Fulvia Berlina steering pulls when accelerating or lifting off!

[SteveA]

Evening! I have recently bought the dark red and white 72 Berlina you may have seen  for sale. I am working through some problems, but this is the most worrying. I have been advised it is the steering idler bushes ( plastic) .However, having remover the idler swivel (box?), there doesn't seem to be any significant play, so before I dismantle any further, I thought I had better ask the experts here..

My original, no Fulvia experience guess was maybe subframe mountings shot, but a quick look doesn't reveal anything drastic. Any thoughts, anyone?

[lancialulu]

More than likely the nylon bearings in the idler bix are shot or one track rod end has a lot of play...

[SteveA]

More than likely the nylon bearings in the idler bix are shot or one track rod end has a lot of play...

I had better check the ball joints next then; I have the new bushes for the idler box, but as there wasn't , apparently, much play at all, I was loath to disturb !

[nistri]

If the bushes for the lower wishbones are perished, this is the sort of probolem you may get, worth checking them carefully, Andrea

[lancialulu]

Evening! I have recently bought the dark red and white 72 Berlina you may have seen  for sale. I am working through some problems, but this is the most worrying. I have been advised it is the steering idler bushes ( plastic) .However, having remover the idler swivel (box?), there doesn't seem to be any significant play, so before I dismantle any further, I thought I had better ask the experts here..

My original, no Fulvia experience guess was maybe subframe mountings shot, but a quick look doesn't reveal anything drastic. Any thoughts, anyone?

Did you undo the idler box adjuster then check for play?

[SteveA]

Evening! I have recently bought the dark red and white 72 Berlina you may have seen  for sale. I am working through some problems, but this is the most worrying. I have been advised it is the steering idler bushes ( plastic) .However, having remover the idler swivel (box?), there doesn't seem to be any significant play, so before I dismantle any further, I thought I had better ask the experts here..

My original, no Fulvia experience guess was maybe subframe mountings shot, but a quick look doesn't reveal anything drastic. Any thoughts, anyone?

Did you undo the idler box adjuster then check for play?

Yes, have taken it off car ( had to un olt top of damper first), seems reasonable

[SteveA]

If the bushes for the lower wishbones are perished, this is the sort of probolem you may get, worth checking them carefully, Andrea

Thanks, will check that tomorrow!

[nistri]

If the drifting problem is in the idler box, the car usually drifts to the same side and often the steering wheel is slighlty offcenter. With faulty wishbone bushes, the car can drift to the left or right at random, Andrea

[chriswgawne]

I had exactly this problem with the Portuguese Fulvia GT and it was completely solved by fitting a new set of steering arms from Cavalitto.
They weren't expensive either.
Chri9s

[SteveA]

I had exactly this problem with the Portuguese Fulvia GT and it was completely solved by fitting a new set of steering arms from Cavalitto.
They weren't expensive either.
Chri9s

That is good to know!

Sadly no progress..steering arms to idler box don't seem to have significant play, and I can't get any movement on wishbone mounts. However, With spring loading on the suspension its difficult to know for sure. Did try jacking up outboard end, but nothing obvious even with metre long crow bar ( wielded czrefully!).

I think I might put rhs back together (having cleaned and lubricated) and try it on the road (locally of course!) and see which way it goes.

Many thanks to all! Dissappointing not to find some crumbling bits..

[lancialulu]

I had exactly this problem with the Portuguese Fulvia GT and it was completely solved by fitting a new set of steering arms from Cavalitto.
They weren't expensive either.
Chri9s

If the idler is worn at all with nylon bearings this will be a priority to change as you have replacements. Is it LHD and does it pull to the right or visa versa?

That is good to know!

Sadly no progress..steering arms to idler box don't seem to have significant play, and I can't get any movement on wishbone mounts. However, With spring loading on the suspension its difficult to know for sure. Did try jacking up outboard end, but nothing obvious even with metre long crow bar ( wielded czrefully!).

I think I might put rhs back together (having cleaned and lubricated) and try it on the road (locally of course!) and see which way it goes.

Many thanks to all! Dissappointing not to find some crumbling bits..

[chriswgawne]

The steering arms I removed did not appear to have significant wear whilst on the car......but as there was no play in the idler or the steering box, the problems had to be in that area.
Total transformation.
Chris

[SteveA]

The steering arms I removed did not appear to have significant wear whilst on the car......but as there was no play in the idler or the steering box, the problems had to be in that area.
Total transformation.
Chris

ok, even though no play in idler box, I'll replace wbilst I ha e it apart, then move on..

car is lhd; I  can't be sure ( fraught first drive home in wet and dark, lhd, no handbrake, misting windscreen, no o/s mirror, dogleg box etc were a bit distracting), but I think it pulled right under power, left on backing off

[Richard Fridd]

Returning from Germany in my Fulvia Sport, travelling downhill with a trailing throttle, felt like towing an out of control trailer/caravan. Idler box was the problem. Richard

[SteveA]

Returning from Germany in my Fulvia Sport, travelling downhill with a trailing throttle, felt like towing an out of control trailer/caravan. Idler box was the problem. Richarf

Mine was o ly mild, one off pull for each major use of throttle, in steady state it was fine.