Question about my car and the way its "tracking"

[clifton23]

160k on the odometer.. The car tracks on the road at highway speeds. Its gotten worse and worse. I have had the alignment checked and it was fine.
Any little groove it will jerk the car to follow it.

The steering feels kind of loose and clunky.

What could be wrong?

[clifton23]

Re: Question about my car and the way its "tracking"

oh yeh, one thing I noticed was when stopped and the steering is straight, when I go to turn left or right i hear/feel a pop in the steering...

[McCall]

Re: Question about my car and the way its "tracking"

steering rack? Sounds like a good reason to upgrade to a Z3 one

[clifton23]

Re: Question about my car and the way its "tracking"

about 1.5 -2 years ago I was hit by a chevy 1500 that ran a stop sign, real slow speeds but it tore up the front of my car..

The steering rack was one of the things they replaced... Think it could be bad?

I was hoping it was the tierods.. The boots are all cracked and open.

[Fair!]

Re: Question about my car and the way its "tracking"

Can you list any mods to the car as well as what was replaced from the crash? Help us diagnose.

[McCall]

Re: Question about my car and the way its "tracking"

about 1.5 -2 years ago I was hit by a chevy 1500 that ran a stop sign, real slow speeds but it tore up the front of my car..

The steering rack was one of the things they replaced... Think it could be bad?

I was hoping it was the tierods.. The boots are all cracked and open.

Well both tie rods don't usually go bad at the same time but that might be the case here based on your report of their condition. Since changing those is easy and somewhat cheap, I'd start there. I mean it definitely couldn't hurt.

[clifton23]

Re: Question about my car and the way its "tracking"

mods:
ground control coilovers. I cant remember the exact eibachs that are in it..
m3 swaybars with links
new front control arm bushing (shoulda got the m3 solid one)
vorshlag rtab limiters with poly bushings
vorshlag stud kit

brembo rotors, hawk hps pads, ss lines...

thats about it for suspension..


They replaced my front left suspension, steering rack, motor mounts, bumper, left fender, hood, grill area, headlights...

The wreck was not more then 5mph but the truck had a brush gaurd.

[clifton23]

Re: Question about my car and the way its "tracking"

Well both tie rods don't usually go bad at the same time but that might be the case here based on your report of their condition. Since changing those is easy and somewhat cheap, I'd start there. I mean it definitely couldn't hurt.

They might not be both bad.. It really seems like the car tracks left almost everytime.. just a quick jerk left and then I correct.

I am going to be replacing these pretty soon, so hopefully that fixes it. BUT the fact that you mention steering rack first scares me..

[Fair!]

Re: Question about my car and the way its "tracking"

mods:
ground control coilovers. I cant remember the exact eibachs that are in it..
m3 swaybars with links
new front control arm bushing (shoulda got the m3 solid one)
vorshlag rtab limiters with poly bushings
vorshlag stud kit

brembo rotors, hawk hps pads, ss lines...

thats about it for suspension..


They replaced my front left suspension, steering rack, motor mounts, bumper, left fender, hood, grill area, headlights...

The wreck was not more then 5mph but the truck had a brush gaurd.

GC coilovers... perhaps GC camber plates too? Otherwise, who's?

[clifton23]

Re: Question about my car and the way its "tracking"

none.. that was next on the list. Then I moved from Austin to Corpus and don't have the time to autocross anymore :SAD:

[hancheyb]

Re: Question about my car and the way its "tracking"

mods:
ground control coilovers. I cant remember the exact eibachs that are in it..
new front control arm bushing (shoulda got the m3 solid one)

If you have coilovers and Non M LCA bushings you'll have this issue. Have someone drive in your drive way and slam on the brakes. You'll see the wheel move back in the wheel well with Non M ones.

Brian

[clifton23]

Re: Question about my car and the way its "tracking"

Interesting..

I wonder if this is why my car pulls to the left or right when hard braking..
I have new calipers and pads and was still wondering why this occured..

K, so Im going to get new tierods, M LCA bushings and a new alignment in the next week or so.

Thanks!

[Fair!]

Re: Question about my car and the way its "tracking"

If you have coilovers and Non M LCA bushings you'll have this issue. Have someone drive in your drive way and slam on the brakes. You'll see the wheel move back in the wheel well with Non M ones.

Brian

Yep, that one drove Brian nuts until he figured it out. *clunk*

[Chris]

Re: Question about my car and the way its "tracking"

Tie Rods and/or the balljoint(s) in the LCA are probably where the source of your looseness is, especially since you mention the boots on the tie rods are dead. I'd start with the tie rods (because they're cheaper).

[clifton23]

Re: Question about my car and the way its "tracking"

If you have coilovers and Non M LCA bushings you'll have this issue. Have someone drive in your drive way and slam on the brakes. You'll see the wheel move back in the wheel well with Non M ones.

Brian

looked at it today.. Had the steering wheel locked and car on jack stands. I was under the car while I had a friend give a push on one of the wheels. Sure enough the LCA bushings had a TON of play in them, like 1/2" movement left to right...

Guess I will be ordering some new LCA bushings.

The tierods aren't as bad as I first thought. The boots are just cracking, they aren't torn apart.