Vague steering

I have just fitted the Spax sports suspension kit to my 1986 Cabriolet GTi, lowering by 40mm. Ride is now lovely, not too firm but you can feel the road surface. The steering however is pretty vague - it goes around corners alright but I reckon there's a lag between turning the wheel and the car actually turning. I'd say the play if any is minimal - it's more a general vagueness, which is greater at slower speeds. Anything obvious here before I start looking at replacing the rack? (Mileage is 150K……)
Any thoughts appreciated.

What wheels/tyres, and what are your current tyre pressures?

Hi

175/70 13 all round (recent Dunlops). Just checked the pressures - 28 front, 32 rear….

Ok the main concern was uneven or low tyre pressures. Its possible its just a combination of slack in the column, rack, track rod ends, ball joints, top mounts and wishbone bushes, while not being significant on their own, all adding up to give less than optimal steering.

I'd start with the obvious ones - top mounts, ball joints, track rod ends, wishbone bushes.

thanks for that - out with the Haynes!

have you had the tracking and camber done after you fitted the suspension?

yes camber/alignment now done. It's still a bit vague and I've noticed a slight knock and a bit of play when I wiggle the wheel in the garage. I think I might need a new rack.

Try rack bushes 1st as my old mk1 had same prob, poly bushes do make a massive difference on the rack as well (cheap from gsf, priracing.co.uk or rally sport).

If not found a rack on ebay for 47 quid, bargain!! see auction 300236756688.

Tim.

Consider solid rack mounts too. Can get them from http://www.compbrake.co.uk. Also while down there check the area around the rack mounts is solid. Sometimes the metal bracket corrodes and fails around there (drivers side especially).