steering problem

[dsm4bk]

I bought a '95 TSI AWD in April that had crankwalk. The crank eventually knocked the CAS out and ruined the engine. I just had a '97 engine swapped in. one thing I should point out, is that he also installed a supra sidemount which involves beating in part of the car to get it to fit. As soon as I drove the car after the swap I noticed the steering felt very odd/different (I had 3 turbo 2G's before buying this car, so I know how the steering should feel for this car) The power steering seems to work, but when I turned the car, the wheel would continue to turn in that exact direction. I have to turn the wheel back straight manually to go straight again. I told the guy who swapped in the engine, and he said I'd just need an alignment to make it normal again.

I took it to get an alignment, and after it was done (and everything aligned to spec), I had the exact same problem. It also pulls very badly to either side if I let go of the wheel at highway speeds (mostly left) I returned the car to the shop that aligned it and when he took it for a test drive to see if it was true, he agreed that something didn't feel right, so he aligned it all over again, and it is still giving me the same problems.

The other odd thing about it, is when I go over bumps, the wheel kind of jerks to the left or right after the turn, really weird.

I have stock springs, tokiko 5 ways in the front, and kyb agx in the rear (agx are set to 1, and tokikos are set to the a little firmer than the softest setting) I have new rims, on 225/45/17 tires with good tread and still soft. They blanced out well.

I took the car to another mechanic to see how the power steering is working, and on the hoist he couldn't find anything wrong with it. He didn't notice anything wrong with the joints, shafts, etc,etc either. The passenger side wheel has a tiny bit of wobble (bearing) but it doesn't make any of the bad symptoms yet, or the whinning noises when driving.

Could the speed sensitive steering be bad, and how do you diagnose that? It feels very unusual, like the steering is dead (its almost too responsive when I turn the wheel on the highway, but again, it just stays at the same turn and I have to manually turn it back straigt)

I'd REALLY appreciate any suggestions or help on what to do.

 

[oldman]

Check your inner and outer tie rod balljoints for play.

 

[LightningGSX]

Maybe the front diff.

 

[GTM]

Originally posted by dsm4bk

...
he agreed that something didn't feel right, so he aligned it all over again, and it is still giving me the same problems.

The other odd thing about it, is when I go over bumps, the wheel kind of jerks to the left or right after the turn, really weird.
...
I have new rims, on 225/45/17 tires with good tread and still soft. They blanced out well.

I took the car to another mechanic to see
...
The passenger side wheel has a tiny bit of wobble (bearing) but it doesn't make any of the bad symptoms yet, or the whinning noises when driving.
...

I left a bit of info for others to see.

It sounds like you have too much toe out. I am concerned about the wheels not having the correct off-set for this can have a negative effect on steering geometry.

I am also concerned that the wheel bearing may also be a part of your problem.

Crowned roads will cause a car to pull one direction or the other depends which way the crown is sloping most. If you have the original wheels and tires I'd stick them back on and give it a road test over the same roads where you noticed the problems.

How much free play do you have in your steering wheel before it causes any change?

Lowering the car can also have negative effects on steering geometry. It sounds like you have an alignment issue, why they are not finding is the $64 question.

Cheers,
GTM

 

[dsm4bk]

I will check my wheel for the play, but I think its normal.

The rims are ADR's 17 x 7 with 48 offset 5 x 114.3. I checked the service manual and it said the stock offset is 46mm. I don't know if those 2 mm are what is causing my problems, but thats a good idea to borrow someones stock wheels and check how it drives.

When the car pulls on the highway, I was in the middle lane to check, and it pulled to the left.

