Steering problem... please help...

[7M-GTE]

Ok I had only had my car back from it's rebuild for about 600 miles, and one day I was leaving work to go get my taxes done... and some girl that wasn't paying attention pulled out in front of me in her volvo and totaled out my car... of course I couldn't let it go to waste... so I bought it back from the insurance company... now I'm having some steering problems... like I'll go to take a turn and the wheel will pull a little bit at the first part of the turn and then it's fine... then when I'm going to straighten it out its a little tough to get it straight but when I get it straight it's fine... the other day I went to go get an alignment... and of course it was off more than I thought... but they aligned it and I"m still having the same problem... anyone have any suggestions... I've already changed out my upper control arms, and my outer tierod ends...


any help is greatly appreciated b\c it helps me get my rebuilt baby back on the road....

 

[van1684]

sounds like something is catching while turning. does this only happen when turning left, right, or both? does it make any noise when you hit this "spot" while turning?

 

[7M-GTE]

sounds like something is catching while turning. does this only happen when turning left, right, or both? does it make any noise when you hit this "spot" while turning?

it does it when turning both ways... and no there is no noise...

 

[rakkasan]

Check your rims, maybe they're warped or have a flat spot?

 

[supra90turbo]

rims have a flat spot?
hm...
no

this is something in the steering system. not the rolling apparatus, yo.




check your rack :momaru:
seriously, though. its hanging up in there. you changed your tie rods? outers? inners? both?

where was the hit? how hard? any pictures of it fucked up?
just to get a good idea of it...

 

[7M-GTE]

yeah I have pics... I'll post them up later today... but I was hit on the passenger side... right at the front fender... thats where most of the damage was... I was thinkin it was in my steering system also... at first I thought it was suspension... oh yeah... the other day I lifted up the front of the car and started turning the wheels by literally grabbing the wheels and turning them, and I could feel that little jerk going back and forth... so I'm almost positive its in my rack... or at least thats my best guess... anyone else have any suggestions?

 

[MisterTurbineTwister]

I'm willing to bet that your rack shaft on the passengers side is bent. You need a new unit. You should also replace the upper and lower control arms, inner and outer tie rods and sleeves. If your car was hit on the passengers side front fender and the wheel took the shot, I would also have the steering knuckle, both front rotors and pads replaced ( so the brakes won't pull to one side replacing one side only) and replace the bearings on the passengers side.

You may have not hurt some of those parts, but they were envolved in the collision. Whenever I see a collision (I do collision repair and restoration for a living) we replace the entire suspension assembly on the side or sides that were damaged along with both brakes on the front or rear, whichever was hit. It may seem like overkill, but you'll nickel and dime yourself to death scrubbing tires, even if it tracks straight and has no signs of pulling. I have seen it 30 times or more.

You may have to get another wheel as well. Have it pulled off and balance checked at a tire shop for $10. They will tell you. Also examine the inner and outer tire beads for damage or fractures. If you have lost any air pressure in that tire (even if it holds and doesn't leak), this means that the tire and or wheel flexed past the correct bead seal and one or the other or both should be repaired or replaced.

I would also check to see if your boost is having problems if this is a turbo car. Your intercooler tubing runs inside your passengers side fender and is plastic. If it has been cracked or even bent in any way, replace it. It could leak in the future if it hasn't already.

I have talked to the administrators on this site about posting some frame specs from a vintage mitchell catalog for the MKII, MKIII and MKIV Supras for everyone to look at. I will be getting the information next Monday (April 24th) and hand it over to someone on this site to post as a sticky. This has critical information on frame measurments for collision repair and helps folks like you check your setup for frame damage.

 

[7M-GTE]

I'm willing to bet that your rack shaft on the passengers side is bent. You need a new unit. You should also replace the upper and lower control arms, inner and outer tie rods and sleeves. If your car was hit on the passengers side front fender and the wheel took the shot, I would also have the steering knuckle, both front rotors and pads replaced ( so the brakes won't pull to one side replacing one side only) and replace the bearings on the passengers side.

You may have not hurt some of those parts, but they were envolved in the collision. Whenever I see a collision (I do collision repair and restoration for a living) we replace the entire suspension assembly on the side or sides that were damaged along with both brakes on the front or rear, whichever was hit. It may seem like overkill, but you'll nickel and dime yourself to death scrubbing tires, even if it tracks straight and has no signs of pulling. I have seen it 30 times or more.

You may have to get another wheel as well. Have it pulled off and balance checked at a tire shop for $10. They will tell you. Also examine the inner and outer tire beads for damage or fractures. If you have lost any air pressure in that tire (even if it holds and doesn't leak), this means that the tire and or wheel flexed past the correct bead seal and one or the other or both should be repaired or replaced.

I would also check to see if your boost is having problems if this is a turbo car. Your intercooler tubing runs inside your passengers side fender and is plastic. If it has been cracked or even bent in any way, replace it. It could leak in the future if it hasn't already.

I have talked to the administrators on this site about posting some frame specs from a vintage mitchell catalog for the MKII, MKIII and MKIV Supras for everyone to look at. I will be getting the information next Monday (April 24th) and hand it over to someone on this site to post as a sticky. This has critical information on frame measurments for collision repair and helps folks like you check your setup for frame damage.

I've already replaced both upper control arms... but not lower... would I really need to do the lowers... I mean it would be no problem b\c I have a whole parts car (87 turbo)... I guess it wouldn't be a bad idea to just go ahead and do all of that... it wouldn't hurt... I'd also be interested in those frame measurements... I mean I'm not sure that I was hit that hard... but it wouldn't hurt to check...

 

[MisterTurbineTwister]

I'll see if I can get those specs for you soon. You're right about replacing parts. If you have them, I would just go ahead and do it to save yourself the trouble in the future with eating tires. I would also use the rack unit from your parts car as well.

If you have an '87 turbo parts car, would you be willing to sell these parts if you have them?:

-fuel pressure dampener (mounted on the back of the fuel rail)
-fog lamp assemblies
-drivers side (left) outer door handle


Thanks!

 

[7M-GTE]

Yes... that 87 turbo 5sp targa will be turning into a parts car when I'm done pulling what I need off of it...

 

[JonoTurbo]

You might want to check the steering rack mount bolts for tightness. I replaced my rack and didn't do a good job tightening the bolts, and at the first part of my turn the rack slid in the mounts and the car would pull the other way for a second, it was pretty scary.

 

[7M-GTE]

thank you...