Steering issue, car goes in the right side when driving

Author Topic: Steering issue, car goes in the right side when driving  (Read 1083 times)

Offline Sly_drums

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Steering issue, car goes in the right side when driving
« on: March 13, 2017 - 07:07:29 AM »
Hello, I am needing some help here, I have some troubles with the steering in my Challenger. I just swapped the stock power steering box for a Firm Feel stage 3, with its own pitman arm. I also have the following new parts in the front end of my car :
Koni adjustable shocks
new PST upper control arms
new front stock sway bar bushings
new tie rods
new idler arm
rebuilt steering coupler

Only « not new » parts are the strut rods bushings and I believe the torsion bar bushings.
I had the camber/caster set by a shop here a few months ago, but I did this with the old PS box. The camber has been set to maximum possible at this time.

So the looseness in my steering has vanished, this is very pleasant, the new PS box is doing well, BUT I have to hold the steering wheel pretty firm when driving else the car goes on the right side quite badly. We tried to fix it by moving the tie rods to adjust with the new PS box, but it doesn't improve.
I think that problem has always been there, but with the looseness in the former PS box I couldn't really figure it out.
I also noticed that when I am braking, the car suddenly goes straight.

Now I am wondering : is it possible that the strut rods do not do their job because of « worn » bushings ? And caster may be totally out ? That is what my step father thinks (we work together on my car) and it matches the fact that the car goes straight when braking only.
So our plan is to do the following :
order new MOOG bushings from Summit and install them
go back to the shop to adjust camber/caster again

What do you think ? Do you think I have to rebuild my current strut rods or order ajustable ones (Hotchkis, …) ? I read here that they are a great improve over the stock ones.

Thanks for helping :)




Offline Bullitt-

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Re: Steering issue, car goes in the right side when driving
« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2017 - 07:58:50 AM »
May be the "Steering Valve" needs adjustment

Steering valve adjustment ...the ones the arrows point to....Wrong...Just loosen the valve body screws & tap on the screws at the bottom (if it pulls left)or the plug at the top (if it pulls right)



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Offline Rich G

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Re: Steering issue, car goes in the right side when driving
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2017 - 09:33:07 AM »
If the caster is off it will pull. That what it sounds like especially if you changed the control arms. Make sure all the bushings are tight and nothing is loose before you do the alignment

Offline 1 Wild R/T

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Re: Steering issue, car goes in the right side when driving
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2017 - 10:58:19 AM »
May be the "Steering Valve" needs adjustment

I love that the text doesn't clarify that the arrows are pointing at where you tap not the screws you loosen to make the adjustment... The screws are the ones in the center of the valve..    And make sure the front tires are off the ground or your adjustment won't be right...    Remember very small taps, the valve doesn't need to move much...
« Last Edit: March 13, 2017 - 04:09:43 PM by 1 Wild R/T »
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Offline FY1Cuda

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Re: Steering issue, car goes in the right side when driving
« Reply #4 on: March 13, 2017 - 03:42:50 PM »
That "valve" has a slight amount of forward-and-back play. After it is loosened, tap it slightly forward or slightly rearward to equalize the left/right steering feel.  You won't be moving it more than 1/16th of an inch to effect a change (if that is the problem to begin with).