The car is on stock springs (the previous owner had H&R racing springs (~2" drop)

The results from the alignment were:

front

left camber 0.0 Right camber -0.4
left caster 3.7 " caster 4.0
" toe 0.00 " toe 0.01"

cross camber 0.5
cross caster -0.3
total toe 0.01
set back -0.01

rear

left camber -1.5 right camber -2.2
left toe -0.11:* right toe -0.0

*said out of spec (but they had it adjusted right the first time they aligned it and it fealt the same afterwards anyway)

total toe -0.12"*
thrust angle -0.11


i'll have to check with my mechanic on some of the things you said might be the problem. thanks for your help!

 

[turboholic]

-There's a recall on the 2G's suspension, something about the front control arm's ball joint, you might want to check that out.

-I'm not sure about the 2G's but the front and rear toe of the 1G are adjustable.

 

[GTM]

Originally posted by dsm4bk
I will check my wheel for the play, but I think its normal.
...
I don't know if those 2 mm are what is causing my problems, but thats a good idea to borrow someones stock wheels and check how it drives.

I've done my share of alignments but not a specialist by any means but the biggest grief I've has comes from aftermarket wheels and tires.

As turboholic mentioned do check on the suspension recalls available to you. I would think you would have heard a clunk plus the alignment guys would have noted a bad ball joint before testing and doing the alignment.

All cars will have provisions for toe-in / toe-out on the front, IRS equipped cars usually will have some provisions.

It may be that you will have to take matters into your own hands and tweak the toe-in just a bit at a time. But lets have the specialists continue if there are problems when you re-install factory wheels.

You may have increased the diameter and measuring point so they are not getting the correct readings.

If you pass your hand from side to side on the tread you should not feel any of the tread try to hook into your flesh more in one direction than the other. If it does this usually is a sign that you have a toe adjustment problem, though it doesn't work well on new tires.

Cheers,
GTM

 

[dsm4bk]

I took the car back to the alignment shop, and the worker went for a test drive with me, and felt the wheel and thought it was very odd.

He said my alignment is good, but the steering wheel is not supposed to stay at the direction its steered to after letting go of it.

It was put on the hoist and he checked everything and couldn't really find anything wrong. But he turned the wheel all the way to the side and saw that the passeneger side lower lateral arm ball joint is cracked (he thinks that MIGHT be whats causing the wheel to not reutrn straight, you guys agree? I will be taking the car to get checked at the dealer next week, but don't want to have to pay them a lot of money if thats not whats causing this problem. Maybe the bad ball joint is why my damn passenger side wheel bearing is wobbling a bit too

The drivers side lateral arm had the sticker on it and wasn't as rusty as the passeneger side, so that must have been the one replaced when it was checked for the recall (by previous owner) If they checked the passeneger one and found that it was OK, but now its bad, shouldn't it still be covered for the recall (since it is the original one)?


Thanks for the help man

 

[GTM]

Originally posted by dsm4bk

...
He said my alignment is good, but the steering wheel is not supposed to stay at the direction its steered to after letting go of it.
...
I will be taking the car to get checked at the dealer next week, but don't want to have to pay them a lot of money if thats not whats causing this problem. Maybe the bad ball joint is why my damn passenger side wheel bearing is wobbling a bit too
...
If they checked the passeneger one and found that it was OK, but now its bad, shouldn't it still be covered for the recall (since it is the original one)?

This is true that the wheel should not stay where it's left when the car is moving forward. You need to find out why this is happening. My instant thoughts are the steering rack may be bent from some accident and that's why they replaced the one side.

You may open a can of worms if the recall stated they were supposed to have replaced both sides but only did one but charged the factory for both.

A crack in any part of the suspension is never a good thing. Do not be driving the car hard especially around corners lest you hit a bump or pothole and it completely let go into a school bus filled with kids. Call the dealer and see what parts were covered under the recall, you may find them here or on the internet for recalls. May no be wise to tell them about the other problems you are having if you follow my thinking.

Cheers,
GTM

 

[turboholic]

Originally posted by dsm4bk
The drivers side lateral arm had the sticker on it

http://www.edmunds.com/maintenance/...tner=edmunds&tid=edmunds...mnt.step2.8.Eagle*