hey guys, i need some input regarding a steering problem that i have. when i drive straight and hold the steering wheel steadily, there are times when the car will drive straight then suddenly pull slightly to the left or right... not by too much, but just slightly enough that i can correct it by countersteering. it happens while driving at any speed. the steering wheel feels normal, like it's not loose or anything when i turn.

1. if my alignment is off, wouldn't it just keep pulling to 'one' side? not both.

2. how do i determine if the ball joint is bad?

3. how do i know if the tierods are bad? <-- my intuition says this is the culprit

4. how do i know if my whole steering rack is f***ed? i hope this isn't the case.

can anyone give me some pointers to narrow down this problem? it's scary to drive (especially with the icy roads here) with this problem. any input will be greatly appreciated. thanks

I've been having similar problems ever since I put on my new wheels..

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1. yes so that's probably not it.

2. ball joints will sometimes make a noise over bumps, the boots will be leaking, if you unbolt the control arm from it and feel how it moves it should be relatively stiff. Although it's more of a problem when going in an up and down motion like bumps.

3. if you jack up the car, get the wheels off the ground and move the wheels from side to side. if you can move the wheel some before it actually moves the tie rod into the rack then theres too much play in it and that's your problem. Then you just have to feel if its the inner or outter tie rod end.

4. if the tie rods aren't whats bad.

Could also be a bad CV axle - but normally that does it back and forth fairly consistantly

I've been having this problem going back and forth to work, but its a road heavily traveled by heavy semis, so I hope that I'm just driving in ruts and that nothing is actually wrong. Once it warms up a little I'll have to check this out.

My old Celica had nice, tight steering, Never noticed anything wrong with it. But this one feels a little looser, and will pull either way if there is a rut in the road. Hopefully for you, Azian, that your problem is the same as mine and it's just older worn-out steering. I doubt if yours is worn out like mine though. Potholes...

When i purchased my first celica i got a great deal on it cause the steering was off. I figured i could fix it. After looking at the steering system i found out the rack was not bolted on one side of the car. i got it in place and bought the screw. It took a whole ten minutes.

Jack the car up and give the wheels good pulls bak and forth to see if there is play in the steering if there is feel if it is the tie rod ends or squeeze the rack end gator boots to see if it is in the inner rack ends do this with the car going and not going as this could also tell you if it is inside the rack.

check your tyres to as some have a tendancy to track which will make the steering out of sorts

also mine can be sensitive specially on open road speeds

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Tires can make a big difference, especially if they are worn irregularly. Check all the pressures as well. It could also be a combination of worn tires/alignment. I had a Lexus I was working on with that problem, car wanted to pull right really hard, swapped the tires around and then it pulled left just a bit. Turned out something was with the tires (didn't visually look bad) because it drove a bit straighter with new tires, but still needed aligned.

yes I'm known for reviving old threads...

so I have steering wheel issue. If I take a on ramp going fast, turning right (my steering wheel will stick to the right while I'm driving straight) and if I'm taking an on ramp going fast, turning left(my steering wheel will stick to the left)

a mechanic said my bushings are worn out. Do we have bushings in the steering rack??

just going back to the issue from the OP, i realized my problem was with the wheels. i was having the issue with my 17" wedsport wheels, but when i went back to my 15" winter wheels, it stopped pulling.

i spoke with a buddy who works as a tech for Ford and mentioned it may have to do with the difference in offset.