Why is my steering wheel shifting??

[Hoffman5982]

I'm at a loss now. I've been fighting a problem with the steering system on my s13 shifting. For instance, if I'm driving straight, and the steering wheel is straight. Then if I make a u-turn to the left, once I straighten out the steering wheel is then turned to the left a little bit while driving straight. Making a right will straighten it out, but another right will make it turned to the right while driving straight. If I hit a bump while taking a corner aggressively, the car will actually straighten a little bit.

So far I have replaced the tie rods (z32 inner, s14 outer, has bolt on tie rod spacer) both flcas, steering rack(twice), steering shafts bushing (solid), rack bushings (pbm eccentric, and sway bar bushings. Only thing left is the tension rods, which look/ feel fine. Has anyone had this problem? Its really annoying. Any help is much appreciated.

[da_crew10]

Steering column bushing could have gone completely out, but I somehow doubt it could be that. Wouldnt hurt to change it if its never been changed.

http://www.frsport.com/DIF-CNC-Machined-Aluminum-Power-Steering-Column-Bushing-Install-for-89---94-Nissan-240sx_t_89.html

[brndck]

Bad LCA ball joint usually. It will bind until you hit a bump and then shift. I've had this happen a few times.

[silviaks2nr]

Your worm gear is worn in your rack and pinion. Needs a new rack.

[brndck]

Your worm gear is worn in your rack and pinion. Needs a new rack.

I've never seen this happen. Are you suggesting that the rack is skipping teeth? I'm not saying it's not possible, I've just never seen it before.

[Hoffman5982]

Literally all of those suggestions have been replaced

[accoupe]

Ive had this problem on a sentra but it had cut springs on it. The spring would slide off the perch while turning one direction and the keep the suspension pulled in that direction. I imagine you are not running cut springs though but just a thought, maybe something is wrong in your spring or upper mount.
Also maybe your caster is out of spec with your suspenison mods?

[silviaks2nr]

I've never seen this happen. Are you suggesting that the rack is skipping teeth? I'm not saying it's not possible, I've just never seen it before.

I have 2 friends who have had this happen on their s14s. Sometimes you will hear a popping noise and sometimes you won't and it gets progressively worse. One of them the steering wheel would have to be completely sideways for the car to track straight after a u turn. So you ended up needing to turn the wheel 1/2 rotation more- don't let it get to that point it's really unsafe!

[FaLKoN240]

Have you replaced the u joint to the rack?

[Hoffman5982]

Have you replaced the u joint to the rack?

This is the only thing that hasn't bee replaced. I need to find one I guess.

[beems240sx]

Pillowball mount on the coilover, assuming you have coils. If you do guarantee that's your issue.

[dluevanos01]

Your worm gear is worn in your rack and pinion. Needs a new rack.

I've never seen this happen. Are you suggesting that the rack is skipping teeth? I'm not saying it's not possible, I've just never seen it before.

Something similar happen to my s13. The rack would "pop" and I assume skip a teeth and I would gain toe. I had to stop and turn the wheel the opposite way and hear a pop, then I'd have 0 toe. I discovered it after braking hard once on the freeway, hear a pop then when I started driving the car drove weird and it smelled like burning rubber. Pulled over and saw that the rack has skipped a teeth and messed with it and figured I had to turn it, let the wheel rub against the wheel well, listen for a pop and it'll correct itself.

After that I don't have a hard time believing that the steering racks fail. I have an s14 steering rack/pinion on my s13 now

[SmokeCircle]

Pillowball mount on the coilover, assuming you have coils. If you do guarantee that's your issue.

this is your problem i bet...my PSM coils did this

[Mishkin_707]

It's funny, I'm having the same problem, it was doing it before I went coilovers so I wouldn't think it's that, I'm keeping an eye here see what anyone finds out


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[Hoffman5982]

Pillowball mount on the coilover, assuming you have coils. If you do guarantee that's your issue.

Is there any fixing it or do I just need to replace the mount? What do I need to look for to confirm this?

[beems240sx]

It might make noise. Pop ping or just bind. What coils do you have? I made stance give me ball bearing Pillowball top hats and all my issues went away. You can try lithium grease

[Hoffman5982]

They are BC BR's. There is no pops or pings with them though.

[jr_ss]

Coil bind? You should grab some roller thrust bearings and put them on your spring perch, or do as Beems did and get pillow all mounts.

[beems240sx]

I have brand new bc br on my acura tl as well. I slightly feel the symptoms in my steering wheel but just ignore it.

[240truck]

either your ball joints or upper strut bearing.

[NISR20MO]

I had this exact issue before and it was my solid rack bushings. They allowed the rack to slide back and forth a few MMs under loads such as hitting the steering stops.

