steering help

[antinora]

hey just noticed a new problem with my car (mk2 Gti)

when i accelerate the steering pulls to the right..i lift off throttle and it steers straight,, then i brake and it pulls to the left... this is worrying because i had the wheel alignment done about a month ago.. any help to what it is...i can also hear a knocking sound when braking any help there? ?

[Golfwise]

Head off to your garage.Its a ball joint or loose bolts not tightenrd up by the wheelaligner.Wouldn't be the first time.

[Golf Loon]

Yup the wise one is right. Go back to whoever did the job.
Do it soon, it will only get worse.

[antinora]

yeh..so its the wheel alignment ...ok..they should do for free right haha..

[syncro]

I had a '76 swallowtail that did that. Turned out to be a 900mm crack in the body allowing the left stub axle to move forward about 30mm. Those Australian assembled swallowtails really were ****boxes.

[antinora]

dont say that mann !... so the most likely problem is the loose bolt or whatever ?

[mrgolf]

The bolts at the front of the subframe can come loose as well. This has happened to me twice. But it is most likely going to be a ball joint...

[antinora]

ok so cost ? ?

[mrgolf]

If bolts, nicks if you can jack the car up and have a 19mm spanner. If ball joint, I have never needed to replace one, but I would budget for about $100-150.

[alex g]

take it back to the cowboy who supposedly did the first allingment and get him to sort it, dont pay him anything