I've got a steering problem guys, when i'm on the streets its fine but its when i drive on the freeway going 70mph+. Problem is when i'm driving i feel like i dont have full control of the car's steering, the steering wheel is in its normal postition but the car seems to merge off to the right and left. Basically the steering feels loose. I checked my tie rods and every front suspension part and found nothing loose or broken. I even got a alignment done, it helped some what but no entirely.

*all 4 wheels are balanced...

 

Check to see if your brakes/e brake are dragging, this will created a pull. Also examine ALL of your bushings, front and rear, as a bad bushing anywhere in the suspension has the potential to cause havok.

Shake the wheels with your hands from 3 to 9 o clock, and note any looseness/clanking.

Jack up the car and shake the wheels from 6 to 12 and feel for any looseness, are there any noises that occur at any time during driving?

Do you have a manual rack, or a power assisted rack?

And when did you notice the problem starting, and what was done last prior to having the problem.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slowcivic2k &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Check to see if your brakes/e brake are dragging, this will created a pull. Also examine ALL of your bushings, front and rear, as a bad bushing anywhere in the suspension has the potential to cause havok.

Shake the wheels with your hands from 3 to 9 o clock, and note any looseness/clanking.

Jack up the car and shake the wheels from 6 to 12 and feel for any looseness, are there any noises that occur at any time during driving?

Do you have a manual rack, or a power assisted rack?

And when did you notice the problem starting, and what was done last prior to having the problem.</TD></TR></TABLE>

manual rack? power assisted rack?

i'll check for the looseness today and get back to you bro...

I just recently switched in a coilover/shock combo and had my alignment done 3 weeks ago. It started doing this 2 weeks after i got my alignment.

 

^Well then, that narrows it down...it'd probably been then something that was changed or adjusted during the install. Do you did the swap yourself?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by blk92_d16 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">^Well then, that narrows it down...it'd probably been then something that was changed or adjusted during the install. Do you did the swap yourself?</TD></TR></TABLE>

yea bro, i've done suspension work plenty of times. The car was lowered already with GC/kyb agx but i switched it up to new skunk2 coilovers/new kyb agx's. The car was fine for 2 weeks after the alignment. I even took it to the canyons (a day after i got my alignment) and it held it really nice.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bmoua &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

manual rack? power assisted rack?

Do you have a power steering pump, or not?

i'll check for the looseness today and get back to you bro...

I just recently switched in a coilover/shock combo and had my alignment done 3 weeks ago. It started doing this 2 weeks after i got my alignment.

How are your camber angles? this sounds like it is related to the recent suspension work, could be loose adjustment bolts/poor workmanship on the alignment.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

yes i have power steering...

my camber angles are pretty straight, i've used the same alignment shop for the past year. They specliaze in lowered cars and do great work.

I'll double check the bolt and bushings again...

 

Check your steering wheel as well, there should be about 1cm of play in the steering wheel before it starts to get tough, and turn the wheel like it should, if there is more play in the wheel than this, the alignment shops would have to adjust the rack guide screw underneath the 40mm nut on the steering rack to a return angle of no more than 20 degrees.

This should have be done before the alignment was performed, but not many shops have full access to all service information