Steering woes

[priceless]

I havent got a chance to run down the problem.  Been out of town and trying to get my car tuned correctly.  Nothing but morons around here. I should just get HP tuners and try myself.  Couldn't do worse.

Hey Blake, Ill try that this week.  See if it is the rack.  I also think my coil over setup is worthless. Which could contribute to the issue.

[priceless]

Update:

Disconnected my power steering and it still has problems at speed.  After talking with some people (Blake and others) I think its the power steering rack.

[346fc3s]

I would recheck your alignment, it sounds like you have either very little or negative caster or too much toe out.  Which subframe do you have?  If you have the Samberg one it may be possible to get negative caster, or at the very least very very little.  I didn't check to see what minimum caster angles were but I'm close to centered with ~4.5 degrees and it's a big cam. 

If you had something that loose I'm assuming either you or someone else would have caught it while checking out the car, I've never seen a "broken" rack feel overboosted, tight, binding, "crunchy" are all possibilities but I have a hard time believing overboosted, especially if it still does it with the PS disconnected.  Get us the alignment numbers before you start spending any more money.

[priceless]

UPDATE:

Its been a while, been really busy finally got the car drivable/ tuned a little to fix the steering. (still idles like shit when cold) One thing I noticed when I jacked up the front end is how the front tires looked.  They went in weird directions.  So I did a little research and found it might be my bump steer.  NOW I know this isnt the correct way to fix it, but I put some spacers on and til the tires looked correct when the front end was up. I know this is not the right way to fix bump steer but I though what could hurt.  Also I replaced the two passenger side alignment bolts.  I was told they were the wrong ones in there.  Took the car out for a drive, and the steering is WAY better.  Hit a little over 120 and didnt have the same problem.  It was still a little touchy but no where near before.

Also found out under hard braking there is a clunk noise on the passenger front.  Found out it is the Sway Bar link.  Its turned and about 1/8 inch off the lower control arm.  So when I brake, it bangs against it.  Ill try to figure that out tomorrow. Its a heavier duty link.

I also think the shocks/ spring set up could be better. (bilstein with HKS springs and pillow ball mounts, coilover setup)  The the rear trailing arms and rear toe control arms need either new bushings (only ones i didnt replace) or the solid mounts.

Thanks to Blake and Matt for the help and parts. When I get the rest of it situated Ill put out another update.

[digitalsolo]

Glad to hear it is getting closer.   Going to be a great car when it is finished.

[2manyFDs]

May I ask how many miles are on the car and where it spent a lot of its life?

[mattster03]

Just to let you know, I have a longacre bumpsteer gauge that I rent out to members for $50+shipping. I put a little video together about it that if you search should be easy to find. Basically it reads out how much your car toes "in" or out throught the range of suspension travel. It helps you dial in the number of spacers needed. I found that one additional 1/4" spacer put my setup right on the money. PM me if interested.

[Jordan Innovations]

Just to let you know, I have a longacre bumpsteer gauge that I rent out to members for $50+shipping. I put a little video together about it that if you search should be easy to find. Basically it reads out how much your car toes "in" or out throught the range of suspension travel. It helps you dial in the number of spacers needed. I found that one additional 1/4" spacer put my setup right on the money. PM me if interested.

Loved that video, and loved that you're renting this out still.  People should seriously do this.

[priceless]

May I ask how many miles are on the car and where it spent a lot of its life?

I think I saved this car from the junker.  Its been all over the US.  Its even been in a book about Lsx swaps. 

Hey Matt, I will eventually rent that tool.  Maybe in a few months.  Got a new job, been extremely busy. 

[priceless]

Update: (sorry for the delay, got a new job right after the last post and been busy)

After Everything.  Replacing a ton of parts I finally got the steering completely fixed.  Turned out after all it was the steering rack that was bad.  So now I can drive it faster than 65 without it getting twichy.  Im going to replace the bump steer soon, just to know everything suspension wise has been replaced.

Now on to the tuning.

[digitalsolo]

Well, that certainly explains a lot.   Glad to hear it's not so scary anymore, that thing definitely felt weird before.

[Focuzed-REX]

Just thought i would update. I figured out my problem. All this time my problem was bad springs. After i replaced everything in the suspension except for springs including using the turn one power steering pump restrictor. With no resolve i finally went ahead and bit the bullet to buy the ground control coil overs since i already had the koni yellow shocks. and after getting it aligned my problem has disappeared. i think my tires are a little worn incorrectly because it just seems to get better every day. But no more wobble or scary steering at high speeds including higher speed cornering. Car feels very planted and as it gets better and im learning how sensitive this steering is im getting more confident in the car.

[Mik3ymomo]

I am having same issue with very light and twitchy steering at high speed/rpm. Car is currently at shop getting corner balanced and alignment. My rack is under driven 25% and has restrictor in the line. When it comes back from
Shop and is still scary to drive at speed then a steering rack is in my future.


Reading these problem threads is like reading a medical book.
I think I have every symptom of every disease.

[priceless]

I am having same issue with very light and twitchy steering at high speed/rpm. Car is currently at shop getting corner balanced and alignment. My rack is under driven 25% and has restrictor in the line. When it comes back from
Shop and is still scary to drive at speed then a steering rack is in my future.


Reading these problem threads is like reading a medical book.
I think I have every symptom of every disease.

After replacing my engine, thought i blew it up found out after i bought an LS2 it was just a broken valve spring. I am once again having the same problems.  Ive even replaced all 4 wheel bearings, and a new bumpsteer since the old one was old. Still have the problems. Going to get an alignment once again some time this week.

I also have an UD pulley 25% on the new LS2.  Its weird that at 2000 rpms going 20mph i have no problem.  But at 2000rpms going 70+ my ass puckers. Only thing left that i can think of is ball joints. Even though the tests i do on them seem to be fine. I might just buy the turn one P/S to see if it make a difference.

[Mik3ymomo]

So you replaced the rack with a new one? Refurbished or had yours rebuilt?
Any chance you bought a used bad one?

I guess the only way to test if the pump
is overpowering the rack is to loop it and see if it goes away.

I can live without power steering if it means getting rid of this high speed/high rpm feeling of the car rear steering.
My alignment and corner balance makes the car feel more balanced and is cornering better but it didn't do anything for the swaying at high speed.
Feels like I have to make a lot of little steering adjustments going straight and its even worse at WOT.