2G Steering wheel wont return to center

[babyviper]

I just got my car together, replacing every suspension part on my vehicle. Two things I have noticed after driving it after a few thousand miles is the steering is very direct and does not return to center. There isn't any lag play in the steering wheel input to make the tires move. Its just a bit annoying when driving long distances, having to keep both hands on the wheel.

I am wondering if it has anything to do with the Volk lateral arms or the alignment. I kind of leaning towards the alignment, as I am finding it incredibly difficult to find a shop that actually wants adjust camber on my car. Mods are listed in the 99 GSX profile and the alignment is attached.

 

[TerminalTalon]

Returning to center is directly related to caster. Have you had an alignment done?

 

[babyviper]

Returning to center is directly related to caster. Have you had an alignment done?

Yes, the results of the alignment are attached. In the first post.

 

[dwb]

steering is very direct and does not return to center.

Just to clarify the symptoms - does it pull left/right when you let go of the wheel? Or is the steering wheel stiff and doesn't free spin back to center? Or wheels are straight but steering wheel is not? Just trying to wrap my head around what you mean.

 

[FIBA M - EC17PSE]

so your BJ is very tight and you need to undo the lower pressure pad. it has to be loose enough to enable movement again but too tight will jam the BJ and wont allow self centering

 

[babyviper]

Just to clarify the symptoms - does it pull left/right when you let go of the wheel? Or is the steering wheel stiff and doesn't free spin back to center? Or wheels are straight but steering wheel is not? Just trying to wrap my head around what you mean.

Steering wheel points to whatever direction you aim it and does not return to center. So your second description fits best.

 

[babyviper]

so your BJ is very tight and you need to undo the lower pressure pad. it has to be loose enough to enable movement again but too tight will jam the BJ and wont allow self centering

This is just a picture from Volk's website for context. Too lazy to go outside at the moment. This is what you are referring to as the pressure pad the needs to be loosened?

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[dwb]

Steering wheel points to whatever direction you aim it and does not return to center. So your second description fits best.

Short of it being your ball joint(s), it could also be that the Pinion Torque Adjustment is too tight.

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[FIBA M - EC17PSE]

This is just a picture from Volk's website for context. Too lazy to go outside at the moment. This is what you are referring to as the pressure pad the needs to be loosened?

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Thats correct. You loosen the locking grub screw first then loosen the pad and then lock the grub screw up. A few members have had this with inproper adjustment and some reported clicking/knocking noise which is the ball sticking from touch tension.

What to do is have the steering wheel free and loosen it a bit and see if you can turn the rotor/knuckle by hand and if you can then its loose enough. Just dont over loosen it or you will get excess play and wear so enough it can freely move with normal force. And when moving with wheels back ok. It may take a few goes or just one

Short of it being your ball joint(s), it could also be that the Pinion Torque Adjustment is too tight.

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Unless he has had it touched ever it would never be this. Only if its been rebuilt would this get adjusted again,.if its not been touched then never touch this and it wont be his problem.

The adjustable ball joints being too stiff is a common thing. If its on the car that's where you start, helped many people solve their sticking/clicking issues with them being set to tight

 

[Black95TSIawd]

I had a similar experience after putting on the Volk Arms. The steering would not return to center and also it would continue to steer on its own when any significant angle was applied.

I wasn't sure how "tight" it needed to be as the only way the noise went away was with them very loose. I probably should have contacted Paul for clarification, but I took the lazy/easy way out and put brand new stock arms back on and everything went back to normal.

 

[TerminalTalon]

They didn’t even measure caster but everyone else’s description points to the lower control arms. I haven’t seen an old alignment graph like that in a decade so I must be spoiled with this Hunter we’ve had for awhile.

 

[babyviper]

I am surprised they didn't measure it as well. But at the end of the day, you can't change caster on a 2G anyway.

 

[FIBA M - EC17PSE]

I am surprised they didn't measure it as well. But at the end of the day, you can't change caster on a 2G anyway.

Well true and untrue. You can with aftermarket arms but also once you adjust camber then caster adjusts also. And the stock bushes are flipable so can be the old style and off to one side caster so always always need a caster reading.

 

[TerminalTalon]

You can always to the eyeball or finger test just to make sure the when is centered in the wheel well. Do some coilovers offer a caster adjustment on 2G’s?

 

[FIBA M - EC17PSE]

You can always to the eyeball or finger test just to make sure the when is centered in the wheel well. Do some coilovers offer a caster adjustment on 2G’s?

coilovers offer NOTHING on a 2G.

 

[babyviper]

I finally got around to adjusting the front LCA ball joint. It is a lot better, but not like my daily. I'll have to wait until I compare it to my friends 2G to see if its back to normal.

 

[Dbl_spirit]

I finally got around to adjusting the front LCA ball joint. It is a lot better, but not like my daily. I'll have to wait until I compare it to my friends 2G to see if its back to normal.

Im having the same issues. The wheel doesnt return to center, I have all new control arms, axles, and wheel bearings plus a fresh alignment. The car also pulls to the right a lil. Did u figure it out? Thanks

 

[babyviper]

It's a combination between the volk arms and the car being lowered. I unscrewed the ball join compression a bit and it made it better but not fully resolved. Unfortunately I don't have anything to compare it to since my other 2G has a manual rack in it.