Ok, looking for some much needed help.

The car
93 hatchback SI
ls/vtec turbo

The problem

At high RPMs when i shift the car literally jerks to the left or right(depends on what it wants to do at the time, cause its random)
it doesn't only do it when i shift cause it also does it when i just speed up into higher rpms.. it jerks enough to cause the car to swerve into another lane...

it doesnt do it at low rpms.


I replaced

axles
skunk 2 chamber kit(new ball joints)
right side wheel bearing
Most front suspension bushings.

my steering wheel is kinda crooked when the wheels are staight

i was told i need new tie rod ends by a mechanic. also told i need a new rack and pinion.




What could it be?????? any ideas???? Advice much appreciated!!!

 

just go by what the shop says.... and get an alignment

 

Are you sure you're not just losing traction?

 

Hey, I got a similar problem. I believe it's because inner/outer tie rods being a bit loose.
Try lifting the front of you car, so both tires are off the ground, and wiggle your rims to see if they move
(turn your wheel so it's locked). I don't think your rack & pinion needs replacing tho... but like crxboy says,
you should do what the shop says & get an alignment.
check other shops too.

 

ignoring what the mechanic told you, if you take it for an alignment, they won't be able to do it if the tie-rod ends are worn. like xanctuary said, check them out yourself. it's not hard to replace the outer tie-rod ends yourself, and it's much cheaper. then get it aligned.

(also with an LS turbo you're probably getting a lot of torque steer at high rpm which initiates the jerking. but because of your tie-rod issues and maybe need for an alignment, you aren't able to safely control it. just my theory..)

 

Exactly what I was thinking. Tie rod ends + torque steer. Any light fwd over 200HP is going to torque steer to begin with. Worn steering components will make it dramatically worse.

 

BTW, the passenger side inner tie rod was the problem with my car. You can buy tie rod removal tool for around $30 + $60 for set of inner/outer tie rod. Dont forget to change the boots as well while your at it.

 

right. you can also avoid the $30 for the tool if you're handy with a ball-pien.

 

Are your motor mounts shot?

 

my car does this too, I would say it's partially tierod ends (I hit a rock hard enough to dent my rim and this bent the tie rod) and partially torque steer.

meaning one wheel starts spinning and looses traction, then the other wheel has traction and the car gets yanked to that side... kind of dangerous on the street, and worse on wet roads.