3Rd_gEn_LuDE

Hey HT, I have a 1989 Honda Crx Dx and was in the process of replacing the rack and pinon due to:

My main problem was Extreme Camber wear, i was using about 1-2 inches of the actual tread. When I went to get it aligned I was told that my rack was shot and also recommended to get a camber kit. I ended up slapping on a camber kit, (i hoped for a cheap fix) and as i went to take a test drive I had no control of the car after 10 or mph.

Well after that incident i decided to take off my rack. I checked it out both boots are shot, and my driver side ball-joint is shot as well.

I replaced the rack and pinion with brand new tie rods and I'm still having the same problem. When i took off the tie rods i measured the threads and driver-side was 21 threads down while passenger was 18. I installed it back like this and i can control it better then before, but it still pretty damn hard to steer. As soon as i hit 10-15 mph i can't steer w/o crazy over steer when i go a little left or right it just pulls in that direction. Also the steering wheel kind of vibrates when it over steers. I was test driving it and i heard my wheels squeaking, I'm riding on bad camber/toe yet again. Tie rods and rack are Brand new so I'm a bit at a lost. I'm not sure has anyone encountered this before?

I just don't want to buy a bunch of random parts i don't need, and start replacing stuff when it was just one bushing...I'm riding on tokico blues with nuespeed race springs, so my drop is maybe 1 1/2 inches, would that really need me to get a camber kit?

here are some pics.

How it sat with blown struts and blown tie rods



Dead tie rods and boots, old rack







New rack found it cheap and tie rods too




How it sat before the test drive



Now both wheels are sitting with the toe out and I'm not sure why any help appreciated

Tyson

whered you get the rack and how much did you pay? is it a rebuild?

and you really MUST get your car aligned. i dunno why youre asking why your alignment is off. of course its off.

the "camber wear" you mentioned at the beginning was because your toe was off originally. had nothing to do with your camber.

3Rd_gEn_LuDE

I go it off eBay , i usually try to avoid ebay but i was on a budget :/ , 135 shipped (brand new) with 3 year warranty --> http://myworld.ebay.com/ebaymotors/carsteering/. I do know i need an alignment i wasn't asking about that, but i would not think it to be off this bad. I tap the steering wheel left and it just keeps turning HARD, when i turn right the same thing. This was the same issue before i installed it rack, i literally can not control the car after 10-15 mph steering is just too crazy. As for the toe being off how do you fix that? Could it be due to worn out balljoints?

Tyson

its because you put in a whole new steering rack and lost all frame of reference!

eyeball it straight and go to get an alignment asap.

3Rd_gEn_LuDE

Ah thanks, basically they'll figure it out. I was starting to think i messed something up :s.

Another question, will the slight drop affect the toe of the tires?(tokico blue struts/nuespeed race springs 1 1/2 inches.) Tires are sticking out from the bottom it looks like I'm using about 2inches wide of tread.

BiG ChOr!Zo

iTrader: (1)

them neuspeed race springs are 2.25F & 2.0R drop...!!!
http://import.neuspeed.com/196/2/0/4...pring-kit.html

NEUSPEED Race Springs utilizes agressive spring rates and as such, high-performance dampers are highly recommended. We recommend using NEUSPEED/Koni Sports Shocks.

Tyson

what are you asking? does the car have springs on it NOW? or do you plan on putting these springs on?

ride height changes camber,
camber changes toe,
toe affects tire wear.

so if you put a different spring on the car and change the ride height, you need another alignment.

but if your car has the springs on them now, just get an alignment and youre fine until you muck up your toe/camber or change the ride height again.

and it looks like your car is sitting on full width of tread... i have no idea what youre talking about.

3Rd_gEn_LuDE

Oh damn, yea the guy that had the car before me had dropzones in the back and stock shocks in the front with nuespeeds all around, i needed new shocks so i figured i'd upgrade at the same time and put tokico blues all round kept the springs...saving for ground control coilovers


Yes the car already has them on and...after i took a test drive this is how the car sat

Driver side:


Passenger side:


Sorry for the bad pics night time and phone camera don't really mix. But you can see the tires are not sitting correctly.

