Pot Hole hit...now steering problems

[Ronmaf]

So it seems I hit a rough patch of asphalt....hard! since then I have had a bit of vibration and a "vague" steering feeling in the front end.
I took it for an alignment check and it is still in alignment. They did a quick check of the suspension and stated the components seemed tight.
I am going to have a road force balance on the tires today.
I am afraid the Steering Gear was tweaked.

A few of questions:
Does anyone have any experience with a Rack replacement?
Any recomendations on suspension upgrades (not lowering)?
Any other components that I should look at that would cause a vague feel to the steering?

Thanks!

 

[Natesriv]

it's an electric rack and pinion... not sure how anything would be tweaked.

Under warranty?

 

[oldslowchevy]

Check and make sure you didn't hurt or blow out a strut or strut mount.

 

[Ronmaf]

Not sure I will chase a warranty claim. Parts are cheap and it gives me an excuse to put performance parts in place.
I will check the struts later. This may be hard to hunt down. It is def a steering feel. Maybe tires? I have had a rack go bad in a car before..just not so young.
Thanks for the tips.

 

[Stew]

If you're getting a vibration when driving it seems like that would have to be wheels or tires, those are the only rotating front end parts that could cause a vibration.

ZZP makes lower control arms for the Sonic.

You could swap your wheels/tires front to back and see if the vibration follows.

 

[4g63gst20]

not trying to hijack this thread, but its kinda related. would an alignment issue be covered by the bumper to bumper? my dad bought a new 14 cruze and has put maybe less than 3k miles. he says its pulling to the side. very little but noticeable

 

[mitdr774]

not trying to hijack this thread, but its kinda related. would an alignment issue be covered by the bumper to bumper? my dad bought a new 14 cruze and has put maybe less than 3k miles. he says its pulling to the side. very little but noticeable

What direction and what road conditions? At 3k miles they may or may not. The dealer might claim its an age/mileage issue for warranty since it is not covered under the bumper to bumper coverage.

 

[Ronmaf]

Ok I had the wheel alignment checked= no problem.
Had the tires rotated and balanced...out of balance=fixed
Still have vague steering feel..lack of precision would be another description.
Lifted sonic, inspected suspension. I found the input side of the steering rack to have play. This may be the issue. I found no other play anywhere else in the suspension.
Does anyone have a place to get a shop manual for the Sonic? I may be replacing the rack!

 

[Hawkdsl]

Does the Sonic (sense I don't have mine yet) have wheel bearings/Hub Assembly. If so, raise the front end, and let everything hang. Grab the bottom of the wheel/tire and pull while at the same time, push at the top. If there is play, then its the hub assembly. Just google worn hub assembly, and you'll see what im talking about. It's not a hard job, and should be covered in the B2B.

 

[mitdr774]

The sonic has a press in bearing from what I recall.

 

[zippypcs]

Front can be bought as just a bearing or an assembly. Like 80 $ for bearing and 150$ for whole thing.

 

[Ronmaf]

Does the Sonic (sense I don't have mine yet) have wheel bearings/Hub Assembly. If so, raise the front end, and let everything hang. Grab the bottom of the wheel/tire and pull while at the same time, push at the top. If there is play, then its the hub assembly. Just google worn hub assembly, and you'll see what im talking about. It's not a hard job, and should be covered in the B2B.

I checked the hub and all ball joints and bushings. I am leaning on the rack.
While doing some research I ran across this article.
Chevrolet Sonic Transmission and Steering Issue - Free Lemon Law Help
Makes me wonder if the Sonic has a weak link or two in the front suspension?

 

[Hawkdsl]

http://www.lemonlaw.com/wordpress/chevrolet-sonic-steering-transmission-problems/
Makes me wonder if the Sonic has a weak link or two in the front suspension?

It may have 3 years ago when that first appeared, as that was the first run of the car.

If you still have the plastic front end links, I'd look around in the forum for the part number replacement, and switch em out.

Good luck.

 

[Ronmaf]

It may have 3 years ago when that first appeared, as that was the first run of the car.

If you still have the plastic front end links, I'd look around in the forum for the part number replacement, and switch em out.

Good luck.

My Sonic is a 14'. Not sure if this is still an issue since I am having an issue.

 

[laborsmith]

I am certain Chevy continues to use plastic links to this day. I am equally certain their use is not seen as an issue by Chevy engineering.

Laborsmith

 

[Hawkdsl]

I am certain Chevy continues to use plastic links to this day. I am equally certain their use is not seen as an issue by Chevy engineering.

Laborsmith

LOL... but to be fair, I'd say that engineering did draw up real links, but Chevy Accounting asked for cost savings.

Real Links, say 60.00 pair @ 95,000 cars = 5.7 Million
Plastic links, say 40.00 pair @ 95,000 cars = 3.8 Million

That's a 1.9 mil savings. Just for links.

Sometimes... Bean counters win.

Did a quick look on the front bearings... The set up blows.. press in like Mitdr said. Buying the whole thing would require a front end alignment. Specialty tool needed to do the job.. saw one for 150.00 ahhh.. the joys of new tools..

 

[oldslowchevy]

Everyone else has bolt on hub bearings and chevy still went with press in bearings? Dang that sucks.

 

[Hawkdsl]

Everyone else has bolt on hub bearings and chevy still went with press in bearings? Dang that sucks.

Yes it does... but makes me wonder if the spindles can be switched out for something that is.. but thats way down the road. Todays bearing last a long freaking time.

 

[Tesseract_Indeed]

Welp, old thread, but similar problem. I have some weird imprecise feeling in the steering wheel that wasn't there six months ago. My car is currently several states away due to holiday travel, and I won't have it back until January second/ I will make sure to look for it again then.

The transmission is getting fixed while I am away so when the mechanic calls me and asks what's up with it, I will also describe to him the feeling I am having with it and see if he wants to take a look at suspension components to see if anything seems obviously out of line, and maybe he will drive it himself for a bit to see if he experiences it as well.

I suppose I will post updates here as well for ****s and giggles.