So why wont my steering come back around after turning

[stevesLX]

So I have had a couple of replies on I should replace both the rack and the pump together on my 89 LX. I replaced the rack with a used one but not the pump. Why is it when I turn the car either left or right it will continue in that direction unless I turn it back to center on my own? It makes no attempt to come back around on its own. I have replaced struts shocks springs alignment lower ball joints and steering rack(used) and still nothing has changed.

 

[onefstsnake]

is the car lowered now?

might want to check your caster settings.

 

[Dean85GT]

I had that happen when I put a grant steering wheel on. Never figured it out but it just went away.

 

[HISSIN50]

Did it return to center before you did the rack install? If so, have you had the car aligned since the rack install? Alignment can keep it from self-centering.

Good luck.

 

[mob]

Kinda sounds like my problem, still havent figured it out. Havent done anything to try and fix it though.

http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=668706

 

[bennettracing]

Sounds to me like more of a suspension issue than a steering system issue, the car *should* naturally want to return the wheels to the zero position on its own since you have to insert force to the system to get the wheel to turn... going in a straight line is cake for it.

I wouldn't suspect the pump, since even a manual rack will tend to straighten the wheels...the only way I can see it being steering would be if there was a very excessive amount of friction in the system...which you should be able to tell if the steering wheel is excessively hard to turn. The straightening effect should have a lot more force than you turning the wheel. If steering w/ power steering feels like a manual rack, I might suggest this, but if not, I would look at caster or other suspension issues.

=KB

 

[jrichker]

Another vote for insufficent caster. Caster is the front to rear tilt of the spindle. The effect is that when the top of the spindle is tilted further aft than the bottom, it causes the front end of the car to lift when the wheel turns side to side. That lifting effect is what causes the wheels to move back towards center, which is the lowest point in their arc of travel. Cars with manual steering use less caster because lifting the car by turning the steering wheel requires a lot of effort.

 

[Roland69]

sounds like strut berrings to me.

 

[STANG9350]

steering shaft against header tube?

 

[greg251]

sounds like you have bad ball joints. when they dry out they lose all of the grease and start locking up.

 

[Mustang5L5]

caster

 

[cevtv]

Ball joints - had the same problem when I first bought my car.


.

 

[Nicoleb3x3]

has anyone solved this problem???

I've always had this problem in my stang...with stock settings, and even the same after lowering springs and new caster/camber setting with CC plates... and even again after more caster/camber adjustments and alignments- always the same issue of the wheel never returning back to center...unless I'm going fast- say 45 mph (it's worse when I'm going slower and even better when going faster)

I just don't see it being caster when I've had 3 different caster setting on my stang and always this same issue.

I CAN say my rack is seeping a bit- and is the orignal 2.3 rack which prolly can't handle the wider tires? -or is this a fox-wide issue?

trying to determine if it's just a worn rack- anyone know for sure?

btw; I'm using the 5.0 power steering pump now...but it was the same with my 2.3 before the swap...so it doesn't seem to be related to the pump.

the only constant I see for the past 3 years...is the age of the rack- prolly should get a new one? but I'll be pissed if I replace it and it still doesn't return to center

 

[MahFiVeOh]

Mine does the same thing.It doesnt bother me at all so i dont even worry about it.