I'm finishing a project civic. Before I started it, it was really sloshy in the corners....I.E. required allot of turn of the wheel to make it turn...kinda like an oldsmobile

I've replaced the knucles, lower balljoints, wheel bearings, brakes and outter tie rod ends.

It still handles like an american boat.

Can someone point me in the right direction here?


I do have larger winter tires on it....which could affect the handling a bit...but I'm not comfortable with the ammount of effort it takes. Also feels like the car is slow to respond to steering changes....no where neer as twitchy as I'd expect, but I've never driven another EF so I donno if this is normal.

 

get everything reallined? bushings maybe?

 

some new shocks maybe?

 

Havent had an alignment yet.

The rear suspension bushings are cracked partially.

Shocks seem ok....not great, but they pass the bounce test.

Dammit...I want a small roadster not a freking boat

 

do a full poly kit that is what i am doing to my rex because mine kept getting worse and worse it is going to be a pain but i have heard good things once you are done with the poly kit

 

Just spent 2400$ on it so I'd rahter not right away. Maybe you guys are right tho...I never considered the bushings as a cause for slow response.

Poly bushings are hell to install tho

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jet Black &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I do have larger winter tires on it....which could affect the handling a bit...</TD></TR></TABLE>

tires have a HUGE effect on the way a car steers, handles, and rides. if you weren't in an area the requires winter tires, then some performance type tires would be the thing to change your mind. i am lucky...Florida weather lets me ride my Falken Azenies year round

 

Yea tires and shocks I would say fixed my steering :D

 

Bushings were the answer to my sloppy steering.

 

which bushings?

I'd rahter not have to change the ones that rquired a 20 ton press

 

Three words.
NEW STEERING RACK.=

 

I considered that....but I'd like to make sure thats the problem as they are a pain to install, and will be expensive.

I dont think its the rack as the car tends to respond to small movements of the wheel, but eversoslowly.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4crx4me &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Three words.
NEW STEERING RACK.= </TD></TR></TABLE>

And new steering rack bushings.

 

Poor turn-in?

Tires, alignment, spring rates, shock damping, steering rack.

 

Not sure what you mean by bushings, the steering rack is attached with the outer tie rods and they are brand new.

I will get an alignment and hope that improves it....it would just suck to get it aligned and have to take the suspension apart again after.


How can I diag the steering rack?
And what do you mean by poor turn-in?

 

i'm having the same experience with handling. i gave it an alignment, i have skunk 2 coilovers with tokico blues all around, stock front sway bar, strut bars in the front and rear. i have an hf and from what i've heard the hf is the best steering rack to have. don't ask me why. but my car handles great once it's in the turn, it's getting in to the turn that the steering doesn't feel responsive, and when it does turn it will turn quick. and my bushings are not worn. maybe i need a rear sway bar or a better rack. didn't want to steal your post or anything just sharing my experience. hope it helps.

 

on 13's my car turns in like a wet noodle. on 15's, its like a sergical instrument. although lately its been doing wierd things that i traced to front lca bushings.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lo-Buck EF &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">on 13's my car turns in like a wet noodle. on 15's, its like a sergical instrument. although lately its been doing wierd things that i traced to front lca bushings.</TD></TR></TABLE>
My car turns like a surgical instrument on 13s . . . 13x8s that is, with 235/45-13 V700s.

 

yea, mine was pritty good on the 205 v700 i ran in stock. but the m+s 175's arent that fun. thanx to rodney for the 185-14's and blizzaks. much better for daily/snow driving

 

sounds to me like you just replaced maintenance items . you have to drop a little cash in some sways and better bushings to get it to handle.

 

The first thing I would do is check all suspension and steering links and make sure they are tight and firm. Just get under the car and grab and shake things.

Have you got it aligned since replacing the knuckles, tie rods, bjs ect? If not thats the next thing I would do.

The other thing is I would make sure it is not the *winter tires*. I know artic alpines feel less then stellar when it is dry out. That might just be how that tire feels.

I would try to get a ride in another EF before buying another rack. I know my CRX that has 220k miles on it and a rack that does have some play doesnt feel like an oldsmobile.

 

For the maintenance item reply: I know I only changed maintenance items, but I dont remember ef's handling like oldsmobiles, so I suspect something else is a foot.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by eHoward &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The first thing I would do is check all suspension and steering links and make sure they are tight and firm. Just get under the car and grab and shake things.

Have you got it aligned since replacing the knuckles, tie rods, bjs ect? If not thats the next thing I would do.

The other thing is I would make sure it is not the *winter tires*. I know artic alpines feel less then stellar when it is dry out. That might just be how that tire feels.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I checked the front sway bar, and the rubber bushings seem to be intact, and so do the mounts...allthough it seems like the sway bar isnt in contact with the bushigns everywhere.

The rear suspension passes the shake test....so it's either that my sway bar isnt connected properly, or that my tires are pure ****.

I'm not too sure about the tires, as the old ones I had on there still gave shitty handling.

For the record, I have oversized tires on it right now, 195/60R15's I think...which are wider, so I can understand and odd steering response.

What I find really odd is the agressiveness of the steering .... it takes like a good 1/4 turn to get it to turn as much as I'd expect from 1/8th a turn. But it doesnt seem like a dead zone as the car still responds, allbeit extremely slowly to small movements of the wheel.

I will start with an alignment as the toe could be quite off and I'll go from there. Thanks

 

This caused my sloppy handling.







oh that and upper control arms were the cause of crappy steering.

 

dang skillet thats horrible, that is thr front X-member right?

 

holly ****