Any idea what this is?

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PhilDourado

New member
Joined
Jul 29, 2021
Messages
1
Hi All. I'm a techno idiot with a three year old Leaf. I had two front tyres replaced at Halfords and, after I drove away, seemed to be able to 'feel' the steering beneath and through my feet, as if it was previously smooth and unnoticeable but was now clunky.

Question 1: Before I go back to them and ask them to check their work, is this even possible? Am I imagining it or can you think of a possible reason I can suggest to them so I don't sound too lame?

Question 2: A small, blue plastic oiled cylinder (half cylinder actually), about an inch and a half long fell onto my foot from down in the footwell just now. Could this be connected to the clunky steering? I took pix and hoped to post them in here but can't find an 'upload pic' function.

Any suggestions gratefully received.


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Fell onto my foot out of the footwell, from above the pedals, if that makes sense.

Thanks, if so!

Phil
 
I assume that piece fell from under the dash on the driver side. Does it look like the underside of the dash was disturbed? There is a plastic cover on the underside of the dash to conceal the wiring, etc. so it must be removed to access most of the stuff under the dash. There should be no reason for the shop to do anything under the dash when just replacing tires or doing an alignment, but there is a steering wheel position sensor that gives input to the backup camera display and the electric power steering unit. The zero point (center point) of the steering wheel travel position sensor needs to be relearned by the control module after an alignment. Try turning the steering wheel lock-to-lock slowly two or three times to make sure the sensor position is relearned.

I would also check the wheel lug nut tightening torques to make sure there is no movement there that you might feel. Also, check to make sure everything is tight on the steering tie rod ends.
 
Howdy Phil,

i don't recognize the blue plastic clip. With all the grease and wear it reminds me of some sort of centering ring that might slide over a shaft that rotates within a guide tube, such as on a steering wheel shaft in a guide tube thru the front firewall. But why would it ever have been accessed. If it were missing then the shaft would rub the guide tube and could cause binding. i've seen these on old cars in the past, don't know if such is used on a laef..?

One thing you could do is measure the air pressure of all the tires--low pressure can cause the steering to feel heavy.

 
Sorry, I'm not clicking random links to Columbian domains from someone with no post history. Please use the
 
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