Wanders like it's drunk.

[Goldmember]

Had my front end redone by a reputable local shop. Inner/outer tie rods, ball joints, new tires.

Alignment also done.

Yet the car isn't driving straight, it feels like I am constantly chasing it within my lane. Cornering has become imprecise and small inputs to the wheel become a big deal at the contact patch.

When I am cutting three point turns I can feel roughness and hear a groan through the steering column. Bad intermediate shaft? Rack? Really don't want to sink more $ into it...


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[Orange 94]

Take it back to the shop?


Sounds like an aweful job... If the alighnment was done properly it shouldnt do that, or they should have told you if something was wrong.

 

[bonestock3.8DTH]

Take it back to the shop?


Sounds like an aweful job... If the alighnment was done properly it shouldnt do that, or they should have told you if something was wrong.

I agree with him, if the car is wondering and isn't going straight then that is definitely an alignment issue. So I would definitely take it back to the shop and get them to re-do the alignment or something because it shouldn't be doing that if you had all that stuff replaced.

 

[Goldmember]

That's what I'll do, then. But what is the explanation for my other problem with the groan?


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[CC'S95GT]

did they show you the alignment measurements?

 

[duff daddy]

rotate tires and see if that changes the feeling.

 

[Goldmember]

No but the tech said the caster was pretty much maxed out. This concerned me because that isn't adjustable without cc plates so you can really do just a toe and go.

That and the rivet was drilled out of the d/s mount which I discovered later.


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[Goldmember]

Duff I did that when I plastidipped the wheels. It didn't change anything.


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[duff daddy]

Yea if that didnt change it, fine id have them repull the specs and see what they say, if they didnt do it right and only adjusted from on or both inner tie rod ends, it would give an odd feeling. Typically more caster gives you more stable feeling. if the caster is maxed out but still negetive, or not positive enough, then you need cc plates or something is loose/worn in the lower suspension. negetive caster will give you a very quick touchy/jiggery feeling when you turn the wheel.

 

[Goldmember]

The steering is definitely touchier than I like. I will see if they can reset it. Otherwise I just want it better than it is, I'm over spending anything past maintenance.


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[Orange 94]

Take it back to the shop.

Don't screw around with stuff. Just because the camber is maxed it doesnt mean they can't align it. If it isn't aligned properly that's their problem, they should correct it or tell you if there's something you need to fix first.

 

[Wichers123]

Your steering shaft is most likely problem.

 

[MustangChris]

sounds to me like they didnt bolt down the CC plates... the groan may be metal-on-metal contact as the plates slide around.

Before you drive it any further I'd inspect the CC nuts and the steering rack bolts to ensure they are all bolted up properly.


also, do you have a stock k-member? If so, there is a metal sleeve that lives inside the k-member around the bolts. They may have removed these sleeves when working on the car and didnt replace them. When we did this on my car it wouldnt hold an alignment.

 

[Goldmember]

Stock K. I don't think the rack was off the car, though. Will check the other stuff tomorrow when I get off work.

Regardless, I will have to take it back. Goodbye to another $80 lol


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[ReplicaR]

Alignment specs?

 

[Wichers123]

Guys guys alignment specs do not make a vehicle wander. A sloppy steering shaft will, makes it like driving a tractor.

 

[Ferocious]

Regardless, I will have to take it back. Goodbye to another $80 lol

Every alignment shop I go to comes with a 6 month warranty.

If the fault is in the alignment, you shouldn't give them another penny. It's their fault, they should fix it for free.

 

[ReplicaR]

Actually toe set perfectly straight will make the car a hand full on straight lines. I've noticed that when I ran 0 toe settings. As soon as I switched to toe in, it got a lot less nervous. toe out acted similar to toe in, not as bad as 0 toe

 

[MustangChris]

i used MM's suggestions for my alignment...... 5 years ago. when the car ran.... good times. good times.

 

[Steven]

If you only knew. I work for a shop. Alignments on customers cars? A whopping 10 minutes. An alignment on my car or one of the other performance cars we get thru the shop? We spend probably an hour on it adjusting it particularly and measuring. Sounds like you got a lazy technician and a shop trying to turn and burn work.