Check out my rack!!!

sawbones25

Founding Member

May 29, 2001

1,318

1

38

Virginia

Aug 27, 2005

#1

• Aug 27, 2005

• #1

I wonder if my rack is going bad...

This car wanders all over the road. I bet people following me think I'm drunk...
It's fine on completely flat roads, but even slight tire ruts send the car back and forth in the lane. I usually have to keep both hands on the wheel to keep the car from shooting off into the grass.

On flat roads the car goes straight, the tires aren't wearing funny yet, the steering doesn't even feel loose so I don't think it's simply an alignment problem.

Does anyone else here have the same problem?

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

33

129

Aug 27, 2005

#2

• Aug 27, 2005

• #2

Did it just occur? Any recent work done? It could be an alignment issue (caster) or tramlining (loosely associated with Trammeling).

Good luck.

 

8

88GT460

New Member

Sep 23, 2004

338

0

0

Arkansas

Aug 27, 2005

#3

• Aug 27, 2005

• #3

my car does that a lot also.. same exact problem.. I do have smaller tires on the front, but who knows. I do know the road is very uneven (wavy) in some parts of the town here. So I just account for that being the problem since it does just fine otherwise.

 

sawbones25

Founding Member

May 29, 2001

1,318

1

38

Virginia

Aug 27, 2005

#4

• Aug 27, 2005

• #4

I bought the car in May. I've put about 2500 miles on it since then. It's done it since I bought it. It doesn't have C/C plates and the spindle and control arms seem solid.
Other than a catback and a K&N, the car is showroom stock.

The tires are 245/45/17's on 17x8 tri-bars all the way around. And they are pretty new.

I've had all Foxbodies before this car and none of them was ever this bad.
So just wondering if it's a SN-95 thing, or is it just my car...

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

33

129

Aug 27, 2005

#5

• Aug 27, 2005

• #5

If you dont have it lowered that is strange. We have similar tire/wheel sizes (I have 245/40/17's), but I have good bit of drop. I get a hair of wander on crappy roads (following ruts), and toss it up to not having CC plates/bumpsteer componentry.

It is not bad though. My fox does not do this at all.

If you can find a shop that does free alignment checks, that might be worthwhile. Otherwise, I am not sure. The wise folks in here will know.
Good luck.

 

1991vert

10 Year Member

Feb 27, 2004

1,103

7

69

Ludlow, MA

Aug 27, 2005

#6

• Aug 27, 2005

• #6

if the car is lowered and you didnt put in offset steering rack bushings it could have some bump-steer

 

sawbones25

Founding Member

May 29, 2001

1,318

1

38

Virginia

Aug 28, 2005

#7

• Aug 28, 2005

• #7

Still has the stock springs.

I guess I've discovered my winter project now. Suspension and steering...

 

mo_dingo

20+ Year Stangneter

Aug 26, 2003

3,031

2

58

Tucson, AZ

Aug 28, 2005

#8

• Aug 28, 2005

• #8

Check all of your bushings and suspension connections. Make sure nothing is disconnected or loose.

Then get under the car, with the front end jacked up, and have someone else turn the steering wheel from lock to lock. See if anything abnormal happens.

I don't know what to tell you. You front struts could be blown. Check them out.

Then go take it for an alignment and ask the guy if there is anything out of the ordinary.
Scott

 

Methodical

15 Year Member

Dec 1, 2003

1,192

11

59

Clinton, MD

Aug 29, 2005

#9

• Aug 29, 2005

• #9

I had the same problem in the past. Check the steering shaft rag joint, which is made of rubber. It goes bad. Turn the wheel side to side and check for slopiness. Oh and do yourself a favor and get a Flaming River steering shaft - it eliminates the rubber rag joint and uses a u-joint. The steering is tight and responsive. Let us know the results. Just One Man's Opinion. Peace

 

ES Stangin

New Member

Apr 6, 2005

132

0

0

Erie, Pa

Aug 30, 2005

#10

• Aug 30, 2005

• #10

My car does that same thing....

I checked the rag joint for play and there wasnt any.. I looked further down and noticed the play coming from the rack itself. So this winter I'll be replacing my rack and hopefully that will fix it.

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

33

129

Aug 30, 2005

#11

• Aug 30, 2005

• #11

Wear appearing to be from the rack is often inner tie rods. It is often more cost effective to replace the entire rack (2 inner tie rods can almost equal the cost of a reman'd rack, which should include new inners). Good luck.

 

sawbones25

Founding Member

May 29, 2001

1,318

1

38

Virginia

Aug 30, 2005

#12

• Aug 30, 2005

• #12

Dang, I didn't even think about that rag joint.
I don't plan on driving it much this winter so I may just tear the whole front end down and start from scratch.

Thanks for the help everyone.

 

tmoss

Gettin Wired

Founding Member

Jun 28, 2001

7,153

32

128

Saint Louis, MO

Sep 1, 2005

#13

• Sep 1, 2005

• #13

Where's the boobies (rack)?

I had the same problem and mine was the steering rack too - put on a new rack and problem solved. My rag joint was OK too.

 

TheDamned

"I am Canadian and Damned for it!"

Jul 22, 2003

457

0

48

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Sep 1, 2005

#14

• Sep 1, 2005

• #14

damn, i tough this was a boobie thread aswell

 

VibrantRedGT

"STANGNET'S PENGUIN SMACKER"

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

14,679

424

154

Boca Raton, Florida

Sep 1, 2005

#15

• Sep 1, 2005

• #15

If you can move the steering wheel from side to side a tad and the car remains straight it's the rack itself (internal). Don't forget to check the tie rod ends as well. You can get a new rack at your local auto parts store for under $100 (rebuilt with lifetime warranty). It will not come with tie rod ends. They will need to be reused.

I just installed the Steeda bump steer (fancy shmancy tie rod ends) kit on my rack. It's adjustability is a nice feature. I like.