My '89 LXI accord's steering wheel likes to shake sometimes, especially while slowing down from highway-ish speeds. I have plenty of power steering fluid, why does this happen? Oh, sometimes it will randomly want to turn a hard right for a split second, even though the car seems to be off alignment in a way that it pulls left most of the time.

 

Sounds like maybe a stuck caliper or warped rotor. Is it only when you slow down?

 

If it pulls to the right, while you are actually braking, your left calliper is not putting out. Check for fluid leak at the left calliper or a rusty/sticking calliper piston. Has the fluid been changed lately? The shakes are either loose/worn steering components, warped rotors, or a combination of both.

 

Uneven rotors?

Did you recently change brake pads and not have the rotors cut?

 

Sounds like you've got two conditions developing.
The Left front caliper is binding (it's not working as hard as the right one) thus the pull to the right.
Either one or both Brake Rotors has warped, causing that vibration when you apply the brakes.

P

 

You didn't mention braking so I assume you are decelerating by easing off the pedal. Probably front wheels not balanced. try jack up front of vehicle. put your hand on the the 12 and 6 position then wiggle it (if it moves probably balljoint), now 9 and 3 then wiggle (if it moves probably steering component). If you want to check to see if it may be the brakes, take off the wheel and inspect the brake and rotor or any unusual wear (note: inner pad often wear a little more) if pulling occurs during breaking it may be caliper. Uneven tire pressure, tire wear, and worn suspension components also affects pull, bump steer maybe?

 

well the rotors and shoes were recently replaced, but not the calipers. It happens when i decelerate w/o braking, but the braking will significantly add to the shaking. Its been doing the same thing since i got the car to begin with (before and after rotors and shoes were put on). The wheels do not seem to move when the car is jacked up as aasaa666 mentioned. I know this because I keep a good eye on it ever since i had to replace 3 out of four of the studs on one wheel because they all had snapped. Brake fluid has probably not been changed in twenty years, so thats the next thing im going to check out. Thanks

 

It can still be the caliper/rotor thing. With the piston refusing to retract, there will still be residual drag grabbing the rotor as it passes.
If you have an associated wobble, you could have a tire with either a flat spot or a broken belt. It would also explain a pull condition.

P

 

that is true. had that happen to me once, I believe that was 2 years ago during spring when it rained non-stop for 2 months. I hit a million pot holes that i couldnt see, and it messed up my tires like that.