Steering Issues

[lebon]

Hi All, Newbie here so please bear with me, my problem arised about 3 weeks ago driving on thw motorway above 60 miles I felt like the steering was not controlling the wheels to put it in a laymans term. Called Lexus and was told to check my tyres, funny enough both front wheels worned out on the inner side and had to have them changed. Still it did not cure the problem so decided to get wheel alignment done with the local garage and was told that the steering arm and the track rod end had bent and therefor they could not do the alignment. Send the car to lexus they confirmed that the track rod end had bent but not the sterring arm and they also did all 4 wheel alingment.Now that still has not cured my driving problem I cant seem to drive more than 60 miles as it feel like you have no control of the car its even worst on a slippery surface as I experienced yesterday and had to drive below 50 miles. Send the car back to Lexus today the guys down at Lexus tested the car and claim that nothings wrong with the car, having say that Lexuz issued me with a courtesy car today and I decided to test drive it and had no problems doing 70 miles. My car is still under extended warranty and I am at total lost here. Unable to say what seems to be the problem here, any help or advice is much appreaciated. Sorry for the long windedness. Thank you

[Steve ( West Mids )]

Have you checked the tyre pressures?

[lebon]

Hi Steve Lexus has checked them too and say its fine

[Steve ( West Mids )]

So what are the pressures?

[lebon]

Sorry Steve i did not ask them what they were as I took their word for it as they claim to have checked it and its fine but I have just made a call to them to let me know what the tyre pressure is. thanks

[lebon]

its 35 at rhe front and 38 for the rear

[Steve ( West Mids )]

I would drop them to 35 psi yourself and do a road test again.

[lebon]

Could that be the cause of the problem ie feeling no control over the steering or anything else

[Steve ( West Mids )]

I had same problem on mine from new, and all the tyres had been left overinflated. I suggest check the pressures and rduce them to 35, if you still get the problem then it looks like you may have other damage. Was the car damaged before you bought it or since? Any knowledge of the accident?

[lebon]

Not sure if it had any accident prior to me buying it from Lexus last yeat had the car now for 11 months. I personally had no accidents only about 3 weeks ago these problems started with the wearing of the tyres and to find out the track rod end has bent they claim that I have tampered with it in which i did not or I had hit a pothole for the track rod end to bend.

[mng70]

This sounds very similar to experiences with my car. I've had my 2007 IS250 for about 9 months now and there's always been something not right with the steering. It didn't feel right over certain camber and would occasionally lurch to the nearside so you had to hold on to the steering wheel tighter that you would expect. I recently had to replace a rear tyre due to a nail lodging into the side wall. When on the ramp I was called in to view the front tyres - both of which had completely warn on the inside. The tracking was done and found to be 3mm out. Driving back I noticed it appeared a little better but not as good as some courtesy cars I'd driven.

Having phoned Lexus it was suggested I take a full wheel alignment (£95 + VAT) but now wonder if I've the same issue with the original poster. I need to get it sorted before my extended warranty runs out.

[lebon]

This sounds very similar to experiences with my car. I've had my 2007 IS250 for about 9 months now and there's always been something not right with the steering. It didn't feel right over certain camber and would occasionally lurch to the nearside so you had to hold on to the steering wheel tighter that you would expect. I recently had to replace a rear tyre due to a nail lodging into the side wall. When on the ramp I was called in to view the front tyres - both of which had completely warn on the inside. The tracking was done and found to be 3mm out. Driving back I noticed it appeared a little better but not as good as some courtesy cars I'd driven.

Having phoned Lexus it was suggested I take a full wheel alignment (£95 + VAT) but now wonder if I've the same issue with the original poster. I need to get it sorted before my extended warranty runs out.

Have you asked Lexus to do a test drive? I would suggest that you ask Lexus to do the 4 wheel alignment and see what they say. Mine was corrected with the alignment but it still doesnt feel right. Lexus has checked it again and cant seem to find anything wrong with it.

[mng70]

I don't think they've any extended drive of the car. I was told to have the two front tyres changed before going ahead with an alignment and I'm tempted to have the tyre place do the work as it's much cheaper :-) I'm just afraid that my tyres will wear unneccasarily if the alignment doesn't fix it. Do your steering problems sound similar to mine?

[lebon]

I don't think they've any extended drive of the car. I was told to have the two front tyres changed before going ahead with an alignment and I'm tempted to have the tyre place do the work as it's much cheaper :-) I'm just afraid that my tyres will wear unneccasarily if the alignment doesn't fix it. Do your steering problems sound similar to mine?

Well I had to change my front 2 as it was worned out on the inside and got Lexus to do 4 wheel alingnment as my track rod end was bent. I dont think theres much difference in prices on tyres as you can always knoce the price down if you were to get from Lexu say to then that you saw in somehwere and the price were such . My issue with the steering comes in after 60 mph I feel like I have no control over the car.

[mng70]

That sounds different to my issue as mine occurs at all speeds. Have Lexus replaced the track rod end?

[lebon]

That sounds different to my issue as mine occurs at all speeds. Have Lexus replaced the track rod end?

Yes they have and also 2 front tyres

[tinka]

Ive had some issues with mine of late, i had the tracking done at a garage and it was ok, but the steering wheel was off centre, so i decided to have a go my self, with the string method, again it felt fine but the steering wheel was off centre, and i realy hate that, because that in itself makes the steering feel funny, so i adjusted each side to bring the steering wheel centre.

I have decided now, that i will get a two wheel alignment gauge, so i can do it as and when needed, because most garages will not do it properly, and i cant be bothered to keep going back and having the steering wheel centred.

[lebon]

Just an update, had the car with Lexus for 3 days thet claim to have tested in on dry road and wet on a motorway but unable to find any issues with the steering.But having taken the car back and it still feels the same at speeds off 70mph it has kinda sway feeling. Any one had these experience before, also could I just find out if the steering rack and the tie rod end are the similar thing. Any help much appreaciated.

[lebon]

I thought I would give an update with my car having endured almost 6 months with steering and handling issues.I hope this might help someone who might have the same problems too. Lexus did a replacement on my steering rack and the steering felt more sturdier but the ride was still the same, then did the Geo with WIM,ride was slightly better but still wasnt as good as what it was before. After awhile I realised that the ride was getting better, I felt the car was more planted. Dis some research on this on some forums only to find out that having changed all 4 wheels it did take a long while for them to 'bed' in. So I am not sure the theory of brand new tyres 'bedding in a coupld of hundred miles is quite true, I think it all depends on the tyres make and the size and probably the way one drives.