• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

steering vaugeness on my fox?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kerpal
  • Start date Start date Oct 11, 2004
K

Kerpal

New Member
Aug 9, 2004
400
0
0
Oct 11, 2004
#1
  • Oct 11, 2004
  • #1
I bought a '90 GT with about 100k miles the other day. I'm pretty sure the car hasn't been lowered.

There seems to be a vaugeness in my steering... going down the road in a straight line, I need to hold the wheel steady and occasionally make tiny corrections to keep it on path. Going through narrow lanes will definately make you pay attention to your driving.

I've taken a couple curved on-ramps at normal speed (roughly 35-55) and there's a slight feeling of the car wanting to steer itself... it like it feels not certain of where it's supposed to go.

When I first got the car, the very inside edges of both front tires were worn at a very severe angle... while the tires were at at least 50% tread, this area had cords showing through, so I replaced them before driving home. The car came with stock size tires on stock turbine wheels.

The tire shop said I probably needed an alignment, but the car doesn't pull to either side, the steering just feels vague.

I know lowered stangs have bumpsteer problems, but my car looks like stock height, so I don't know if my problem is the same. I do plan to lower the car with bumpsteer correction and camber plates eventually, but I'm not going to modify anything until the car drives correctly as stock...

What do you guys suggest I check and replace to fix this?
 

OL' WHITEY

New Member
Jan 28, 2004
273
0
0
Weddington, NC
Oct 11, 2004
#2
  • Oct 11, 2004
  • #2
You definitely need a new alignment. Your tie rod ends may be shot. Since you are planning to lower the car anyway, I think I'd go ahead and get the bump steer kit, which is just fancy, beefier adjustable tie rod ends, and put them on with little or no shimming for correction and take it to the alignment shop. You kill two birds with one stone that way. Other than that, just check bushings, ball joints, rod ends, etc. Struts can cause abnormal tire wear too.
 

bgjohnson

Founding Member
Sep 1, 2002
963
0
16
johnston,iowa
Oct 11, 2004
#3
  • Oct 11, 2004
  • #3
i second, the inner outer tie rods being the problem. or maybe even balljoints or wheels bearings.
 
8

87'GTstang

New Member
Feb 16, 2004
1,025
0
0
Oct 11, 2004
#4
  • Oct 11, 2004
  • #4
There are three basic angles of alignment along with various other byproducts from each adjustment. Caster, Camber, and toe. Your tires wearing that badly on the insides would be extreme negative camber. Take a look at the front of your stang and use the rear as a reference point since it is a fixed point and then notice how far in the tops of your front tires tip in. Your "new" tires will look the same within no time so get that alignment soon.

Next, your steering wander. There are several things to look at. The biggest enemy of this problem is bumpsteer (which is very noticeable on lowered cars as you said). Knowing that your front end is sitting so low like that, you need to know why. Weather it be the isolators gone or all the way worn down, something not tightened in the suspension, or if it has in fact been lowered but just not with the use of caster/camber plates. Your wander itself if everything else is intact, should point to the inner tie rods or the rack itself. The outer tie rod ends don't go bad as fast as the inners because they are subjected to less movement. The other things to check out are the lower ball joints, the wheel bearings, and the control arm bushings. Bascially with the car lifted in the air, wiggle the hell out of the wheels in all directions and check on what moves - there are your problems!

Good luck on the gremlin!
 

bgjohnson

Founding Member
Sep 1, 2002
963
0
16
johnston,iowa
Oct 11, 2004
#5
  • Oct 11, 2004
  • #5
i'd second the inner, outer tierods. and alos wheel bearings and ball joints, or maybe even control arms bushings
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Oct 12, 2004
#6
  • Oct 12, 2004
  • #6
another alignment vote. also note that improper caster can allow a 'wallow' or the tendency to get stuck in ruts in the road. CC plates will allow one to correct this. but if something else it out of whack, you might not be close to factory settings (caster).

good luck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Electrical Why does my fox body keep frying eecs
  • brandyn200
  • Jun 20, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
8
Views
233
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jun 25, 2026
AeroCoupe
H
Strange steering/brake issue
  • Haxmaster
  • Jun 2, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
1
Views
80
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Jun 3, 2026
squeak93
H
Best tire size for 91 Fox 18x9 wheels. On coilovers
  • hassler
  • Mar 25, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
11
Views
411
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- May 9, 2026
KRUISR
Sloppy steering wheel
  • cnorman31
  • Nov 1, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
4
Views
276
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Nov 2, 2025
Monkeybutt2000
M
Considering widening my rear wheels, would like to verify my thoughts on fitment
  • 2000xp8
  • Jul 9, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
20
Views
369
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Wednesday at 12:30 PM
FastDriver
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?