Wierd Powersteering
 

I was in a little fender bender and the steering is off now. The collision was enough to knock the alignment off a little, but thats about it.

Symptoms:

When i turn the wheel either way, it stays in that spot when i let go, no matter how far i turn it in either direction. its also much stiffer, almost like theres is no power steering at all. nothing is leaking from the car, and i topped the power steerind fluid off to make sure. theres also a SLIGHTLY louder whine coming from the pump, but that could just be my ears.

searched and found people with similar problems but not the same nor a solution. the closest thing ive found is possibly the two bolts on the rack attaching it to the car, but i read most people only have it stick on HARD left or right turns. mine is even easy turns.

Have you checked for a kinked line?

Have you been under the car and taken a look or had the alignment checked? Sounds like you've bent something.

Paul

That happened in my fender bender. A proper alignment should help. I'd make sure you don't have any real damage first though.

+1

Control arm might be bent.

Hope not, but the rack itself may be bent or have a deformed gear tooth.

Dave

Check fluid level first, since cavitating PS pumps whine. Don't ask how I know :D

ok so i spent some time under the car today.

nothing at all seems bent or broken or anyway, the collision really didnt do much to even the body of the car save a few scratches.

the only physical difference seems to be the alignment, but could the alignment really be causing this? ive driven cars with MUCH MUCH worse alignment and it didnt give any symptoms like this.

if the it nocked the alinment off something has to be bent.

ok heres some more symptoms:

when the driver side wheel is perfectly strait, the steering wheel is turned left a pretty decent amount, and the right wheel is facing in very slightly.

it seems theres more wear than normal on the inside of the driver side tire.

something's bent

Just guessing, but...

Sounds like you may have bent the LH upper control arm or one of its mounting points, giving a combination of excessive toe-in and negative camber.

Dave

i still cant find anything, but i also dont know what im looking for. heres some pics if this helps at all.

http://www.velocityskateboards.com/mike/steering/1.JPG

http://www.velocityskateboards.com/mike/steering/2.JPG

http://www.velocityskateboards.com/mike/steering/3.JPG

http://www.velocityskateboards.com/mike/steering/4.JPG

http://www.velocityskateboards.com/mike/steering/5.JPG

http://www.velocityskateboards.com/mike/steering/6.JPG

http://www.velocityskateboards.com/mike/steering/7.JPG

http://www.velocityskateboards.com/mike/steering/8.JPG

http://www.velocityskateboards.com/mike/steering/9.JPG

http://www.velocityskateboards.com/mike/steering/10.JPG

http://www.velocityskateboards.com/mike/steering/11.JPG

http://www.velocityskateboards.com/mike/steering/12.JPG

http://www.velocityskateboards.com/mike/steering/13.JPG

http://www.velocityskateboards.com/mike/steering/14.JPG

http://www.velocityskateboards.com/mike/steering/15.JPG

Just find a good alignment shop and let them find the bent part.

+1 on this. I looked at your (excellent, BTW) pics, but couldn't tell that anything was bent from them.

Dave

thanks for your help guys. does anyone have any recommendations for alignment places? if it were a beater i wouldnt mind taking to joe mechanic down the street, but i just cant bring myself to do that with my car.

also, DaveW: before you posted that it could possibly be the steering rack. do you think this is still a possibility? i sure hope not.

on a side note: do you think painting the calipers white (to match the car) will be too much of a pain to keep clean?

thanks again everyone!

white calipers are impossible to keep clean.

IF I was going to paint the calipers on my white RX-7 (which is a 10AE, not an FD) I'd paint them black, and paint the lettering on them either red or gold.


so what all got damaged on your car? or have you done the bodywork allready.

It's still a possibility - the rack could be bent (especially noting the binding issue). However, the steering arm, control arms, etc. are (IMO) easier to bend.

Dave