steering problems

[Joshschicken38]

so i cant keep the bird straight. whenever i hit bumps or dips in the road my car steers significantly in that direction. or if the road is slightly crowned one way it likes to head in that direction as well. one good example is coming to a red light, sometimes if the road is bumpy or uneven if there is a dip my car will steer completely to the right, i have to literally HOLD it straight...i had a n alignment a month ago after i replaced the drivers side inner tie rod. i do need brakes and tires, but this seems to be far beyond the tire problem. steering pump maybe any suggestions???

[99pewterv6]

Re: steering problems

i've got kindof the same problem but I think it might just be the wider tires i got. I dont know for sure. Anyone here that can help would be great.

[Joshschicken38]

Re: steering problems

yeah i upgraded to 255/50/16...they are about done for, i need new ones...but this seems a little more serious than tires?

[Den69RS96]

Re: steering problems

I have a similiar problem. I've had my front end aligned twice by different shops. Both said my front end was tight. Both said my ball joints were fine and my tie rods were fine with no play. I checked them myself and found no play either. My tires are new, brakes are new, aftermarket sway with new energy suspension bushings and end links, bilstein shocks. I think the rack and pinion or maybe the power steering pump is the problem. I don't drive my 96RS to much. I just turned 57000 miles this month, but I know something is not right. I've owned the car for 10 years and it didn't drive like this new.

[FirebirdGT]

Re: steering problems

It's called "hunt", and is normal with wide low profile tires.

[BLLDOGG]

Re: steering problems

It's called "hunt", and is normal with wide low profile tires.

QFT!! The way in which your caster is set is also probably contributing to what you are concerned with but it is normal.

[Den69RS96]

Re: steering problems

My issue is a little more than just caster and low profile tires. The second shop changed my caster but my problem still exist. I realize low profile tires have a tendancy to follow grooves in the road, but my car did not do this new. My problem gets worse right after I do some hard driving. When I get on my car and put it through some corners and then open it up a little on the highway, my steering gets worse the faster I go. I constantly have to make corrections to keep the car going straight. My car just doesn't feel very stable above 75mph. Feels like I'm driving a 50's truck. Once I settle down and drive normal for a few minutes, my steering returns to normal.

[Mikey]

Re: steering problems

Den: Sounds like the steering pump to me.

[black98V6]

Re: steering problems

My issue is a little more than just caster and low profile tires. The second shop changed my caster but my problem still exist. I realize low profile tires have a tendancy to follow grooves in the road, but my car did not do this new. My problem gets worse right after I do some hard driving. When I get on my car and put it through some corners and then open it up a little on the highway, my steering gets worse the faster I go. I constantly have to make corrections to keep the car going straight. My car just doesn't feel very stable above 75mph. Feels like I'm driving a 50's truck. Once I settle down and drive normal for a few minutes, my steering returns to normal.

this is a long shot but if you really think something is wrong check the lower control arm bolts on the rear end, if those are loose your car will feel really squrrley.

also check your tire pressures, during hard driving you can raise the temp of the tires and thus increase pressures, when your tire pressure is too high the tire is more springy, this can make your car feel unsettled, it's like a basketball when the air pressure is too low it doesn't bounce enough when too high it bounces too much.

please keep in mind these are shots in the dark but one might be your problem. Finally remember these cars from the factory are made to look fast, not necessarily go fast.

[Den69RS96]

Re: steering problems

Mikey,

Thats what I think it is too. My car has a little whine to it, but I thought it was my water pump. Maybe that whine is coming from my steering pump. I never really checked.

Black98v6,

Thanks for the shots in the dark. I thought about those at one point but eliminated them. I just replaced the lower control arms with new hotchkis ones along with a new panhard bar and all is tight. I keep my tire pressures at 32 psi at all for corners and my problem still exist.

The only stock items left on my suspension are the front A arm bushings, tie rods, ball joints, and springs and I've eliminated the tie rod ends and ball joints. I doubt my springs are bad and my front bushings look fine.