I drive a 1997 acura CL (same thing as any 94-97 accord)

Hi guys, my steering wheel had some play in it for a while and I didn't really do anything about it.

I lowered the car on some springs, 1.8" front and 1.7" in the rear, and ever since then, the front end is like useless, I mean it can steer, but there is no feedback from the steering wheel.

For instance, if i turn and then step on the gas so it will correct itself, it won't, the wheel just stays turned.

TWO mechanics weren't able to find out what was wrong with the car.
I went to get an alignment after I had my camber kit installed, and they told me one of the tie rods was stuck and they hit it with a torche and it began to strip.

I have no idea what is wrong with the car. I already bought a new car because the mechanic said it wasn't worth it for me to fix it.

Now I either have to figure it out on my own, or sell it as a parts car. It just sucks because it runs great, except for the stupid steering problem. Gah.


Car as is right now:





See why I don't want to just part it out?

 

aside from taking it to a torch-wielding mechanic, what other efforts have you made in fixing it?

if you have the mechanical ability and you really feel the car is worth it, why not try replacing wear parts with new ones until it's fixed? if it's still mediocre, start trying non-wear parts from a junkyard or forum marketplace until it's fixed.

an otherwise great car is worth throwing parts at sometimes (as long as the budget total is carefully managed!)

 

I found an oem replacement suspension part seller on ebay with good feedback, and the parts come with a year warranty.

It is only $50 for the front tie rods, i'm wondering if I should give that a shot?

 

Lowering your car you screwed up the caster on the front end wheel alignment. Castor give the ability of the steering returning to center after a turn. You need at least 2 degrees castor for returnablity. Take it to an alignment shop.

 

yeah. if nothing else, it'll increase the fair value of the car by a lot. you could sell it for more, or keep it as an "impractical" project car (not required to be practical)

 

I already went to get an alignment, but was not able to, because of a ****ed up tie rod end and frozen toe.

I will show you my measurements. But my caster was -3 even before lowering the car.

 

How do you adjust caster anyway? I didn't think you could, I thought it got screwed up because of a front end collision.

Also, the car no longer has plates on it so I can't bring it anywhere.

 

Check out caster plates on ebay. (Upper A arm"s might help)? A tie rod is like $35. from advance. fix it. get an alignment done & that should fix the prob.

 

have you tried lower ball joint

 

You have bent parts. thus the castor out of spec.