390,000 km, I can't attribute it to any specific event.'

During the last TÜV inspection, the rear suspension ball joints and a bearing in the right control arm were noted as needing attention. The control arm was completely replaced with a new part, including new bearings. I had the original VW ball joints pressed in at the workshop. I tightened the screw connections with the vehicle raised. Additionally, I replaced the brake drums and the wheel bearings inside them.

Currently, the vehicle feels loose, especially on the highway, as if there is play in the rear wheel bearings or the steering. When driving on ruts, it feels as though the wheels are changing their alignment on the unevenness of the road surface, and immediately this results in a change in driving direction. The rear tapered roller bearings are tightened, have no play, and do not produce any noise. A visual inspection of the bushings showed nothing unusual. Due to the report of play in the steering linkage, I wonder if this could also be my problem. Does the steering system have a way to compensate for wear-related play by tightening fasteners (e.g., a sliding piece in the rack and pinion steering)? There were no issues related to this during the TÜV (technical inspection).

Could problems with the wheel bearings on the highway be causing such a noticeable impact on the driving behavior? They exhibit the typical cracking sound when reversing out of a parking space. The shock absorbers are not new, but otherwise show no abnormalities. I'm sure there's some play somewhere, and it's not simply that the body has become soft due to mileage.

"I had a problem with my Golf3 back then, specifically with the inner ball joint of the tie rod (not at the tie rod end, but at the connection to the steering gear)."

If those are still the original tires, they must have accumulated quite a bit of mileage by now.

Simply jack up each side and try rocking the vehicle. You should be able to notice some play.

The whole process happened quite quickly. Simply identify the manufacturer of the steering gear (you can do this by looking behind the steering gear with a mirror, as it's quite hidden) and then order the part (assuming it's actually defective).

If you want to change the steering shaft without removing the entire steering gear, you just need to make sure you don't apply any force when loosening it (since you can't brace yourself against the steering gear...).
I inserted a key and tapped it briefly with a hammer. This caused it to come loose with a jolt.

Hello cksIT.

Standing outside the vehicle, I once turned the steering wheel and observed the reaction at the tire. Only on the left side, of course, as I couldn't detect anything unusual or any play. If it were the right side, I would notice it when driving over lane markings.

'When I'm back home, I'll lift the vehicle and check the connection you mentioned as a possible cause of the problem. If I understand you correctly, it's about the joint between the tie rod and the steering gear.'

I hope to be able to do that soon, and thank you for the tip.

Greetings.
Philipp.

The joint is part of the tie rod. If you unscrew the tie rod end, you will have a rod with a ball joint attached to it.

Hopefully, it's just that (searching can really be frustrating sometimes ).