Restoring Steering. Need help!!!
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: MN
Restoring Steering. Need help!!!
00 Gs400 w/120k miles. All stock besides exhaust system and K&N filter. No fancy suspensions to screw up the steering.
My GS is loosing a few degrees of steering. Noticeable at hwy speed. Especially when the win blows. Car would still go straight but I'm slightly fighting on the steering wheel to keep it straight. Before I bought this GS last summer I test drove two other GS and their steering is responsive like it should.
What needs replacing? PLEASE BE SPECIFIC.
Things I've tried:
-Ball joints seems to be good.- I jack up the car and try to move the front wheels. Ball joints looks solid.
-Ran two different sets of tires. Still the same
-Struts are BRAND NEW
-Tire pressure is always right.
Thanks in advance.
My GS is loosing a few degrees of steering. Noticeable at hwy speed. Especially when the win blows. Car would still go straight but I'm slightly fighting on the steering wheel to keep it straight. Before I bought this GS last summer I test drove two other GS and their steering is responsive like it should.
What needs replacing? PLEASE BE SPECIFIC.
Things I've tried:
-Ball joints seems to be good.- I jack up the car and try to move the front wheels. Ball joints looks solid.
-Ran two different sets of tires. Still the same
-Struts are BRAND NEW
-Tire pressure is always right.
Thanks in advance.
Last edited by kmy; Jan 28, 2012 at 08:07 PM.
Caster bushing. Tons of threads about it in the suspension forum.
Symptom: When driving on the highway and you hit a dip, the car wanders left or right?
Steering doesn't feel responsive?
That or steering rack bushings. My bet is still caster
Symptom: When driving on the highway and you hit a dip, the car wanders left or right?
Steering doesn't feel responsive?
That or steering rack bushings. My bet is still caster
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: MN
If anybody got anything else please add.
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Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: MN
Tie rods are original. Alignment done about 2mos ago but will go in again after I put new tires in next week since I paid for unlimited alignment for 2yrs. Will check Suspension forum.
Thanks guys.
Thanks guys.
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: MN
that could be a great idea but you sure it'll be worth it because I'm planning to stay oem struts/springs BUT i do hate the body roll. Like today when I took a butterfly exit at normal speed but with my little 7yr brother and parents in the car, the body rolls like dead struts when I hit little gap/bumps during the turn. Might do a slight spring lowering(less than 1") but not sure yet.
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that could be a great idea but you sure it'll be worth it because I'm planning to stay oem struts/springs BUT i do hate the body roll. Like today when I took a butterfly exit at normal speed but with my little 7yr brother and parents in the car, the body rolls like dead struts when I hit little gap/bumps during the turn. Might do a slight spring lowering(less than 1") but not sure yet.
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Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: MN
You're not talking about the under brace i see under my Gs400 are you? You saying I should upgrade that with a stronger one or get one if I dont have one?
1. Check out your inner tie rods:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MkaagWF8ws
(not the exact car in the video, but the same principle).
2. Replace the lower ball joints. This is PREVENTICE maintenance.
3. Get some steering rack bushings; not sure what I can list on here, but there are oem bushings you can buy as well as a few aftermarket poly bushings.
4. Change out your caster arm bushings they connect to the chassis in the front to the steering/suspension parts. Also check all the lower suspension bushings, they make after market products for these parts as well. Also you should check your upper control arms and lastly your bearings.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MkaagWF8ws
(not the exact car in the video, but the same principle).
2. Replace the lower ball joints. This is PREVENTICE maintenance.
3. Get some steering rack bushings; not sure what I can list on here, but there are oem bushings you can buy as well as a few aftermarket poly bushings.
4. Change out your caster arm bushings they connect to the chassis in the front to the steering/suspension parts. Also check all the lower suspension bushings, they make after market products for these parts as well. Also you should check your upper control arms and lastly your bearings.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 492
Likes: 12
From: ALberta
In the past year, I've replaced rack bushings (poly) struts, caster arm/with bushing, LBJ, (all OEM) upper arms (aftermarket OEM style) and my car is better. I've had 3 alignments done during these various repairs. I'd say that the quality of the alignment is critical, and I'l be honest, I don't know what the ideal specs are. I had two of the alignments done at my buddy's Ford dealership and one was perfection, the other was crap (misaligned steering wheel and all). The one done at Lexus was so-so, and I'll live with it until the winter tires come off. The poly rack bushing though are a real good upgrade for those of us who live in pot-hole land (they help you steer around 'em!)