StangGrin
New Member
Hello All,
The steering wheel in my '99 GT has recently become uncentered when the car is driving straight. I'm hoping some might have more ideas about what I could check. This is how my steering wheel is positioned now...
This started about 1000 miles after replacing the original rear control arms; don't think this is really a factor. A wheel alignment where the toe was corrected (both wheels at +0.15°) also centered the steering wheel. But 300 miles later the steering wheel returned to being uncentered, yet the car still tracks straight.
Another point is that even with the CC plates, there wasn't enough movement to bring the caster negative to get into spec. But according to J&M that isn't such an issue. I suppose they should be at least the same, which is yet to be the case.
Based on the details below, do some of you have any suggestions for what else I could look at?
- lowering springs - Eibach Pro dropped ~1.25â€
- poly isolators all around
- Energy Suspension offset steering rack bushings
- Tokico struts - HB3140
- Tokico shocks - HE3723
- rear control arms (upper + lower) Steeda steel with 3-piece torque box bushings
- J&M CC plates
- tie rod ends good. inners 2 years old.
- steering wheel shaft-to-rack-input connection secure
2 year old alignment marks still in alignment
- no vibration or shimmy
- looseness in steering wheel - none
- wheel alignment 10/17/2014
toe: spec 0 - 0.25°
left: +0.15°
right: -0.05 [out]
caster: spec 2.5 - 4.0° (3.5° optimal)
left: +3.8°
right: +4.2° [out]
- wheels - Drag DR33 17x7.55
- tires - Yokohama YK520 245/45R-17
- air pressures all correct
Thanks,
Chris
The steering wheel in my '99 GT has recently become uncentered when the car is driving straight. I'm hoping some might have more ideas about what I could check. This is how my steering wheel is positioned now...
This started about 1000 miles after replacing the original rear control arms; don't think this is really a factor. A wheel alignment where the toe was corrected (both wheels at +0.15°) also centered the steering wheel. But 300 miles later the steering wheel returned to being uncentered, yet the car still tracks straight.
Another point is that even with the CC plates, there wasn't enough movement to bring the caster negative to get into spec. But according to J&M that isn't such an issue. I suppose they should be at least the same, which is yet to be the case.
Based on the details below, do some of you have any suggestions for what else I could look at?
- lowering springs - Eibach Pro dropped ~1.25â€
- poly isolators all around
- Energy Suspension offset steering rack bushings
- Tokico struts - HB3140
- Tokico shocks - HE3723
- rear control arms (upper + lower) Steeda steel with 3-piece torque box bushings
- J&M CC plates
- tie rod ends good. inners 2 years old.
- steering wheel shaft-to-rack-input connection secure
2 year old alignment marks still in alignment
- no vibration or shimmy
- looseness in steering wheel - none
- wheel alignment 10/17/2014
toe: spec 0 - 0.25°
left: +0.15°
right: -0.05 [out]
caster: spec 2.5 - 4.0° (3.5° optimal)
left: +3.8°
right: +4.2° [out]
- wheels - Drag DR33 17x7.55
- tires - Yokohama YK520 245/45R-17
- air pressures all correct
Thanks,
Chris