steering a little unsteady at high speed

[Peter_HMR]

I've noticed lately that the steering seems a little unsteady on the motorway. Seems like theres a very small bit of play when driving the car can move a little left and right. There's not enough for the car to vere left or right and the tracking is fine as are tire pressures.

Is this common? Could it be the tie rod ends?

If these need to be replaced is there anything else I should be replacing while Im at it. The car has 141k it a 01 B5.5

[iwaters]

Could be one or more ball joints. Jack the car up and grab the wheel at 3 and 9 oclock, try and wiggle it. Do the same with hands at 12 and 6.

There should be no movement. If there is get someone to look behind and see if they can determine which joint has play.

No point replacing anything else unless it is faulty.

[yaman]

Could it be the tie rod ends

If it is the tie-rods, they are easy to see and feel any slack in them.
There's a small pinch-bolt which will need a little persuasion, not as
bad as the big pinch-bolt, but worth noting. I use a little heat before
tapping it out with the nut still on the bolt, to get it started and save the
threads.

Measure the distance and/or count the turns on the old tie-rod,
while taking it out, to set-up the tracking on the new one.
Better get the tracking checked after completing the job.

Regards
Jim

[JimC64]

+1 on the good advice already received and hope that solves your issues :beerchug: