[capper]

My 05 Treg V6 with Air-Suspension has always had a random steering concern that I cannot figure out.

During a slow speed turn between say 30-45km/hr the vehicle will tighten the turning angle on it's own. For example if I enter say a 30 degree angle turn in the road , I turn the steering wheel and hold the turn but midway through the vehicle suddenly tightens the angle and shoves me over a bit. It's not violent but rather subtle. I've never heard anything clunk or bang when this happens.

It wont always do this, however I seem to think it's more often when set to Auto mode (higher body height).

I've had two different VW dealers look for any signs of worn suspension or ball joints as that's what it feels like to me. They have found nothing wrong. I also have looked around under the vehicle while on jacks but finding nothing. I looked at the rear sway bar links and they appear to be okay as well.

Ive also tried it with the traction control switched on or off without any changes to the symptoms. Only seems to do this when on dry pavement anyway...

At highways speeds it never behaves like this, always a solid feel.

I run two sets of stock rims (winter & summer sets) and its handles the same way with either set on. So not the tires or rims.

Any other ideas ?

 

[Toiler]

If you crank the steering over to one side.. Stop the car. Get out and look at the front wheels. They will be running on the inside /outside edges depending on the wheel you look at. Visibly so. Well at least on my MY13. So I suspect as you turn the steering. Suddenly it gets lighter as most of the tyre leaves the road and the turn resistance reduces and the radius decreases due to this. Maybe a method to decrease the turning radius. The Treg have always had really good turn radius.

 

[Jimbuffalo]

Does your Touareg have locking rear differential?

What you describe was traced to the rear locker on early T1s...I owned 2...one with and one without. The one that had it would want to turn into the curve, the one without never behaved that way.

If you have rear locker, search there

 

[HIRacing]

I'm replacing my lower front control arms in a few weeks because of the problem you're seeing. Sure hope it fixes it. Even if it doesn't the CA bushes are shot so I know it'll ride better.

 

[capper]

Interesting ideas,
My Treg does have locking rear diff and center diff. I'm not familiar with what issues the rear diff has but sounds like something I need to look into.
I've heard about the torque motor issues with these T1's but as it understand that's the center diff and a causes a slightly different problem, more noticeable at a crawl when making sharp turn say into a parking stall vehicle hops around the corner.

 

[Yeti]

Now that you gave that last bit of info it sounds like a stepper motor. Not that the rear diff lock may not have something to do with it, but more apt to believe stepper motor.

 

[capper]

I've changed the rear and center diff fluids last year and contact cleaned the stepper motor electrical connections also VW checked for the latest software and mine is up to date. I don't often have the shudder when parking. Does anyone know what the stepper motor is doing when it acts up? Is it trying to engage un-commanded? I'd like to take one apart and see what wears out in it.

 

[Mike N]

My 05 Treg V6 with Air-Suspension has always had a random steering concern that I cannot figure out.

During a slow speed turn between say 30-45km/hr the vehicle will tighten the turning angle on it's own. For example if I enter say a 30 degree angle turn in the road , I turn the steering wheel and hold the turn but midway through the vehicle suddenly tightens the angle and shoves me over a bit. It's not violent but rather subtle. I've never heard anything clunk or bang when this happens.

I get the same exact issue but only once in a while. More often that not it is within a mile of my house when the car is cold. Mine does have the locking rear diff and it does feel like a rear steer issue to me. Please post an update here if you figure out what it is.

 

[catalystgod]

I have a rear locking diff and mine has done it since day one (bought used). Although its always been on slight left turns only for me. Also, it only happens when the gear changes from 2nd to 3rd. I chalked it up as "nature of the beast" and have been driving it just normally the last 3 years.

 

[EulessDave]

I run two sets of stock rims (winter & summer sets) and its handles the same way with either set on. So not the tires or rims.

Any other ideas ?

Check your tire pressure. Mine will do this if one of the tires has less pressure than the others. Inflate them all to the max and see if it goes away. Mine was very predictable and always happened on a slow curve to the left. If it goes away, you can lower the pressure to what you like but keep it just above the point at which this happens.

No idea why it happens. Not sure if it's the tires, airbags, differential, or what?

