MG5 Steering - a concern or not?

[NewEVer]

Has anyone got to the bottom of this?

 

[Avro]

Maybe
In line with the other thread about this I have swapped the tyres (front to rear) and so far I have had no reoccurrence, but I have not had any trips out on the motorway network (where I origionaly found it worse) since the swap. The tyres are the original Bridgstones and the fronts were about 75% worn which is more than I expected for the mileage..... but don't tell the Daily Mail!
There are two universal joints on the upper steering column which look.. and as far as I can tell feel fine. I'm too old to get under cars now so there could be another UJ under the floor. PAS motor looks easy enough to get at ...but nothing to see. Currently a tyre issue seems plausible as I would expect a PAS fault to be more predictable.

 

[hOZ]

I'd just like to add my data points to this thread. I've also experienced this at least four times in my pre facelift MG5 over the last year and a half. I only experience it during cold weather, and after driving straight for a long time. I've found that it goes away for a while after turning more sharply, such as at a roundabout.

 

[Avro]

Thanks hOZ, that is pretty good description of the problem as it occurs on my PF MG5 too. Manipulating the steering definitely makes it go away for a while. I wonder if anyone has had this issue on replacement (non Bridgestone) tyres?

 

[NewEVer]

I’ve just changed all the tyres to Hankook all season tyres, (following an awful aquaplaning event). I’m on the motorway later this month, so will let you all know if the steering is still vague.

 

[Avro]

Just an update for anyone digging this thread up.
A couple of thousand miles later and no sign of the problem returning after swapping tyres. So I'm pretty sure its linked to tyre wear. Despite other threads discussing uneven tyre wear those on my vehicle are looking pretty even. Will be interesting to see if the problem returns as the fronts get down to the same tread depth as the rears.

 

[NewEVer]

I’ve ended up with new all weather tyres and it’s resolved. The MG a dealers kept checking, but never found anything mechanical/electrical. I found I had awful steering on a straight road in the rain and almost slid into a car, this frightened me and we fitted all weather tyres. The steering vagueness has gone. (The original tyres all had plenty of tread but one was a different make).

 

[Wibble]

I have noticed this a couple of times on my 22 plate PFL. It doesn't happen in the same place each time so I doubt its tramlining.

 

[Pebblefeline]

I have the same problem since I put Michelin e primacy on the front.

I am now slightly under inflating which seems to stop the issue.

Has anyone had any recurrence?

 

[Benoit85]

Hi all, came here because I’m having this same issue at the moment. Steering seems to have gone notchy for lack of a better word. Going straight and steering feels locked and needs more pressure than usual to move the wheel. Had new front tyres back in July. Unsure if it’s a problem to be worried about or if it’s related to colder conditions and tyre pressures. My fronts are always at 2.2 or 2.3 but when it was warmer they would be 2.4 or higher.

 

[Jomarkh]

I have had this on my 2021 SR Excite.
I have done 63k miles currently have Michelin Cross Climate 2's all round.
It's very hard to describe what happens as it is not all the time and catches you unawares.

 

[Pebblefeline]

what tyres did you get? I wonder if it’s to do with harder compounds at higher pressures.

 

[Pebblefeline]

Seems to only happen to me once I have been on the road at motorway / dual carriageway speeds for a while
Normally 69 and over

 

[Benoit85]

I’m on some hankook something or other on the fronts. No issues whatsoever in the summer though, I’ve only noticed it really this week. It has been cold all week though so really not sure if that’s got anything to do with it along with tyre pressure perhaps

 

[Deleted member 13103]

I posted this issue several months ago in another thread, at the time I swapped fronts to rear each side, that seemed to clear it, I've since then replaced the tyres with no noticeable notchiness, however I had these new tyres swapped front to back diagonally before going on holiday, there is still intermittent notchiness though, especially in basic cruise control (no MG Pilot), I've just gotten used to it, it doesn't spoil my pleasure of driving the 22 PFL 5, which I find very relaxing after 40 years of truck driving.

 

[Geoffers]

This is interesting. After having my PFL 5 for coming up to 3 years, this has started happening to me. I have been doing a long few motorway runs lately and became aware of the odd sensation of sticking or notchyness after a while when cruising steadily. I would have thought that if it were a tyre issue then it would show up any time you start cruising? For me,it seems to come on after some time at the wheel, say an hour or so. This evening I did a short motorway run and it was fine.

I have a long run tomorrow and I'm going to try to work out when it becomes noticible.

 

[Pebblefeline]

I have a feeling it’s related to Increased tyre pressures and heat after a reasonable run.

I only noticed it when I have been on the motorway for half an hour or so and my tyre pressure have increased due to warming.

If I start with my pressures at 2.1 bar then it doesn’t seem to happen

It’s very odd, if it was a steering problem
I would expect it at all speeds

Sigh

 

[Benoit85]

Just to chime back in on this I was out yesterday only local and didn’t notice the problem at all. I guess possible that it is longer journeys and the tyres warming but I never noticed any issues in the summer when my tyre pressures were always around 2.4 or higher so really not sure.

 

[Avro]

Interesting to hear that it occurs on different brands of tyres too. As per my post above I swapped fronts to rears and the problem went away. But recently on a long motorway trip I noticed it had returned to some extent. I have not noticed it driving locally but time will tell.
It looks like there is something odd about the steering geometry on these cars which is affected by a certain wear pattern. I do wonder if experimenting with the tyre pressures could make a difference

 

[Geoffers]

Well, having experienced the sticky steering on our motorway cruise on Friday it didn't occur at all on our way home today! Conditions on the road today were pretty much identical to Friday - about 13 degrees, dry and no wind. I'm not convinced it's tyres. In my car, when it occurs, it feels like a kind of sticktion. If I hold the steering lightly I feel it hold when trying to make small adjustments in the cruise but it only takes light pressure to 'break' the grip. I can't help thinking that there are too many people out there with different tyre setups driving on different road surfaces in different conditions carring different loads for such an effect to keep occuring. And why didn't it happen to me today?

Are we experiencing this with similar age cars? Accross the MG range? I'm driving a 22 plate 5LR. My thoughts are turning to the power steering setup.