Crappy steering response, slushy feel, what can I do?

[astronut1885]

Hey guys. My stock steering isn't cutting it any more. I recently went autocrossing, and I realized how inadequate it really is. My steering feels really loose and slushy, and it takes alot of wheel turn to get a response from the car. My P/S pump and rack are in good order, but I just don't like the way it works any more. I want something that feels tighter and responds better. I want to keep powersteering though. I know Maximum Motorsports sells a new steering shaft that takes some play out of the system, and I think I might get their bumpsteer kit because I think I am getting some b/s. A friend is selling me a Grant racing wheel that has a smaller diameter, so I know that will make a minor improvement in steering reaction. I just am tired of that flexible, soft feel to the wheel, I want it solid and strong.

Also- I had the car alligned recently by a reputable shop, but for some reason the car pulls to the left and the wheel actually turns with it like something is dragging. When I get on the brakes, it really pulls to the left hard and the steering wheel will make 1/3 turn if I don't hold it.

I need to get this whole steering thing taken care of and more solid, so that when I turn the wheel, the car goes where I want it. Any suggestions welcome.

PS- I have lowering springs, good struts, and my car rides on 17" rims with 245.45.17 Sumitomos that grip awesome.

 

[astronut1885]

I'm not too worried about roughness, it's already pretty stiff as is. Which bushings do you mean? I have new sway bar bushings, and I can't really think of any others. Are their bushings on the rack that can be replaced with urethane? I have a feeling any stock bushings are much like the ones I found out back and are rotted to hell.

 

[astronut1885]

WTF? I reply twice to ECU, and his post is under mine? Weird.

 

[ECU5.0]

get some urethane bushings for everything up front, that should get rid of all the slop in your steering, but will make the ride a little more rough

 

[Michael Yount]

If it's pulling under braking - you likely have a significant braking issue/problem and/or the front end alignment is WAY off. Who did the alignment for you?

If you want great braking and great power rack and pinion steering feel, one way to get it is to pull the motor and drop it in a Volvo.

 

[HISSIN50]

Herr Yount is right on. check that side's caliper, line (cracked, swollen, collapsed, etc). when jacked up, often (in this instance) the driver wheel will not freewheel as well as the pass side when spun with your hand.

if you are autocrossing, you have CC plates, right? i would, esp. with the lowered stance you have. i would want to play with the camber and CASTOR to get it feeling good. often, a performance alignment will utilize different settings, including toe, which can make a world of difference.
my two cents.
good luck.

 

[stangbear427]

I was thinking the brake too- my wifes LX does that same thing and we already know the caliper is bad, and everything else is spot on. Since you mentioned MM, I just thought I'd mention that Jack Higgly runs a power rack in the MM shop car, so obviously they can be made to work well. I like ECU's suggestion about the rack bushings, although when we did them in my wifes car it didn't get any rougher at all so I'm not sure about that observation. Unfortunately, the steering had been so bad that I couldn't tell you how big a difference the urethane bushings actually made, since we were putting in a new rack with them...
anyway, I'd check out the brakes. You could also have a ball joint problem (any noises?) or the rag joint in your steering shaft could be getting tight (happens). Good luck

 

[BlackFox5.0]

Is it under heavy braking where it turns on it's own? Your tie rods are so angled, that if you noise dive, then it's pushing up the tie rods which pull on the wheels, and toe them in. This can cause your sterring to drift since the wheels are fighting each other so much.

 

[astronut1885]

It's under any braking, and it pulls left. If I am going 5 mph pulling to a stop light and I touch the brakes, the wheel jerks over. I think I definitely need a bumpsteer kit.

 

[Flash Gordan]

Check the caliper and hose and pads on the passenger side. I was driving my boss' Jeep Cherokee that's been lifted with some 31"s on it. Every time I'd hit the brakes to stop, it would jerk the steering wheel to the left really hard. I would have to steer right just to counteract it. After everything was replaced, calipers, pads, and hoses it would track straight when the brakes were mashed to the floor.

 

[astronut1885]

All my brakes stuff is new, new SS hoses, new SN95 calipers, new rotors etc. We just did a 5 lug on the car less than a month and a half ago. I think Chris is on the right track with the tierod issue, mine are on like a 30* angle because my car is lowered.

 

[stangbear427]

So are mine, but it tracks strait regadless of brakes. In fact, I think mine are at least 30* angled, my car is too low. I have about 70,000 miles on these brakes and they're starting to squeek, but I can still take my hands off the wheel and stomp them and it stays strait as an arrow. I've never had a single steering issue at all, with any of the three suspension setups I've run.