CLIFFS:
* new used car to me
* new tires, struts & alginment
* car drifts to whatever direction it was last turned with, ie, take a right hand turn, the car drifts right. Take a left hand turn, the car drifts left. If you jerk the wheel in the opposite direction that its drifting, it'll straighten out and travel straight.
* Read online of people having similar problems but not able to validate this

* clean title vehicle
* original owner
* body panels all have the VIN stickers on them


I bought a used 2005 CRV EX knowing that it needed tires and an alignment. The front right tire had a ton of excessive toe wear so I knew something was wrong. After getting a brand new set of Goodyears and a fresh alignment, the car still wanders on the road- at the time I thought it was mostly to the right.

The camber was out on the front right tire when compared to the specs of the rest of the car but still within spec. They suggested that strut was bent and that it was probably time for new ones (120k). I wasn't going to disagree so I replaced the front struts with KYBs myself and had them realign it again. The alignment numbers were still within spec but it didnt change much. I purchased an AC Delco camber kit bolt (pretty cool when comparing the earlier 90's Hondas) that got the camber spec spot on and still had problems.

I finally expressed how irritated I was, not at them, but at the fact that the car was doing this so the owner stated that he would personally take a look at on one of his days off in efforts to appease me.

When I came to pick the car up he mentioned that he noticed when he took a right turn, after coming out of the turn the car drifted right. The same goes for when you got left- take a left hand turn the car goes left. I had never noticed this but after he pointed it out, he was right. He aligned it 2-3 other times that day to try and make any difference and the vehicle still after turning either way, drift in the direction in which it was last turned.

We also confirmed that if you jerked the steering wheel in the opposite direction in which you turned, the vehicle would go straight again. Obviously, I cant be jerking the steering wheel every single time I take a turn here.

I did a search on Google and sure enough I'm reading more users with similar problems but they were able to take the vehicle back as a lemon.

With that said and this car being new to me, has anyone ever heard of this? I can't think of any other things to troubleshoot. Power steering pump doesn't howl or anything. Actually I haven't checked the fluid but I would think I'd know if it was low. The steering operation is perfectly fine but then again if something was wrong and I bought it that way I suppose I wouldnt know. It turns too perfectly to think something was wrong.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

TIA

 

Hello,

The natural castor angle of the steering geometry known as KPI (king pin inclination)set up on your vehicle should return the wheels to the straight ahead position, therefore you need to check the KPI and if this is okay, then you need to look at the power steering ram.

Rgs,

Kev

 

Thanks for that post, Kev. I'll call the alignment shop at lunch and see if they checked that.

Is this power steering ram you speak of also known as anything else? The eBay URL was just for the word "powersteering"

Thanks again for you technical post.

 

Hello,

Do a search for " Power Steering Rack"

Rgs,

Kev

 

It's been years since I've posted on this board.

I didnt realize that there was a feature that was autolinking me to eBay.

Thanks for the info Kev

 

Memory steer. Check the ball joints, tie rods and strut mount.

 

When I installed the new struts, I also installed new strut mounts.

I asked about the ball joints and tie rod ends and they *thought* these looked fine as well. They actually busted these loose prior to the alignment to see if this created any difference.

I'll look into memory steer more tonight though, thanks for your input

 

Interesting enough, I found the exact same problem here-

New KYB front strut install problem

Unfortunately though, this user states the strut mounts are flat where mine were angled (I remember this specifically as I went to the dealership concerned with this).

I emailed KYB and asked what they thought. I also don't report ANY of the problems this user has with binding as the alignment is spot on and goes straight after I jerk it out of memory steer.

I'll keep you posted

 

What I usually do if I have to order these aftermarket parts and not oem is to compare images I find online with the way the oem part looks. They have to be an exact match. I don't always go by the part numbers because of exactly what happen with you and that guy in the thread. I always try to use oem parts first before even even thinking of buying a non-oem part.

 

I know what you mean however, I didnt expect this from KYB. I'm pretty close to just ordering OEM ones to see if this resolves the issue.

Honestly, I think its more related to the steering rack at this time since the caster is correct. I was going to get a second opinion just to play it safe. I'm not sure how to troubleshoot the steer rack but I'm being told its usually determined through process of elimination.

 

Second opinion is a good option.

 

MEMORY STEER. I have an 08 Odyssey, 70,000 miles now, purchased new, Same problem since new. Never hit, never drove in rough pavement, over curbs, etc. No bent rims, no bad tires. Aligned twice to factory specs by independent shop- owner with 30 years experience performed job himself. Replaced OEM Michelins when wore out with Hankook H727 - great tires but did not solve problem. Honda Dealer Tech writer, service manager and Honda Regional Service manager all rode with me, and drove, and all do agree with the "turn right, then pulls right - turn left, then pulls left" symptoms. Does it continually, but curiously, to more or less degree of pull, but have not identified any factors contributing to more or less pull. Dealer replaced struts. No solution - and maybe my imagination but I think that made it worse. I actually sort of gave up since Honda dealer simply says 'can't do anything more for you'. Can anyone help?

 

There is either play in the system or the alignment specs are wrong. Usually the culprit is too much toe out. Do you have the alignment spec sheet?

 

Thanks for your reply. Been this way since new. Alignment specialists at independent alignment shop and Honda dealer checked alignment 3 times to factory spec.

 

There is a range, and there is a chance their spec is incorrect. The sheet would help...

 

Sounds a lot like what mine was doing. I installed new inner and outer tie rods and that corrected the issue.