Steering Problem After LT Install

QU!CK

New Member

Apr 27, 2004

146

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Charlotte, NC

Mar 21, 2006

#1

• Mar 21, 2006

• #1

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

it doe snot

Founding Member

Jan 26, 1999

10,633

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89

the people's republic of massachusetts

Mar 21, 2006

#2

• Mar 21, 2006

• #2

QU!CK said:

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

Click to expand...

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

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Jul 22, 2002

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Ohio

Mar 21, 2006

#3

• Mar 21, 2006

• #3

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

New Member

Apr 27, 2004

146

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0

Charlotte, NC

Mar 21, 2006

#4

• Mar 21, 2006

• #4

svttech76 said:

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?

Click to expand...

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...

mogs01gt said:

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.

Click to expand...

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

New Member

Apr 27, 2004

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0

Charlotte, NC

Mar 21, 2006

#5

• Mar 21, 2006

• #5

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

it doe snot

Founding Member

Jan 26, 1999

10,633

7

89

the people's republic of massachusetts

Mar 21, 2006

#6

• Mar 21, 2006

• #6

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

10 Year Member

Jan 14, 2004

661

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Mars Hill, NC

Mar 22, 2006

#7

• Mar 22, 2006

• #7

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

 

R

Red2000GT

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Sep 10, 2000

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Regina,Sask.Canada

Mar 22, 2006

#8

• Mar 22, 2006

• #8

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

New Member

Apr 27, 2004

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Charlotte, NC

Mar 22, 2006

#9

• Mar 22, 2006

• #9

mustangman9812 said:

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

Click to expand...

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

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Jan 22, 2002

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ATX

Mar 23, 2006

#10

• Mar 23, 2006

• #10

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

Founding Member

Dec 17, 2001

1,290

1

39

Richmond, Va

Mar 23, 2006

#11

• Mar 23, 2006

• #11

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

New Member

Apr 27, 2004

146

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0

Charlotte, NC

Mar 24, 2006

#12

• Mar 24, 2006

• #12

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

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Dec 17, 2001

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Richmond, Va

Mar 24, 2006

#13

• Mar 24, 2006

• #13

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

 

MineralG2k2GT

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Feb 9, 2003

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Lowell, MA

Mar 24, 2006

#14

• Mar 24, 2006

• #14

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

Founding Member

Dec 17, 2001

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Richmond, Va

Mar 24, 2006

#15

• Mar 24, 2006

• #15

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

10 Year Member

Jan 14, 2004

661

6

49

Mars Hill, NC

Mar 26, 2006

#16

• Mar 26, 2006

• #16

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