 

[catalystgod]

Check your tire pressure. Mine will do this if one of the tires has less pressure than the others. Inflate them all to the max and see if it goes away. Mine was very predictable and always happened on a slow curve to the left. If it goes away, you can lower the pressure to what you like but keep it just above the point at which this happens.

No idea why it happens. Not sure if it's the tires, airbags, differential, or what?

I've had 3 sets of tires, all different kinds at OEM tire pressures and it has always done it. Curious to know, do you also have a rear locking diff?

 

[Jimbuffalo]

My first 2005 did this as described on a curve within a mile of my house...left hand bend, 25 - 30 mph or so (city street)...presumably after a cold start. The car would suddenly "step out" and "grab" the corner...requiring modest correction, but certainly noticeable.

As above posts indicate, it happened from time to time, same place...(can't really recall if it happened anywhere else). That Touareg was replaced by a later build 2005 WITHOUT the rear locking diff....and the replacement NEVER bit hard on that curve.

The skipping and low speed "hopping" is indicative of the stepper motor issue, but this one is different.

 

[catalystgod]

I agree. I did have the tandem pump replaced under warranty and it still did it. The issue is unrelated to the stepper motor issue.

 

[Touareg MNE]

Maybe front diff problem? Torque converter? I can't exactly understand what happens there

 

[catalystgod]

Its unlikely the front diff has anything to do with it. The exact effect is that the tail end literally kicks out a bit as you are turning. Scared ma the first time I felt it, but I've got used to it now.

I think the Torque Converter can be safely ruled in if anybody without the rear locking diff reports this behavior.

 

[Touareg MNE]

Its unlikely the front diff has anything to do with it. The exact effect is that the tail end literally kicks out a bit as you are turning. Scared ma the first time I felt it, but I've got used to it now.

I think the Torque Converter can be safely ruled in if anybody without the rear locking diff reports this behavior.

I think I had a similar experience.. Not sure, but only if I enter in a corner at higher speed.. So that seems normal to me..

 

[HIRacing]

Dunno if it matters but I have noticed mine only does this if it upshifts mid-corner. Altering throttle in one gear (ie, more gas) doesn't make it do it. I can make it happen every time by upshifting or keep it from happening by holding it in whatever current gear.

 

[Mike N]

Dunno if it matters but I have noticed mine only does this if it upshifts mid-corner.

I'm pretty sure mine only does in on upshifts in a slight bend also. I'm not sure but likely the 3 to 4 shift at about 40 mph.

 

[capper]

Well it seems to be a pretty common behavior for the ol Treg.... Lots of interesting ideas of why it does it,, still seems to be a bit of a mystery. Im not feeling overly confident I'll get to the bottom of this one but I'll try a few of these suggestions.. If I come across anything juicy Ill be sure to post it... Ill be jacking it up again here soon to take off the winter wheels and mounting the summers which will give me a good reason to look at a few things while crawling around under it. Thanks for the posts !

 

[catalystgod]

I think I had a similar experience.. Not sure, but only if I enter in a corner at higher speed.. So that seems normal to me..

All of us who see it, its only in the lower speed. It is very noticeable, and if that level of correction happened at a higher speed, it would be pretty unsettling and dangerous. Its possible you are experiencing a different issue, not sure.

Dunno if it matters but I have noticed mine only does this if it upshifts mid-corner. Altering throttle in one gear (ie, more gas) doesn't make it do it. I can make it happen every time by upshifting or keep it from happening by holding it in whatever current gear.

Same here. Do you have a rear locking diff?

I'm pretty sure mine only does in on upshifts in a slight bend also. I'm not sure but likely the 3 to 4 shift at about 40 mph.

Yes, mid corner, low speed, at gearshift time.

Well it seems to be a pretty common behavior for the ol Treg.... Lots of interesting ideas of why it does it,, still seems to be a bit of a mystery. Im not feeling overly confident I'll get to the bottom of this one but I'll try a few of these suggestions.. If I come across anything juicy Ill be sure to post it... Ill be jacking it up again here soon to take off the winter wheels and mounting the summers which will give me a good reason to look at a few things while crawling around under it. Thanks for the posts !

Quite a few of us would be thankful if you found a solution that does not involve trading for a non-rear-locking diff Touareg. Good luck!