Sactolex

92 400 w/90k

Steering is fine @ higher speeds, but at low speeds over bumpy roads, the steering wheel goes whichever way it wants and I have to fight it to keep it straight

very little deadzone, steering seems fine otherwise.

Any thoughts?

oldManTan

mechanical power steering and double wishbone suspension, i think that's just how it's supposed to be. i have brand new everything in terms of steering and suspension and mine does the same thing.

Sactolex

Thanks, its reassuring that im not tge only one.

my other vehicles (which are all newer, however) arent this bad on the same roads, so i thought maybe it just needed some fixes on worn parts.

INTIMAZY

iTrader: (5)

..... doesn't sound normal at all.

Unless the car was lowered bumpsteer on these cars is minimal. The toe change through the typical arc isn't as drastic as a MacPherson strut car sees.

I wouldn't dismiss it. Even with a perfect alignment, a bad bushing will make a car scary to drive at speed.

Sactolex

If it helps at all, these other issues are present in the suspension:

Clunking sound feom driver side well when going over bumpy roads or hitting bumps @ speed.

While initially reversing, and then applying brakes, pop sound from driver well, then no more pop sound after letting off and applying brakes again.

Can be repeated if going forward, then back and brake.

Hope its not LCA ball joint, but that might be it.

oldManTan

yea that sounds way more severe than just some bump steer, you got all sorts of floppy stuff going on and it does sound like LCA related.

Sactolex

Heres a photo of my front driver wheel off

Does my sway bar end link look bad?

Theres no bushing left and there is a huge gap between the bar and the bushing. Could this be affecting the bump steer/clunking sounds while hitting bumps?





Front passenger

Blkexcoupe

iTrader: (8)

That sounds like your LCA bushings are shot. Which is very common on these cars. I would recommend replacing them with supra LCA.

Also look into checking your steering rack bushings to see if they're worn. If your steering rack isn't leaking then that's a quick $50 fix to improve the steering. If your steering rack is leaking, then just replace the whole thing.

The end links are meant to have a gap. Remove the end links and rotate the bolt to check if it can move freely. Also make sure the end links are completely tight when you reinstall.

INTIMAZY

iTrader: (5)

Endlinks will make all sorts of bad popping sounds. They will NOT make you wander on the roadway. That's probably LCA bushings as mentioned above me.

Sactolex

Thanks for everyones input.

So for the LCAs, i need part#

48068-14080
48069-14080

Correct?

Sactolex

How do you determine if its just your bushings, or also your ball joint?

Dont want to spend $600 if i can get away with $75.

Symptoms:
Wandering@low speed over bumps.
Clunking driver front over bumps.
When in reverse, slowly reversing, tap on brakes makes a squish sound front driver, and seems front wheel kind of "shifts" then stops later than rest of wheels.

Its a visible shift

INTIMAZY

iTrader: (5)

Wiggle them. See where the noise and play is coming from. The reversing scenario you mention is very compatible with LCA bushings but I don't know how your ball joints look from this far away.

Sactolex

different car, but is this a good method to check for a bad ball joint?

Sactolex

So o put the car on stands and tried to wiggle the hub holding top and bottom, no movement. Side to side, no movement of the suspension, but i hear it in the steering wheel in th cabin if i wiggle hard enough.

Bushings dont appear to move like in the videos i posted, nor does th hub.

Not sure what to do.

INTIMAZY

iTrader: (5)

Don't forget that the steering rack has 2 (well, really 3) bushings that could have gone bad and would contribute to wandering at speed.