They were Yanack bushes in particular, the setup was 235 R-comps and a remanned rack with D2 coilovers, SPL outers and stock FLCA's and tension rods.

I ended up using a wire wheel to scuff up both sides of the aluminum Yanack bushings. Then I took a spare passenger side energy suspension rack bushing that I had laying around and I cut the two edges off so I had a curved strip of urethane. I cut the urethane strip in half and put one piece between each sides rack bushes and the rack clamps to take up any extra slack and then I tightened the shit out of the brackets.

I would bet that is what your issue is. It drove me bonkers.

[FaLKoN240]

Hm... I wonder if that's what's going on with my PBM rack spacers...

[OBEEWON]

sounds like oil is leaking on the rack and letting is squirm around in the bushings.

[LockOn!]

I had this exact issue before and it was my solid rack bushings. They allowed the rack to slide back and forth a few MMs under loads such as hitting the steering stops.



I'd start here. I had the same problem but just with old crummy bushings. They were allowing the rack to slop around and each time the wheels were turned the steering wheel would stick to that side. I popped some of these in and they seemed to solve the issue:

http://www.frsport.com/Energy-Suspension-7-10104R-Polyurethane-Steering-Rack-Bushing-RED_p_1386.html

Only thing is I also did the rack at the same time since mine was leaking, so I'm not sure if the rack had an issues as well other than bad seals. Its cheap and easy though so I'd start there.

[brndck]

I'll hafta check that too. I'm running the PBM solid bushings also.

[KevinEdgar]

Fuck! I used to get this same problem. I can't tell if I still have the issue cause I don't drive my car on a regular basis. I feel like it stopped doing the popping, ghost steering thing after I raised my car.

[Hoffman5982]

I really don't understand how the bushings could allow movement when the drivers side bushing sits snug in that little crevice, but anything could happen I guess. I didn't have this problem with my s13 rack, but I was using s14 bushings with it so maybe it was so tight that it couldn't move, if that makes sense. The two new racks have been s14's, and neither leak.

[NISR20MO]

I went reman after a leaky rack, went alternate reman again after a shitty first reman, and then got a decent one. I had the solid bushings on through all three racks. All of this is in a S14 and all were S14 racks. The yanack bushing has the cow hoof pattern too, still slipped around, and I've had the PBM's as well.

Mine may or not have done it all along , it could have started after getting juicy during a rack swap. In the beginning I paid it no mind, I had issues with the SPL outers creaking and moaning like a pirate ship. Just slip an extra rubber/urethane layer in your setup.

[FaLKoN240]

I can feel it when I drive down a particular street by my house. It's MAD sketch like it pushes the car to the outside of the turn for a quick second. Ugh...

[Drift_Monkey]

im also having the same issue on my s14. the angle of my steering wheel changes depending on the turn i take.

[EthanR]

I had this exact same issue. Ended up putting a new rack in it, and PBM rack bushings. It felt like it was skipping teeth - apparently it was. Also my old bushings were pretty worn, and it would allow it to move a little bit.

I also threw a stance steering bushing thing (the circle one) in at the same time. My other bushing was good but I did it anyways.

Just my experience.

[Nategreat923]

So I was having this same issue, and decided to change my rack bushings as aforementioned in this thread, well needless to say it solved my issue LOL

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c127/nategreat923/10511459_942636332429902_723175219955932438_o_zps0 ad68955.jpg (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/nategreat923/media/10511459_942636332429902_723175219955932438_o_zps0 ad68955.jpg.html)

[zooopreme]

So I was having this same issue, and decided to change my rack bushings as aforementioned in this thread, well needless to say it solved my issue LOL

What part of

So far I have replaced the tie rods (z32 inner, s14 outer, has bolt on tie rod spacer) both flcas, steering rack(twice), steering shafts bushing (solid), rack bushings (pbm eccentric, and sway bar bushings. Only thing left is the tension rods, which look/ feel fine. Has anyone had this problem? Its really annoying. Any help is much appreciated.

flew above your head?

If you're going to post something with the intentions of helping at least try to be smart about it. Read every reply regarding rack bushings in this thread, none of which helped the OP, then you come in posting about how rack bushings fixed your issue? C'mon man.

[Grocery Cart]

I'm pretty sure he fixed this, but lol zooopreme. Some people just don't know how to read, or don't have the patience.

[Nategreat923]

sounds like oil is leaking on the rack and letting is squirm around in the bushings.

This is actually the post that got me thinking, so I went off of this. I was just posting what had solved my issue is all.

[Hoffman5982]

Yeah I'm still having the same issue, but the third rack I've put in has died so I'm not worrying about it until I either buy a refurbed rack or send mine to get converted to a manual.

