1G First Post, need help with alignment and steering issues

[perryg114]

So I have a 91 GST that I bought new. I did a bunch of updates on the front end to replace worn out components, inner tie rods, steering knuckles, ball joints, struts, and urathane bushings. Most of the stuff is Moog. Rack is tight with no play. I have a local tire place to the alignment.

It drives worse than my 23 yr old Ford Excursion. It wonders, pulls the left and has zero road feel. It fights you transitioning into a turn. It is like it has zero road feel and seems like it is unstable. Turning is a fight. So I am trying to figure out where to go from here. I don't want to keep taking it to suspension goobers and they keep not fixing the problem. It sorta acts like steering is over boosted in addition to alignment issues.

The car use to be very stable at any speed and had good road feel. Now it has none. The car in general is in great shape for a 32 year old car. 140k miles on the clock and garage kept. I want to drive the car but hate the way it drives now so I never drive it.

How do I get out of the incompetence loop I am in with local shops?

 

[dwb]

Check your front ball joints. If the Moog part you used were the same as some I had, they don't fit the control arm. The ball joint should press-fit and these Moogs didn't.
Keep in mind a 1g front end alignment is only toe adjustment with factory suspension.

 

[perryg114]

I need to double check that. I suspect, something on the left side may have gotten bent when the dead strut compressed and hit the stop a few times. A good shop can pull that back.

 

[pagosa dsm]

do you have a copy of the alignment before and after?

 

[steve]

When you put the urethane bushings in, did you replace the rear lower arm bushing and how was the shaft that sits inside the bushing?

If it's loose and sloppy the alignment is going to move all over the place as you drive.

I had to replace my LCAs due to corrosion of that rear shaft years ago.

 

[perryg114]

Check your front ball joints. If the Moog part you used were the same as some I had, they don't fit the control arm. The ball joint should press-fit and these Moogs didn't.
Keep in mind a 1g front end alignment is only toe adjustment with factory suspension.

Is there not some adjustment where the strut bolts to the hub? The two bolts?

 

[steve]

Is there not some adjustment where the strut bolts to the hub? The two bolts?

Not with the factory bolts. Only adjustment up front is toe. From the FSM
"Camber and caster are pre-set at the factory and cannot be adjusted."

 

[pauleyman]

Is there not some adjustment where the strut bolts to the hub? The two bolts?

As stated above no adjustment. Factory struts are not slotted. It's fixed.

 

[perryg114]

Ok so how do I get rid of the pulling to the left problem? Something bent or what? You can't correct that with just toe. Next question is can I slot the strut mounts or use adjusters for the top of the struts? I have access to a machine shop if need be but I need to know what to modify.

 

[97egl]

Ok so how do I get rid of the pulling to the left problem? Something bent or what? You can't correct that with just toe. Next question is can I slot the strut mounts or use adjusters for the top of the struts? I have access to a machine shop if need be but I need to know what to modify.

You're going to have a better chance of fixing the pull with toe than with camber. Unless it has severe camber issues caster and toe play a much bigger role in vehicles pulling in one direction or another.

You also haven't answered any of the questions anyone has asked. Do you have a copy of the alignment before and after? Did you check the LCA rear shaft to see if it was corroded? What about the moog ball joints that could have been an issue?

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Got a picture of how the car sits on all 4 tires from the front view and a side view?
My alignment shop gives me a "before" and an "after" printout of the adjustments that were done to get it in or close as possible to spec.