Steering Problem After LT Install

[QU!CK]

A few days ago I was finally able to get around to installing my long tube headers, X-pipe, and catback. The car feels ALOT stronger at every RPM but the steering now feels kind've "notchy".

We ran into a slight problem with the rubber peice on the steering shaft hitting the headers but were able to bend the headers back a little for some extra clearence.

The steering still seems to feel notchy like something is still rubbing when turning but I can't figure out what it is...looking at the rubber peice it seems to clear the headers but I don't know what else could be causing the problem

Could it just be that I need an alignment or ?????


-J

 

[Mike97gt]

A few days ago I was finally able to get around to installing my long tube headers, X-pipe, and catback. The car feels ALOT stronger at every RPM but the steering now feels kind've "notchy".

We ran into a slight problem with the rubber peice on the steering shaft hitting the headers but were able to bend the headers back a little for some extra clearence.

The steering still seems to feel notchy like something is still rubbing when turning but I can't figure out what it is...looking at the rubber peice it seems to clear the headers but I don't know what else could be causing the problem

Could it just be that I need an alignment or ?????


-J

did you tey and move the wheel from stop to stop while watching and making sure your not contacting the headers? It's also possible that the shaft got damaged during the install. is the wheel hard to turn?

 

[mogs01gt]

Make sure the rubber on the steering shaft hasnt melted. Make sure you have the steering nuckle all the way seated onto the power steering rack, make sure that bolt is fairly tight.

 

[QU!CK]

did you tey and move the wheel from stop to stop while watching and making sure your not contacting the headers? It's also possible that the shaft got damaged during the install. is the wheel hard to turn?

Yes, we did rotate the steering wheel from stop to stop as we adjusted the headers (when trying to add clearence). I wouldn't say that the wheel is hard to turn, it feels no harder to move than it did before the install, it just feels like it will move and settle on a notch, then move again, settle on a notch, etc...

Make sure the rubber on the steering shaft hasnt melted. Make sure you have the steering nuckle all the way seated onto the power steering rack, make sure that bolt is fairly tight.

I checked the rubber on the steering shaft this morning and it didn't seem to be melted but I couldn't really see in there too well. I'll grab a flash light and double check when I leave work in a few hours.

It is possible that the bolt you mentioned isn't tightened down all the way. I wasn't the only one working on the car and don't remember seeing that bolt being tightened...

Updates to come in a few hours.


-J

 

[QU!CK]

UPDATE

Looked at the car a little more closely after work and it seems that it's the steering shaft rubbing against the header when I turn the wheel...

Anybody know what I could use to try to bend the header away from the steering shaft without having to uninstall, raise the car, etc...?


-J

 

[Mike97gt]

without seeing the header myself I would not want to suggest anything, but if you do dimple the header do it carefully. You don't want to ruin a brand new header.

 

[mustangman9812]

man i hate that for you keep in touch and tell me how it comes out!

 

[Red2000GT]

I had an issue where the driver side engine mount hadn't fully seated itself back into place and that caused the header to rub a little until we fixed it.

 

[QU!CK]

man i hate that for you keep in touch and tell me how it comes out!

Thanks man....Driving this morning felt a little easier but I could still feel a slight "notch" when turning the wheel.

The guys that helped with the install said that it may take a day or two for the mounts to get resettled in (kinda like Red2000GT mentioned) so I'm going to give it a few more days before doing anything to adjust the headers.


-J

 

[01BlkGT]

With mine since I have an aftermarket K-member had to heat the header a bit and knock a little notch into the header for the steering knuckle to clear.

 

[blackfang]

I installed my flowtech LT's and their o/r x pipe. Holy **** how do they stay in business making x pipes that remotely dont fit. I am 1.5 inches to narrow and it is 1 inch too long.

headers went in with normal issues and I have a bad vibration on the drivers side when driving straight. Gonna check it out in the monring, but I couldnt get the pipe to seal. Gooa have an exhaust shop un**** flowtechs bad design. Makes me wonder if they even bolted it on a car during R&D.

 

[QU!CK]

That's strange. My X-pipe lined right up

the steering problem has "magically" gone away so I guess everything just needed some time to resettle....either way, I think God that it's "fixed"


-J

 

[blackfang]

It was so bad the race shop that installed it refuses to ever install flowtech products

 

[MineralG2k2GT]

not sure what kinda L/T's you put on, but for future reference, BBK's L/T's for our car's come with the "dent" in the runner tube for clearance for the steering knuckle already in it from BBK

 

[blackfang]

All fixed. No more vibes and had a hell of a time lining up the x pipe. Flowtech really was off on this one, but I got it in there

http://svt4u2try.com/media/LT.avi

 

[mustangman9812]

to bad BBK dont make headers for my car lol (Auto) that why i am having to go with Mac