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I'm having a strange steering wheel alignment issue with my 98 ls400. After I make a few left hand turns the steering wheel stays crooked to the left, when I make right turns it seems corrects itself. I checked my inner/outer tie rods, upper control arms, lower contol arms/ball joints and all seem fine. The car does not pull to the left or right. There is no play with either wheel when the car is jacked up. The steering rack is smooth and was replaced about a year ago and the car had an alignment and lower control arms replace 3 months ago.
Could the steering rack be going out again? Has anyone had this issue?
My '98 has a pretty "soft" return to where I have to turn the steering wheel back after making a turn. But it's not biased to any direction. I always thought it may need more caster dialed in.
Last edited by paulo57509; Jul 30, 2023 at 05:53 PM.
I have always found I like having more positive caster and toe in. The steering feel is quite boosted and easy, but, it should still want to return to center. Requiring you to turn it back is abnormal (to how many car operates).
As for the alignment - is the rack itself maybe moving? If the rack mounts were rotting away perhaps that could introduce an ability for the rack to just suddenly shift to one side.
Paulo, thanks for your reply. The tire pressure is good and steering column is smooth. I think it's either the rack or strut rods. The strut rods is the only front suspension part that is original. They don't move and aren't cracked but the large bushings seem to be deformed. They don't seem to be that bad but I guess it could affect the steering. It's just weird how the steering wheel is only affected when I make a left turn and is find when I make a right turn.
The strut rods are a known wear item. Typically one of the first suspension components that's replaced. They usually fail around 100k miles and you can tell on the test drive if you're front end feels very loose over bumps. It can also cause a slight vibration when going 60-65 mph or a shimmy under light braking from highway speeds that will be felt in the steering wheel instead of in the pedal like warped rotors normally would. You can also experience a "clunk" when you hit the brakes at low (parking lot) speeds.
Fanboy400 tomorrow I'll check the rack bushings for wear or play. I have owned the car for a while and have put on many miles. It's not an issue with the return rate. If I hold the wheel straight I'll veer to the right
My strut rods are original 300k miles. I don't have any vibration or shudder at any speed. I am going to replace them and check the rack bushings. I replaced the rack about a year ago so I am hoping it's not that but being a reman anything is possible.
If it feels like your rear end is very unpredictable, then you likely also have bad rear knuckle bushings. There's a floating rear bushing that can get a lot of slop in it. Febest makes them for $18 each on Amazon and they press right in/out with a C-Clamp tool. I've used their Front LCA bushings and they're decent quality.
As for the alignment - is the rack itself maybe moving? If the rack mounts were rotting away perhaps that could introduce an ability for the rack to just suddenly shift to one side.
this is my vote; that the rack is moving due to bad/compromised mounts. this would be my first check.
Weird steering wheel alignment issue
