Let the road take you.... February 26, 2009, 06:23:05 PM That seems to be what my car thinks. This is going to be hard to explain so bear with me.When I bought my car steering reaction time was right on (for what it is). I could let go of the wheel and it would drive itself.Now I am constantly fighting. Its not that I have to fight to keep it to one side, I have to fight to keep it in the lane. It has no pattern, sometimes it wants to go left sometimes right. the way it does it is very odd to me. It isnt what I would call play in the wheel, when I turn it turns but it will stop or decrease the amount of angle of the tires sometimes making the lane change slower and longer.When it starts to drift it is very sudden. then it grab the wheel and jerks it.What all could be causing this? Some might remember my post of my PS fluid disappearing, leaking rack. Could it have gotten bad enough to cause this?Everything is original minus the struts (Monroe) and brakes. I am not too familiar with all the suspension components and their purpose so excuse my ignorance.I can get a manual rack for around $50. I havent prices a Power rack yet but manual sounds like the way to go. That is as long as I can bolt it up. 5.8FastCat had to use SN95 tie rods for length but he is also running SN95 spindles.Tires are good, just put them on. Used still but even wear on them.I also have the semi common problem of my front wearing the outer edge of my tires. I have heard of a few people on here also having this issue. Doubt it has any effect to this but figured I would add it. Quote Selected
Let the road take you.... Reply #1 – February 26, 2009, 07:36:20 PM how are your tires? Quote Selected
Let the road take you.... Reply #2 – February 26, 2009, 08:29:54 PM Yeah almost sounds like a bad tire to me. What you have going on sounds like it could be potentially dangerous...so I'd figure it out ASAP man!! Quote Selected
Let the road take you.... Reply #3 – February 26, 2009, 08:55:25 PM I know sometimes trucks will do that, when you put oversize tires on them. So I'll third that it could be something with the tires.:D Quote Selected
Let the road take you.... Reply #4 – February 26, 2009, 09:54:43 PM Sounds to me like a bad ball joint. They will do the described, yet keep a good steering wheel feel. Quote Selected
Let the road take you.... Reply #5 – February 26, 2009, 10:51:00 PM Quote from: CougarSE;258764Sounds to me like a bad ball joint. They will do the described, yet keep a good steering wheel feel.Was afraid on that. What do you think its going to run me to do them?Tires ore not it. Did it with the tires I just took off and the ones I just put on. Quote Selected
Let the road take you.... Reply #6 – February 26, 2009, 10:58:18 PM not to be a jerk, but were the tires you just put on new? ive had customers, have this problem, replace worn tires with worn tires(guess they get them for cheap and think theyre good? ) and complain why they still have a problem. im just saying i have seen it happen before Quote Selected
Let the road take you.... Reply #7 – February 26, 2009, 11:01:06 PM When was your last alignment? Quote Selected
Let the road take you.... Reply #8 – February 26, 2009, 11:09:42 PM Quote from: grutinator;258777not to be a jerk, but were the tires you just put on new? ive had customers, have this problem, replace worn tires with worn tires(guess they get them for cheap and think theyre good? ) and complain why they still have a problem. im just saying i have seen it happen beforeIf it was the tires I wouldnt think it would sway both ways exactly the same with two different sets. Correction is easier with the new tires though. I have had a broken belt before too and it feels nothing like that. Is there anything else that could be wrong with the tire to cause this? No bubbles or anything. I really dont think it is the tire guys. The new tires are WAY better than the old one. Also I forgot to add, there is a popping noise when I turn. Again no rhyme or reason to it. Happens when it wants and I can not re create it. Backed out of the driveway and it happened to I pulled back in without turning the wheel at all, forward and backward 4 or 5 times and nothing. Its sounds similar to breaking an overtightened lug nut free.I have gotten 4 years of driving out of the car with no major issue I didnt cause. It is about time for these things to start happening. Quote Selected
Let the road take you.... Reply #9 – February 26, 2009, 11:20:48 PM Quote from: EricCoolCats;258778When was your last alignment?Oh god, September 2006. When I bought my Nexens. Hated those tires in the end. Sure I am do. Do you think it would cause it to pull both ways? Like I said I have no idea. This will be my learning experience. Quote Selected
Let the road take you.... Reply #10 – February 26, 2009, 11:35:07 PM With how you described the problem,, get the weight off one front wheel at a time only. lock the steering wheel and find out what is worn out.The last time something this bad happened to me, it was the rack - pinion that was bad. your inner / outter tie rod ends determine your tow in / out. grab the jacked up wheel at the 9 and 3 o'clock and move the wheel like your trying to turn. Do the same by getting the wheel by the 12 and 6 o'clock. Put some ass into is and if you feel play, trace it out.Ill bet money its the inner tie rods.The only way to really tell is to drive the car quickly without a belt to eliminate the ps pump. Engine heats up fast so with a bone cold motor, you might be able to simply troubleshoot downt the road real quick. if the problem goes away, its going to be rack related. Bring your belt and whatever you use to install the belt incase you decide its getting too hot too fast. Quote Selected
Let the road take you.... Reply #11 – February 26, 2009, 11:39:25 PM Quote from: jcassity;258786With how you described the problem,, get the weight off one front wheel at a time only. lock the steering wheel and find out what is worn out.The last time something this bad happened to me, it was the rack - pinion that was bad. your inner / outter tie rod ends determine your tow in / out. grab the jacked up wheel at the 9 and 3 o'clock and move the wheel like your trying to turn. Do the same by getting the wheel by the 12 and 6 o'clock. Put some ass into is and if you feel play, trace it out.Ill bet money its the inner tie rods.How bout I bet you some inner tie rods.......:hick: I will try and see what I can find out on Sunday. My new H pipe and my oil gets changed then. Quote Selected
Let the road take you.... Reply #12 – February 26, 2009, 11:53:50 PM it can be anything front related, but from how you described it,, your the only post I know of who has ever described this on our fox's. I have only had this happen to me twice. 1- Dads f150 truck- i over adjusted the stearing gear box in order to take up steering slack.2-wifes chevy citation- ended up being the steering rack so we deleted the belt,, manual for the time we owned it.Its never happened to any of my 4 fox cougs or my 77 i had years ago.I just cant recall anyone every having this type of problem. I discovered that the inners are made in two different applications. OEM inners are adjustable (see my diy). After market are not because they have a plastic disc up in the knuckle. The OEM disc inside the knuckle has an allen head hole so you can remove the disc, add grease and then install the disc / take up slack.when removing the inners, there are a couple of different applications as well.OEM has an allen head set screw on the side of the inner knuckle that binds to the steel pinion. Loosen up this allen and then unscrew your inner from the pinion.Aftermarket seems to use a roll pin that is simply hammered into a hole on the knuckle (according to an old thread / discussion with Chuck w) and requires you to either drill it out, or grab with vise grips ect to pull it out.anyway,, you might find your problem and you might not. Hard to tell what it could be, i just thought Id put in my 2c. Quote Selected
Let the road take you.... Reply #13 – February 27, 2009, 02:12:23 PM Was told it might be rag joints too?I dont know if that would be it though Quote Selected
Let the road take you.... Reply #14 – February 27, 2009, 11:25:11 PM Quote from: DVP;258787How bout I bet you some inner tie rods.......:hick: .what do you mean? Quote Selected
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