diverdaveman

First off, let me start by apologizing for the long thread... the more info I give, the more I get

I was told by a local auto mechanic that I needed to replace my front axles because they were popping. Did that. It was easy... After the new axles I still noticed a popping in the right front with a sloppy steering. A forum member told me that I might need to change my front strut bearings. I went to AutoShack to purchase the strut bearings and told the guy what was going on. He thought that maybe my strut might be bad, not the bearing and said that it would make the steering feel like "torque steer". He described this as follows: "when you're hold the wheel straight while driving, it feels like someone else is pulling at the wheel". That is exactly how mine feels now.

So. Do I change the front strut and then a wheel alignment, or will a wheel alignment fix the problem?

BTW - added 96 Mustang GT wheels w/ 245/45/17's . -- Sweet, Very Sweet

avmaldo

does it pull hard to one side when it shifts?

Mine pull hard to either side when it shift and while accelerating and i replaced the control arm bushings, and the ball joints and that fixed my problem.

diverdaveman

No. Just anytime really. I'll be driving down the highway (55 mph) and it really feels like some else is slightly pulling on the wheel. It's a real funny feeling. It's a 93, with only 110,000 miles on it.

bonzelite

iTrader: (2)

if it is slightly pulling, as you say, then i will propose that the condition is normal if the car does not have VLSD; if it is "slight." my 90SE 5spd has torque-steer, as do many fwd cars of many makes. in short, you can change whatever you want, but you will never eliminate it entirely. maybe you are stomping the gas more these days; that will exaggerate it.

GRNMAXDMON

iTrader: (1)

mine does the same thing except it only does it when i engage to first gear. thats the only time my steering shifts only the right. i was also told that it is torque steer but still don't know what causes mine to act like this.

mtcookson

iTrader: (2)

i've never experienced torque steer unless i acclerated with the wheel turned. with the wheel straight, nothing, even with the turbo. its possible it could be a bushing... but i'm not too sure on the popping stuff yet. our gxe does it and i haven't found the issue yet.

probmxstyle

iTrader: (4)

When my control arm bushings wore out they made noise and made the car shift side to side on the road. That and a bad ball joint also.

ElVito1981

iTrader: (4)

all i know is that i will never buy a FWD car again

bonzelite

iTrader: (2)

RWD or AWD.

505max94se

iTrader: (15)

Sounds like you got wide tires, bad allignment, or bad control arm bushing. It might a combination of some of these problems also. I really don't think the problem you are describing has anything to do with it being a fwd car.

bonzelite

iTrader: (2)

bad bushing and fwd. bad alignment and fwd. wide tires and fwd. not enough salt and fwd.

diverdaveman

It doesn't matter if I'm in the gas or just cruising down the road. It does it either way. Not bad, but enough to notice. It seemed to appear after I installed new axle's. I will check the bushings and everything else that I can. If by some chance the strut is bad, does the car need an alignment after replacing?

vqman

I'd replace the strut, and see how it drives, if it still has problems, then try an alignment also..

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

do people enjoy throwing parts at their cars?

get the car up in the air, and start checking ALL of the suspension.
worn control arm bushings are pretty evident with a visual inspection.
struts when worn will also cause a nose dive under braking.

505max94se

iTrader: (15)

You definitely need an allignment after replacing the struts.

505max94se

iTrader: (15)

Rwd or awd can cause the same problem that he is describing. He is saying the car is wandering and pulling on him while he is driving normal. He isn't talking about the car veering while shifting hard through a turn, which is caused by fwd.

diverdaveman

That is correct, 505max94se.

kblast523

My 1990 Max was doing something similar. Tar stripped or rutted roads "steered " the car. I knew when I bought the car (in Houston) it would need some work (power steering leak, windows inop, sunroof shade water damaged), and figured spending about $300 on the front end. Replaced the struts (now adjustable camber), replaced the lower ball joints and tie rod ends. Put a set of 215hr55x15 tires on stock rims and now it tracks like a cat. Oh, while you are aligning things, do NOT forget the rear end...that made the biggest difference, removing the "toe in" << / \ >> and getting the rear tires to track correctly << [ ] >> . Made a world of difference.

Wiking

kblast:"tracks like a cat" - bounces after mice? Sorry, to ask, I'm old stupid dog with a cat I dont like...

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Doggy opinion: never again rear wheel drive, OR wide wheels. Rear wheeler BMWs are still fuming waiting somebody to help-push out back there snowsomewhere...
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Driverdave: Forum cannot do the alignment for u. Faster to fix&tst than ask...
You tell your problem like this: "wheels w/ 245/45/17's"

DIY alignment, fast&free, picked from some website:
- Two straight plates. One touching the RH wheel side, the other touching LH side - on even floor [I use wheel size glass panels for their straightness].
- Two measuring tapes crosswise under the car; one in front of wheel, second behind the wheel
- Tape ends under RH the plate bottom edge running under LH plates.
- Read the toe in measurement on the tapes passing under LH plate edges.


Want to stop hardsteering: Do as kblast suggest "Put a set of 215hr55x15 tires on stock rimsor" or keep on...