So when I installed my coilovers, I noticed that the steering gets really weird. It doesn't veer off to the same side all the time like it was mis-aligned (I did get an alignment after the instal.) But its more like it will veer depending on the camber of the road.

So if the road slants to the right, my car will veer right etc. It's not like what would happen normally. When I cross over lanes that have ruts in them from tire wear, I find my car jerks from side to side + makes me look like I'm drunk or something.

It also clicks in the front when I hit bumps or turn sometimes.


I tried looking at the steering system, but everything looks normal. All the boots are in contact + no leaks or holes or anything.


It's been getting worse + worse lately too.


Thoughts?

 

Somethings loose. Check everything in the front you touched during the install, then check the tie rods/rack bushings. If the car doesn't have crazy camber angle, and you've checked everything you can, go back to the alignment shop and tell them whats been happening and you need it looked at.

 

I have the same problem. I have a good amount of camber and will be replacing the ball joints just as p.m. I'm gonna watch this thread.

 

What coilovers are you using? I just installed brand new kei office.

 

I installed my JIC's about... 2 years ago or so. It was a pretty long time ago. Also, the place I got my alignment moved somewhere else. It's probably too late for any of that.

But they did install new tie rods because mine were apparently ****.


I just bought a pair of tien HE's + I'll be putting those on it as soon as I can afford an alignment (bike just got stolen/returned so I need to fix that)

The only parts I touched on the install were the four nuts on top of the shock + the two on the bottom for the front + then the two on top + one(?) on bottom for the rear. It's really a straight forward switch.

 

Would my front sway bar have anything to do with it?

 

So the question is has this been happening for 2 years or just started recently if it just started recently what were the most recent repairs or what did you touch. After you or someone else had tampered with the car did the problem start?

 

It first started after I installed the coilover (or around that time) I posted up about it then, but didn't really get a good response.

It's just recently gotten quite a bit worse. The only thing I did to my car was change the front bearings, but like I said, it's been doing this for a while.


Maybe if vanc. is close to seattle we can meet up + you can see for yourself how it is.

 

double check everything and look for loose suspension parts... minor drifting to one direction is normal but noise usually isnt good

 

are you sure its in response to the camber of the road.. i noticed a similar issue after installing my stance coilovers that the car pulled a lil bit to either direction but it was dependant on which way i had turned most recently.. as though things werent goin back to center quite right. Hang a left turn, pull a little to the left..an vice versa. still does it so i cant offer a solution just an alternative cause

 

i heard seattle is about 3 hours out. im not sure just moved here but we get sent there for classes. it would be cool to meet up always willing to help if i can. I would suggest what the others said by making sure everything is nice and tight. Do you have adjustable camber with that suspension? Are the wheel lugs tight? the clicking sounds like something is loose of worn... when you go over a bump does the steering wheel pull to a side?

 

Oddly enough, that's how it started out. I didn't really mind it from there, I figured it was a dirty camber plate (they were used when I got them.)

I have the next 3 days off so I'll be looking at it sometime then.

 

Couple of possibilities:

- Worn tie-rods/balljoints (quite likely)
- Worn rack (less likely)
- Lowered too far and camber is causing odd handling (quite likely)
- Car's previous suspension was so far worn that you don't know how ther car is supposed to handle so now that its handling differently, something feels wrong (quite likely)
- A combination of a few of the previous.

 

^ah hah.

Yeah, I think that it could be because it's too low. I know how it's supposed to handle (had it for at least a year before I put on the coilovers)

tie-rods/ball joints, maybe... Not likely though. I had the tie rods replaced when I got my alignment. So they would have told me if they ball joints weren't good.

My tires are about 2cm from the fenders in the front. So I'm guessing it's cause its too low. I didn't realize that it would mess things up. I'll have to change that...

 

Well, mostly the rear being too low will cause that. The front won't get affected as much camber/toe wise as the rear when dropped. I can pretty well garuntee with that much drop on the front, your rear tires are hugely cambered (unless you've got adjuster to correct it?) and toe'd in 3 degrees or more. That'll cause all kinds of funny handling characteristics when the suspension is cycled.

And BTW - are you buddhist? Because I hope for eternal peace and happines also

 

What you are describing sounds like it could be bump steer. At rest your tie rod arms should be approx. parallel to the ground. If they are not every bump will steer the car. We correct this on race cars all the time by moving the rack or spacing the tie rod ends.

 

Bump steer eh? Would this be fixed by raising the car? The new coilovers I have are a softer spring rate so I'll have to do that anyways.

Here are the specs from my alignment (10/25/2005) I didn't think it was that long ago, but anyways

First number is actual, second is before. This is for the front

Camber -.6, -1.8L -.9, -.9 R
Caster 5.1, 4.9L 4.6, 4.7 R
Toe .05, .-2L .06, -.19R


It's all pretty close, except for the camber. But I have plates to correct that. I don't think that would make that much of a difference though.

 

I don't think this is bump steer. The instant center hasn't changed in relation to the steering rack position.

Is there no specs on the rear? or was this just a two wheel alignment?

 

check your rack ,seriously, i know what you describe is insanely common on fords with their steering box and super amounts of play (although different system) even when your car is on the ground, stare at the wheel and slowly move the steeringwheel, and make sure everything moves together in sync.

make sure that caster is normal, caster can really fubar something up. check rack BUSHING/hold down bracket and hardware, yes.. we all forgot this one. all can cause similar symptoms.

 

+1 on the rack bushings, slipped my mind

 

I got the whole thing aligned. The rear camber is about -1.7 + -.9 I believe. I have one of those rear camber adjuster bars, not the individual links like what I really need. But the camber isn't crazy.

So, rack bushings? Where can I find these?

 

did you check your control link bushings, mine was making noises on bumps and pulling and stuff similar to what you are saying, i replaced my ball joints, bearings ,and control link bushings, front end is great now, no noise or pulling or anything out of ordinary

 

No, but you have really great timing. I'm going to change suspension tomorrow, so I'll be looking for any weird bushings. I'll try to get some pictures of what I find as well.

 

incubuseva.. u ever get anywhere with this. im still tryin to work it out an could use advice if u got it

 

No. I've been trying to fix my motorcycle after it got stolen. I'm going to get some A arm bushings here pretty soon + see if that helps.