Tyson

um cant see ****.


just get an alignment...

LudeEFv2.4

Make sure your UCA's are on the correct sides. Could have a lot to do with your "out of controll steering" issue.

3Rd_gEn_LuDE

took better pics...

drive side


Passenger side


Front how it sits now




Back shot of the tires its sitting wrong i think something with the upper control arm??

Tyson

dude i cant make any perspective from your off angle pics. it honestly looks normal for being slammed.

just get an alignment. dont expect me to reply anymore until then.

3Rd_gEn_LuDE

Well yea it does look normal IF the car is slammed. My car is dropped 2in max. I would love to go get an alignment, but the issue is I have no control of the car. What I am trying to figure out it how can i fix it to the point where i can safely make it to my alignment shop, and not swerve every 10 secs. When i said it has no control i meant the steering is horrid, and my tires sound like I am running over hundreds a pigs non stop, no traction whatsoever. Steering is from the rack be why the hell are my tires sticking out like I'm slammed to the ground.

The shitty part is, from when i bought it it looked like the pass owners care less for the car , front shocks were blown, and the tires it had on it were dead in the inside meaning that it's been having this same issue even before i swapped my shocks/struts out. I am trying to get someones opinion if they have had an issue similar to this. From searching it seems like CAs going out, but I'm no pro and me just buying random parts doesn't do my budget any good.

BiG ChOr!Zo

iTrader: (1)

try playing with your outer tie rods to make it somewhat straight to at least make it to the alignment shop...!!!

dacrxguy

Put it on a tow truck and get it to an alignment car

3Rd_gEn_LuDE

heh well i had i camber kit laying around so i installed it, and now i can actually drive it! Yay traction! The steering is still crazy of course so, i'm going to the alignment shop tomorrow

3Rd_gEn_LuDE

I haven't gotten an alignment yet. I do need one but theirs no point in getting one if I'm going to be messing with the suspension components to figure out what the other problems are. Unless they all have to do with alignment? I'm not sure since there is another issue.

Well I'm still not sure whats wrong with it. I installed a camber kit so at least my wheels would be straight and it still runs like crap. The steering goes nuts, but not only that, every time i hit a speed bump or every time i rev I hear a loud clunking noise coming from somewhere near the rack. Sounds like it's coming from the passenger side but I'm not 100% sure. I went for a road test and as soon as i got too a smooth street my passenger side started squealing reaaallly loud, and the clunking noise would start up again. I don't think its an alignment issue and i also don't think this car is safe to drive on the street till i at least fix what ever the clunking is. I turned the steering wheel all the way to make a u turn and something made a loud clunk noise and my tranny popped out of gear. IDKWTF IS GOING ON . Anyone have a clue?

BiG ChOr!Zo

iTrader: (1)

why don't you just invest in $169.99 for a lifetime alignment at firestone...!!!

3Rd_gEn_LuDE

http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forum/g...alignment.html

yay for bad reps...Especially when i bring my pos in and they NEED to fix some things before they do an alignment, if my car was brand new i'd do it ^.^

^^This...and IDK if that will solve the clunking?

Cameron R

It's hard to tell from the crappy pics, but it looks like you have way too much camber - you probably didn't need a new rack, but what the hell, you got one now. (New boots and rack end bushing is all it probably needed). The excess camber is likely due to bad upper ball-joints or upper control arm bushings that are all crapped out. Check that and report back. Also, from the picture of the new rack, I can clearly see it doesn't have bushing where the bolts mount it to the chassis - you did install it with bushings right? If all this check out, take it to a shop that KNOWS their ****.

3Rd_gEn_LuDE

Yes i installed the rack with the bushings, i had two other racks...so broke 3 bushings trying ot get them out, but luckily i had 5 other bushings :]. Yea the driver-side upper ball joint is pretty fked up the passenger doesn't look that bad. But i also found out it could be my Caster is fked, most of the noise is coming from the passenger side, and also i have a dent on the passenger fender, I'm starting to think the hit might of bent something (bought it like this). I'm going to do a thorough check tomorrow, here are some pics of the the control arms ::






Stinks when i can't afford shops though :[.