Thread: Steering issues again! Need some help with this one.

Okay, so I have a very strange issue going on now.

What I've done to the suspension:

New ball joints
New driver's side half axle
New front sway bar frame bushings

When I'm driving straight and accelerate, my steering wheel cocks to the right about 10-15 degrees, but the car goes straight. When this happens, if I don't allow the steering wheel to move, the car will pull to the left. When I let off of the gas and decelerate (or sometimes when I hit a bump), the wheel will straighten out and the car keeps going straight. It feels a bit like torque steer, but it's happening at pretty low speeds (between 20-40 mph), and without much acceleration at all.

The other half of the issue... When I first got the car, if you turned the wheel left or right (even sitting still), there was a crackling sound coming from the front suspension area. Now, if I turn to the left (moving), there's a chirping metal on metal sound coming from the same area as though there's something rubbing.

I know something has to be loose or bent, but I've had the car on a rack a few times and couldn't find anything. I've had issues with the power steering that I've fixed (leaking hose and a loose inlet).

I have my suspicions as to what is going on (or going out), but I would like any of your opinions on what I should be looking at.

Thanks!

Have you checked the control arm bushings?
I had a few cars with leaky power steering lines,and it will eat out the control arm bushings.
Try jacking the car up and see if there is any play there or anywhere.
Wore out end links on the front stabilizer bar can do it,also but not really bad like you are describing.

Obviously,a bad alignment,or low tires can cause this.
If it were me,I would take it to an alignment shop and have them check it out if you cant find anything by jacking it up yourself

Not a bad idea on the alignment shop... there are a few cheap ones around here, or I could just go for the lifetime alignment on the car. It would be well worth it in the end.

The control arm bushings looked okay, but the left side link bushings are pretty much shot I think. But like you said, I wouldn't expect it to be this bad even if it were the culprit.

I was thinking about the issue more today and the idea that it could be an alignment problem. Every alignment issue I've ever had resulted in a pull in one direction all of the time.

However... If it is an issue with the toe on the front not being perfect on either tire... and you consider that I have a non-lsd transmission right now...

I'm thinking that when I'm accelerating, the primary drive side of my transmission has more torque (I'm not exactly sure which it is) and is "taking over" the alignment and that wheel goes straight causing my steering wheel to turn a bit (tie rods). When I decelerate, the other wheel (which probably has a more accurate toe), starts rolling straight and the wheel turns back to it's original position...

So... if I knew which side is the primary (more powerful) side of the LSD transmission, I should be able to figure out which tire needs to be adjusted. Taking into account the direction the wheel is moving, the tie rod end probably needs to be adjusted in just a bit.

I will be taking the car in for an alignment in two weeks. I just want to try to make it a bit more drivable until then.

So... Am I a complete idiot, or does this make any sense to anyone else?

Yep, the toe was out on my right front tire. Fixed it in my driveway, and she's not pulling when I accelerate. Need a full alignment, but it will work for now.

Crazy problem you had there.

It was hard to track down because it just sort of crept up on me... That, or I didn't notice it until I replaced the right side ball joint... I think that's more likely.

my car is doing this same exact issues, feels super scary as i drive down the road i will have to check out my toe and also check into my rack and pinion as the boots are all torn to hell. i really dont want to buy a new rack so i will try that first.

yep,every time you replace a ball joint,tie rod or cv shaft, it's gunna knock out the wheel alignment.

tip. you want a "thrust" alignment, not a front wheel alignment...

^^^ Thanks for the tip. I was thinking that they guy messed up the toe on the right tire after driving my car for a bit after my last alignment. I'm assuming that this "thrust" alignment will compensate for the wheel movement under load/boost/get up and freakin' go....