Steering wheel alignment issues? So very strange

[iamtheyi]

I got an alignment about 3 months ago and the car was rolling straight. Steering wheel was slightly off center about 2-5 degrees to the right but nothing to complain about.

Now, the car is still rolling straight but the steering wheel seems to have gone a little crazy and has tweaked itself 25-35 degrees to the right. It happened once before but it corrected itself somehow. The car still drives relatively straight so I'm wondering what in the heck is going on lol. Is it possible to have the steering rack come out of alignment? If so how should I go about correcting this issue? Any other things I should check?

Also, every once in awhile it will pull to the left or right slightly. It's bonkers. I also get steering wheel shake at 60+ if that makes a difference.

Would bad wheel bearings cause this? Worn bushings? Bad rack and pinion?

[rcdad123]

check the rack and pinion mount/ bushings

[jr_ss]

The shake is either a poor alignment, bad bushings, and/or tires out of balance. The wheel bearing could cause an issue too, but I would see it as more of a vibration than a shake.

[iamtheyi]

Alrighttyyss. I thought that I might have been "dog tracking" from bad wheel bearings in the back. Replaced them and still have the same problem. I may have been overstating the vibration. It is very minor. Perhaps the front wheel bearings are bad? Shall I replace them?

What else could cause the problem. A quick glance the bushings look alright. Not 100% sure.

[fliprayzin240sx]

You checked your air pressure too? My car would pull left when my front left is low. I'm leaking air thru the rim, thats how I know I need more air.

[iamtheyi]

yeah. I checked all air pressure. All holding. They lose psi at even paces over time.

Not necessarily pulling is why I'm weirded out. It's just that the steering was relatively straight, then one day it got cocked to the right for some reason. It's retarded lol.

[Mikester]

Check & make sure the steering wheel/hub is tight. Also, you can recenter the turn signal canceller & steering wheel when it's apart. IIRC, there is a writeup on nicoclub for this.

As far as tires wobbling slightly at 60+mph... I'd say that's a tire balance issue. Not only verify the TP is good, make sure it's at whatever TP they were last balanced at.

[codyace]

The only thing I can think of is wore rack bushings that would allow the rack to slide a little, throwing it all off. Seems odd for sure, but that would certainly cause the 'dog leged/crooked' driving of the car's orientation, and changing position of 'wheel to straight'. (as in while the front wheels may be aligned perfect o go straight, it's really with the car not being square...causing the rear to track to a side)


There really isn't anything else that would cause this that I could think of....but anything is possible.

[buntaMN]

tires and wheel bearings wont cause an issue like that. like many people have said it could be the rack bushing wore out.

It could also be your intermediate shaft skipping teeth if it is not tight or the teeth wore out

If you bend a tie rod smashing a curb that will also happen and could still drive straight if only the tie rod is damaged... but I would hope you would notice hitting a curb or what not

I would more than likely not be due to dog leg because that would mean the rear of you car would have to be WAY messed up and you would prolly notice.

I would say check the bushings and the shaft, then make sure its lifted by the fraime and wiggle the tire back and forth lightly feeling for looseness... first hands at 9 and 3(for tie rods) then 11 and 5 (for balljoints) and then 12 and 6 (for wheelbearings)

do all that and im sure youll find the issue

[Dolby109]

Ive been having a very similar steering wheel shake that started up last time I drove my car last weekend.
The tires are pretty worn out so I think I'll change those, but the shake started so suddenly, and seemed to exist from as low as 45mph on up that I doubt its tire balancing.
I jacked the car up and couldnt feel any significant wheel play. I didn't think about the bushings much but the ones I glanced at seemed worn out, but still in tact.
Any ideas for where I should start looking?

[buntaMN]

Ive been having a very similar steering wheel shake that started up last time I drove my car last weekend.
The tires are pretty worn out so I think I'll change those, but the shake started so suddenly, and seemed to exist from as low as 45mph on up that I doubt its tire balancing.
I jacked the car up and couldnt feel any significant wheel play. I didn't think about the bushings much but the ones I glanced at seemed worn out, but still in tact.
Any ideas for where I should start looking?

wheel shake is wheel balance, bent rim or seporated tire 95% of the time

or your wheels are loose

[Dolby109]

I do have a set of drift wheels with fresh (used) tires in the shed...I'll throw them on the front and see if the shake goes away.