ZX Volcane TD 'nervous' steering/handling

DanDare · Post by **DanDare** » 03 May 2007, 16:30

I've noticed my Volcane has very 'ubrupt' turn in near the limit. I've read a few roadtests etc on this model & this issue crops up alot blaming it on the passive rear steering.

This may seem a silly question to those more in the know but can this set-up actually be 'removed/isolated' ie, no rear steer (assuming it is this causing it) or is it a trait i am stuck with ?

Ps, i did notice when i bought the car i had a slow rear offside punture & i knew the pressure was getting low as it amplified the problem making the car even more nervous to drive fast) I run 34psi front & 32psi rear (as stated on the door)

Does anyone else suffer this problem ?

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 03 May 2007, 18:07

My only comment having a sound one is that the limit is extremely high - and it has always surprised me just how well the thing grips with no vices.

So - have you a touch too much rear wheel steer? - Possibly caused by excessive wear in the rear trailing arm bearings - or have the subframe mounts deteriorated (sometimes accompanied by knocking noises from the rear of the car.

Tyre pressures are of course vital as are good tyres. With the very considerable cornering forces that these cars can generate if anything untoward does happen it may happen very quickly.

rossnunn · Post by **rossnunn** » 03 May 2007, 19:17

I think the active rear steer is more noticable if you have weight in the rear too. But I'd agree with Jeremy's points.
Check the rear most mounts, both of these had gone on mine but they never banged or knocked & I only found out at MOT time.
Also to go along with the tyre pressures make sure it has the right size wheel/tyre on, sounds daft I know but still worth a check.

I wouldn't 'blame' good turn in on the passive rear steering, this makes it sound like a bad thing. When its actually a very very good thing. I don't know of another car other than the 306 which handles as well as a ZX straight out of the box at that class level.

DanDare · Post by **DanDare** » 03 May 2007, 20:30

jeremy wrote: (sometimes accompanied by knocking noises from the rear of the car.)

I do get a knock only when turning left, coming from the rear passenger side mainly on anything other than a smooth bit of road. Could this be the bushes in question possibly or could the trailing arm bearing create a knock too ?

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 03 May 2007, 21:13

Sounds like subframe mounts - they're available from GSF and Eurocarparts I think and I'm sure you'll find instructions for fitting if you search on here.

The system of passive rear wheel steer was so good that Rover delayed the introduction of the 25 till they could copy it!

mrbump · Post by **mrbump** » 12 May 2007, 02:14

definitely the ream subframe mounts, most likely the rear ones but check the front (more expensive and harder to do, but not that expaensive or difficult!) ones arent sagging when the car is up as well.

if you find the bushes are good, then you can get solid mounts for the rear subframe mounts from alot of places. try ebay or peter lloyd rallying. they are basically aluminium mounts that just replace the rubber and negate any passive rear steer. All the rally 205's use them as it means they can set the car up better without having to correct for the rear steer.

For road though, cant beat it!! Just get the bad bits replaced and get used to finding that you are going round corners faster than any german car ever could.

Post by **philhoward** » 12 May 2007, 07:58

Whenever my ZX has had more noticable "turn in" its been either with a heavy boot load (the shopping run), low tyre pressures somewhere (front or rear) or when the rear arm bushes went...