Steering shift during braking and accelerating

[xtremerevolution]

I've noticed this for a little while now. I have absolutely no idea what it is, and it pisses me off, a lot.

 

During cruising, my steering wheel will sit about 10 degrees counterclockwise. I've noticed something. If I accelerate hard, the steering corrects itself, and holding the steering wheel perfectly straight allows it to go forward. The moment I brake, I have to move the steering wheel back to the left 10-15 degrees in order to allow it to go forward again. Its natural position while just cruising is about 10 degrees counterclockwise.

 

I replaced the driver's side tie end rod last week with a Moog part, and the passenger side doesn't seem to have much play in it. I replaced that one last year. At a stop, I can wiggle the steering wheel left and right about 70 degrees pretty easily, although that also causes the wheels to turn. If I lift the car up on jackstands, its pretty difficult to find a fault because I can wiggle the wheel pretty easily as well, BUT, when I wiggle the wheel, it also turns the steering wheel.

 

Now do keep in mind its a 95 Regal with extremely easy steering. I can take a turn with one finger.

 

My guess is that since I have to change the steering position when accelerating, its the tie rods. The car has 223k now and the inner tie rods are factory original ones. Any ideas on what this could be? The wheel hubs do not have any play at all, at least not when trying to wiggle them at 12:00 and 6:00, and 3:00 and 9:00 positions.

Edited October 24, 2010 by xtremerevolution

[white4d96]

did you get an alignment after getting your tie rod end? If not that's your problem.

[xtremerevolution]

Yes I did, and alignment or not, that wouldn't explain why the "alignment" of the wheel itself changes depending on when I accelerate or brake.

[white4d96]

Mine did the same thing, but the opposite direction before I adjusted the alignment after doing my TRE's. It's not completely cured, but it wasn't professionally aligned, just me-and-a-tape-measure aligned. But yeah, mine would go to 12 o'clock on hard accel and braking but settle at 1 at a steady speed.

[xtremerevolution]

Mine did the same thing, but the opposite direction before I adjusted the alignment after doing my TRE's. It's not completely cured, but it wasn't professionally aligned, just me-and-a-tape-measure aligned. But yeah, mine would go to 12 o'clock on hard accel and braking but settle at 1 at a steady speed.

 

Well this was professionally aligned at a Firestone, so I highly doubt its the alignment. Might be worth noting that the car doesn't pull to any direction while cruising.

[Crazy K]

inspect ball joint, tie rods... rotate tires and see if there it a difference in handling?

[mra32]

Must be that mind bending torque creating some torquesteer. Check the cradle mounts and the rack mount?

[Schurkey]

Well this was professionally aligned at a Firestone

What kind of bonehead aligns a car without verifying that all the steering and suspension joints are in good condition; and that the steering wheel is straight afterwards?

 

You got screwed at Firestone--or--this is a problem that came up AFTER the alignment. Overall, this sounds like toe change due to throttle position.

 

(More-or-less in order of likelyhood) Tie rod ends (inner and outer) ball joints, strut mounts, control arm bushings, mounting brackets on the subframe for the control arms, subframe-to-body bushings, rack bushings, wheel bearings, etc.

[Night Fury]

Uhhhh torque steer? ;D

[CSI_MuNkY]

Firestone was confused when I took them my GTP to get it aligned when I did the coil over swap. Took it to another shop and they said I did a great job, they hadn't seen anything like that before.

 

Either Firestone screwed up, or something has happened since the alignment. It definitely sounds like you need to inspect all your rod ends and ball joints.

[BXX]

It turned out his rack bolts came loose.

 

When I had the car, I never had the issue. Its apparently something that happened after he got the car back

[xtremerevolution]

Not quite Bob.the problem is still there, only now the steering isn't as sloppy. I'm thinking balljoint.

 

Sent from my HTC Magic using Tapatalk

[1tinindian]

As a GM tech, I test drive cars all the time and just had a car doing what yours is doing and it was the lower ball joints.

 

 

Leon

[xtremerevolution]

As a GM tech, I test drive cars all the time and just had a car doing what yours is doing and it was the lower ball joints.

 

 

Leon

 

I ended up replacing both the balljoint and the wheel hub. Bob had mentioned that the wheel hub was a bit loose, and the balljoint was loose when I checked it. All is well now. I just need to figure out why the steering wheel is constantly turned to the left about 15 degrees. I think the subframe shifted a bit when I removed it to replace that parking pawl rod. I should probably jack up the car, loosen the subframe, and try to shift it in the other direction.

[AL]

Or get an alignment