I've since replaced the circular bushing with a solid and installed new tension rods. My guess it either the coupler joining the rack to the steering shaft, or the shitty steering wheel hub that will also be replaced soon with a Splash.

[Hoffman5982]

So I recently had my rack converted to manual, and while I had it out I replaced the coupler connecting the steering column to the rack. Since putting the rack back in the steering wheel hasn't shifted a single bit, So I'm confident saying that that was the issue.

I hope this can help anyone with the same issue.

[omgosh]

Assuming steering parts and bushings were good, youd be experiencing "memory steer", which is caused by the coil spring binding up under twisting, and fighting the steering. Its caused by worn upper strut mounts. You can add some torrington bearings to reduce the coil bind futher..

[Hoffman5982]

No. It was the coupler. It's fixed now.

[xggjxdfj]

Your worm gear is worn in your rack and pinion. Needs a new rack.http://lifehealthus.com/image/images/123.gif

[FaLKoN240]

Coupler to what?

[OBEEWON]

The spline part of the rack that is slipped into the steering column? I'm curious too.

[danshaz]

The spline part of the rack that is slipped into the steering column? I'm curious too.

thatd be the entire bottom half from the firewall to the rack, right?
im curious as well. this sounds like an issue im going to run into.

[bataangpinoy]

I had this exact issue before and it was my solid rack bushings. They allowed the rack to slide back and forth a few MMs under loads such as hitting the steering stops.... It drove me bonkers.

BINGO. I kept wondering why I had a similar issue with my s13; I just attributed it to extended LCA's and 235/40's on a 9j up front. When I went to do an oil change, I had noticed that one of the rack brackets had partially snapped, and was letting my rack flex about.

[Hoffman5982]

Your worm gear is worn in your rack and pinion. Needs a new rack.http://lifehealthus.com/image/images/123.gif

I don't think you saw where I said my issue is fixed. Rack was leaking but otherwise fine.

Coupler to what?

The spline part of the rack that is slipped into the steering column? I'm curious too.

I'm talking about this do-hicky right here
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i40/hoffman91/CF2F86E7-CE22-4A8F-BA60-2E9AF12D9C99_zps476a7f44.jpg

Replaced that and it's back to normal now.

[FaLKoN240]

Where did you order that from? Do you have a part number?


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[Hoffman5982]

That's not my pic. I got mine from a junkyard car

[ATLspeed]

I've been having this problem since I put my coilovers on. Everyone's will be different from case to case. Mine turned out to be the top pillow ball on my coilover, had too much up/down play. Granted they are godspeed coils from 2007 lol

[AHall]

I had this same problem. The car would shift in such a way that the steering wheel would shift 10 degrees while turning. Then when I would hit a bump, turn back in the opposite direction or come to a stop it would shift back. I first replaced the steering rack and pinion. The problem was still there. Then I noticed the bearing in the front strut mount on the passenger side was broken when I removed the cap and saw the strut retaining screw was off center. So I replaced the strut mount and struts on both sides. The problem was still there. Then I inspected the steering rack coupler tightened it and marked it so I could see if it was moving. It was not moving and the problem was still there. I then raised the car and grabbed the wheels at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions and moved pushed and pulled and there was movement. I saw on a video somewhere this was a possible cause and an indicator of bad ball joints on the lower control arm. I replaced the control arms on both sides and the problem is gone. I hope this helps someone. It took me months and a lot of unnecessary repairs to find the cause.

[S14rebuild]

I had this same problem. The car would shift in such a way that the steering wheel would shift 10 degrees while turning. Then when I would hit a bump, turn back in the opposite direction or come to a stop it would shift back. I first replaced the steering rack and pinion. The problem was still there. Then I noticed the bearing in the front strut mount on the passenger side was broken when I removed the cap and saw the strut retaining screw was off center. So I replaced the strut mount and struts on both sides. The problem was still there. Then I inspected the steering rack coupler tightened it and marked it so I could see if it was moving. It was not moving and the problem was still there. I then raised the car and grabbed the wheels at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions and moved pushed and pulled and there was movement. I saw on a video somewhere this was a possible cause and an indicator of bad ball joints on the lower control arm. I replaced the control arms on both sides and the problem is gone. I hope this helps someone. It took me months and a lot of unnecessary repairs to find the cause.

Thank you for reyn to a thread that is 6yrs old...

[AHall]

Thank you for reyn to a thread that is 6yrs old...

Just trying to help people a issue I just had. Someone may have this problem even now like I did. What is the value of your comment?

[S14rebuild]

As equal to your old as thread bump.


Oh and welcome to zilvia