Car won't center itself? Steering
 

I noticed today that when I was on the highway on a curve...if I let go of the steering wheel the car follows that turn pretty much perfectly. Why is that? I had an alignment done not too long ago. Shouldn't a proper alignment make it auto center?

Also...I have a massive dead spot in my steering. Is it my steering box? As i'm driving the car wanders quite a bit left to right. If i'm going in a straight line...I can move the steering wheel left and right without turning the wheels. I'm thinking of replacing the steering box...should I? Would it solve the other problem too?

Re: Car won't center itself? Steering
 

so your tires are alligned? that would be my greatest guess,get them checked because if they are unallighend it might be that your cars axle is sitting at a crooked position.

Should be like this 0---0 but can be like this /---/ or \---\ or \====/

Re: Car won't center itself? Steering
 

Based on the sheet they gave me...everything seemed to be within spec.

Re: Car won't center itself? Steering
 

if you alligned them and they where doin good at 1st, and then overtime you get a tilt on the freeway (go to left more or right more) its probably that your cars axle isnt right and making more wear on one side of the tire then the other, check your tires and see if one side has more wear then another and then compare to the one on the opposite side, can tell alot by that,

Re: Car won't center itself? Steering
 

Well the steering has been loose since I bought it a while ago...it's just really bad now.

Re: Car won't center itself? Steering
 

ah i see, well im going to be selling my steering wheel ( 91 cmaaro rs) but the airbag is sorta popping out. its awesome. and its real smooth other then the poping out lol

Re: Car won't center itself? Steering
 

oh I see good luck with the sale!

Re: Car won't center itself? Steering
 

You can adjust the steering box to take some of the slack out. There should be a jam nut with a set screw on the top of it. Loosen the jam nut off, then with an allen key, turn the screw in until it stops. Loosen the screw out 1/4" turn then tighten the jam nut to lock it in place.

Re: Car won't center itself? Steering
 

I've done that twice already...it helped a little but didn't last.

Re: Car won't center itself? Steering
 

Hiway curves are designed for a specific speed, usually 70 mph. The way they are banked, called super camber, in a car going 70mph you should be able to hold the wheel in one spot throughout the curve.

That said, the dead spot and wandering in your steering is something different entirely! It needs to be fixed.

Re: Car won't center itself? Steering
 

How do I fix it...hence the reason for this thread.

Re: Car won't center itself? Steering
 

look into whats wrong. the steering box could be worn out, there are rag joints in the steering shaft that can wear out, then there is the entire steering linkage, containing a mess of balljoints. If you have a dead pot in the steering, its from slop somewhere. trace it out, and replace parts as needed. Start on one end and work your way through, see whats loose and whats not. Have a buddy turn the wheel while you look at what the front end is doing, maybe you will see parts moving and others not.

Re: Car won't center itself? Steering
 

Last time we did that...the pitman arm didn't move but the steering wheel did. Right now though, as the car is parked, the driver wheel is turned to the left and the passenger side is basically straight...How could that be? Wouldn't that feel noticeably different while driving if that was a problem too? Or am I honestly just thinking too much into that...

Re: Car won't center itself? Steering
 

did you ever resolve this ?
i have the same problem ive basicly replaced everything
inner and outer tierods
idler arm
centerlink
2 differant stock intermediate shafts and then 3rd time replaced with astro ujoint shaft
i do an alignment weekly lol been trying to figure out the issue for 3 years now nothing seems to make it better
steering box 6 times i try them 1st as they come off the other cars then later do the "proper adjustments" nothing changes other then the on center tension it feels better but really its still just as sloppy and also they never return to center after being adjusted

Re: Car won't center itself? Steering
 

Holy Wow... three years of tying to fix this issue.... dang I just recently bought a lively 92 ls swapped thirdgen.... it has wheels, lowered, 275/35R18 front tire, 295/30R19 rears, t56 and it's about to drive me nuts too. I even installed a tubular subframe thinking maybe the control arms an ball joints were bad.... it also has Umi bump steer inner and outer tie rods....adjustable shock towers the whole 9 yards.... replaced everything connected with steering, has astro steering shaft. It's so bad I am afraid to drive next to anyone on the freeway. Who can fix these damn issues...

Re: Car won't center itself? Steering
 

i did fix this issue you have to replace the Idler with the genuine gm one there is NOT one single aftermarket one that is correct! all are based off an error there was talk about it on another thread got me to spend the 50 on the gm one ACDELCO 45C1065 {#88911319}
i ended up replaceing all of the steering parts with delco and the problem was instantly gone
ACDELCO 45B0075 {#88910971} center link
ACDELCO 45C1065 {#88911319} idler arm
ACDELCO 45A0316 {#88910150} inner tierod 2 x needed
ACDELCO 45A0317 {#88910151} outer tierod 2 x needed
ACDELCO 45A6013 {#88910759} tierod adjuster 2 x needed
ACDELCO 36G0104 {#19321359} steering gear box

i have used pro forged moog autozones stuff all had issues once i got the parts from delco the problem just went away

Re: Car won't center itself? Steering
 

Just ordered the idler, gonna replace it this Saturday. I have also been aligning my car every weekend.... toe in...toe out... you name it. Trying to get it so I can speed past my mustang having co-worker. He has been rubbing it in that he can sail down the bypass with ease. Fingers crossed, thanks for the reply.

Re: Car won't center itself? Steering
 

the idler and other parts they try to sell us are S10 parts i learned when comparing parts just by eye the tie rods and idler are are different angles gm vs other brands no clue when the error happend or why all company's refuse to correct it im guessing its because not every fbody gets the full effect of the issue but also make sure when doing the alignment that the center link is 100% horizontal it should not move up or down as wheels turn

the idler fixxed the return to center but the slop wasnt removed till i replaced the tierods with genuine gm parts the aftermarket tierods seem to increase the the on center slop that all steering boxes have