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09-21-11, 11:45 AM
#1
Pole Position
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Suspension experts chime in
OK all in the last 2 months I replaced Both lower ball joints(which were almost completely done),both sway bar endlinks, both caster arms and the driver side upper control arm. Car has 88k and is a 98gs300.
Got an aligment after replacing the caster arms and noticed that the steering still feels different after EVERY TURN.
Almost as if the alignment is shifting. Sometimes it feels firm when driving and other times it feels loose with more understeer when driving straight.
IT BASICALLY FEELS LIKE THE STEERING DOESN"T ALWAYS HAVE FULL CONTROL OVER THE WHEELS
Does this sound like a tie rod problem? or something else
Got an aligment after replacing the caster arms and noticed that the steering still feels different after EVERY TURN.
Almost as if the alignment is shifting. Sometimes it feels firm when driving and other times it feels loose with more understeer when driving straight.
IT BASICALLY FEELS LIKE THE STEERING DOESN"T ALWAYS HAVE FULL CONTROL OVER THE WHEELS
Does this sound like a tie rod problem? or something else
09-21-11, 02:39 PM
#2
Intermediate
I'm gonna say one of two things - rack bushings, or maybe should have replaced both UCAs. I had both UCAs replaced yesterday and was surprised how much more precise the steering was, and mine weren't very worn. In fact, before the new arms, I'd have said this car had torque-steer like a FWD car.
09-21-11, 07:30 PM
#6
All I can say is jack the car up and start by grabbing the wheel(while the lugs are tight), and wiggle it at the 12 and 6 o'clock position, then do the same at the 3 and 9 position. Do this to both wheels and see if there's any play in it. I just did both lower ball joints, both upper control arms, and both outer tie rods and took my car in for an alignment today to find out that I still need to do an inner tie rod to get my alignment perfect but my alignment was so out of whack that I needed them to do what they can today. Just get the lifetime alignment if you're worried about having to go back and if any steering part needs to be replaced, then they would have notified you. If it was not possible to get your camber/caster/toe to an acceptable range, they would have turned you away for the alignment until you got it fixed.
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09-21-11, 08:09 PM
#8
Just keep looking. In the end, it's gonna be something simple as always. Pay attention to the things that you haven't replaced like inner tie rods, bearings, and such. How's your rack and pinion or power steering components?
09-22-11, 03:16 PM
#9
Pole Position
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shop looked at the car today and said the front end seemed fine and that there wasn't anything wrong they also checked the power steering fluid and said that was fine
I was told that it could be a sign of my rack starting to go bad but with only 88k really already?
I forgot to ask them what the labor would be like(what a shop might charge) if i were to replace the steering rack bushings
Does anyone know?
I was told that it could be a sign of my rack starting to go bad but with only 88k really already?
I forgot to ask them what the labor would be like(what a shop might charge) if i were to replace the steering rack bushings
Does anyone know?
09-22-11, 05:26 PM
#11
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i don't have the alignment print out but i was starting to think maybe my alignment isn't on point
could my steering rack be bad already or should i just go somewhere and actually make sure that it's not the alignment first because like i said earlier it does have some play(more than i was used to the first 8 months of ownership before the front end decided to collapse)
opinions anyone?
could my steering rack be bad already or should i just go somewhere and actually make sure that it's not the alignment first because like i said earlier it does have some play(more than i was used to the first 8 months of ownership before the front end decided to collapse)
opinions anyone?
09-23-11, 04:50 PM
#15
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cmara2k9
It is not just the 88k miles... age causes rubber to dry out and often crack and shrink. So they are 13-14 years old... a long time for a car....
Also I would not have just changed just 1 UCA. Even if one seemed still ok, they both had the same miles and age on them. So even if one felt ok, it will not be as tight/percise as the new one will. A good rule of thumb, unless they are fairly new and one is damaged and the other not, always try to replace front end parts in pairs. I'd also check the rubber rack mounting bushings. They are often overlooked by the average alinement shop.
It is not just the 88k miles... age causes rubber to dry out and often crack and shrink. So they are 13-14 years old... a long time for a car....
Also I would not have just changed just 1 UCA. Even if one seemed still ok, they both had the same miles and age on them. So even if one felt ok, it will not be as tight/percise as the new one will. A good rule of thumb, unless they are fairly new and one is damaged and the other not, always try to replace front end parts in pairs. I'd also check the rubber rack mounting bushings. They are often overlooked by the average alinement shop.