'Knock' feel in steer wheel at low speeds after 2.6.16 update

[Joelaron]

anyone ever sense this? ..you pull away from a stop or a rolling slow speed and turn the wheel to initiate a turn and feel a small 'tick' or 'knock' as if there's a small amount of play in the steering linkage? When I feel it, if i turn the wheel immediately in the other direction, it doesn't 'tick' back.

In my racing days, I would instantly think that my pitman or idler arm needs to be tightened or a center link bushing is failing, causing a sense of play in the wheel at low speeds under heavy weight shifts of the car. It started a few times, just after the 2.6.16 update, but now it's every time I pull away from a stop and turn the wheel.

I wanted to reach out to y'all before contacting CS, as i'm trying to go an entire month without having to get my car serviced again. ...is anyone else feeling this same thing?

-car drives straight (was just re-aligned a few months ago)
-can not be felt at speeds above 5mph
-have not hit any potholes
-happens in all driving modes
-can not be felt if car is at a stand still (only happens when I accelerate at any speed from a stop)
-i've reset the car several times (i hold the 'a' at least 5 times a week so my sound system works)

thoughts?

 

[ColonelBadger]

It's possibly the steering wheel airbag moving. Next time try holding the airbag as you turn. Mine in warm weather has some "play" and will move/knock when making junction turns.

 

[Joelaron]

It's possibly the steering wheel airbag moving. Next time try holding the airbag as you turn. Mine in warm weather has some "play" and will move/knock when making junction turns.

interesting! I'll give that a try.

 

[FooFighter]

I felt it in my initial test drive. I felt it in the loaner GT. I feel it in my own Air Touring everyday. I kinda accepted it as “within spec”.

 

[L-Dude]

There's nothing wrong with your car (well, at least not because of this thing lol). It is called the Ackermann effect, and it happens with every AWD vehicle. It get this in my Audi too.

 

[marsarbu]

I always had it, I got used to it. It is that "steering wheel" feel that we're so longing after. The car is talking to you, you are one with it, communicating the subtle texture change in the road, as you attack that apex at the McDonalds drive through.

 

[Joelaron]

thanks everyone! so I can keep hammering my car into the apex w/o fear that my wheel will eject itself from the frame!

....and I learned about the ackermann effect today...