Help: Near instant change in steering quality following autox (tramlining, wander)

[K20RI_211]

Hey guys,

I have an odd problem. Long story short, every year I drive from RI to MD to do a weekend autox with my brother. Drive down went fine. Autox went fine, car was awesome with a 4.10 and UUC rear sway! Drive home following autox, not good. Steering very unpredictable, felt like it was lightly binding/tramlining, and the drive back to RI today was hell. Had a death grip on the steering wheel to keep the steering from wandering.

My '87 has all-new front-end suspension components save for tie rods. My power steering reservoir hoses are weeping slightly, so there is dampness on the tie rod boots, but near as I can tell, the steering rack is fine. Power steering reservoir is full. Alignment was fine driving down and to the autox, so I don't think that changed during the autox.

My feeling is the steering rack guibo might have succumbed to my overly-enthusiastic efforts on the autox circuit (great course and I LOVE that rear bar), but I don't know. But, it could be tie rods, too, I suppose. Or is the rack showing signs of failure? Is there air trapped in the p/s lines? So many questions!

The near-instant shift in steering quality was so odd. There is no vibration (other than some very, very slight vibration that has always been there), so the fact that it developed scary wandering habits immediately following some vigorous use has me confused.

Thanks for any help.

-Jeff

[jrobie79]

maybe you knocked it out of alignment... I know when I changed my tie rods (I tried to get them damn near exact same as before) the alignment was obviously off and the steering sounded just like what you're describing.

had an alignment and the problem went away.

[AndrewBird]

Put the car in the air and check for obvious problems. Grab the wheel and shake it and look for an excessive movement. If something came loose, it should be pretty obvious.

[einstein57]

Check your sway bar chassis mounts

[K20RI_211]

Car was in the air and all was tight/nothing obviously loose.

Check your sway bar chassis mounts

Stupid question, but front or rear? My brother suggested the rear as that was just installed and is attached via reinforcement plates to the rear subframe.

[LJ851]

Check your front toe.

[mr ilia]

Check the inner tie rods, they are probably loosen up after your hardcore autoX drive.
Please report back.

[K20RI_211]

Check the inner tie rods, they are probably loosen up after your hardcore autoX drive.
Please report back.

;)

Sorry - got a little over-the-top there. First autox in a year and it felt great.

Anyhow, pardon the ignorance, but it is possible for them to loosen up and then just need re-tightening?

[einstein57]

Both. The rears tend to break more often. Tie rods can get slightly tweaked throwing of your alignment. I've done it before on a heavily banked freeway on ramp.

[jlevie]

There is pretty much no way that the tie rods can move and cause this problem. But high cornering G loads can push aged control arm bushings, upper front strut mounts, rear trailing arm bushings, or subframe bushings over the edge. Which can cause this problem.

[K20RI_211]

There is pretty much no way that the tie rods can move and cause this problem. But high cornering G loads can push aged control arm bushings, upper front strut mounts, rear trailing arm bushings, or subframe bushings over the edge. Which can cause this problem.

Some good points. I know the front is essentially brand new, but the rear I'm not entirely sure how much has been done. Will investigate.

[mr ilia]

;)

Sorry - got a little over-the-top there. First autox in a year and it felt great.

Anyhow, pardon the ignorance, but it is possible for them to loosen up and then just need re-tightening?

The inncers are screw on type, so yes, It can get get a little loose even with secure plates. Talking from personal experience.
Jack up the front and feel if your wheel feels a little loose when you move it 3-9 o'clock position. This would be your indication....

Report back. ;)

Oh yeah - After eliminating front end possibilities, I'd move on to check rear subframe bushing and RTAB.

[digger]

ive got a similar issue that is worst under braking, cars wants to dive around and bad road surfaces yank the steering wheel
new rack
new guibo+UJ,
new tierods
new tyres had alignment done etc

helped some but still there.

had FR control arms and bushes replaced in early 2006 and rear trailing arm and subframe done in 2009 but top mounts at front weren't done so must be 10+years old.

i also suspect excessive roll stiffness IE 25mm front bar, 16mm rear both on soft settings on relative soft springs (old eibach prokit) doesn't help