Hello,

I know this has been asked many times but it seems everybody is using different values, which sometimes are also different from the ones in the suggested steering alignment values in the FAQ.

I sent my car to a shop which do steering alignment.
They used the values from my '84 Firebird shop manual and although that, steering just feels unprecise.

Here are my problems after alignment :
- steering wheel not aligned with front wheels (it is really noticeable when driving above 20 mph, below it is quite acceptable as you don't have to make a lot of corrections on the steering wheel). For your information, wheel was installed correctly on the steering column. Since alignment was done, I tried to move it to the next tooth on the steering column shaft, on each side and it didn't change something.
- not sure but it seems it reacts quicker when you turn to one side than to the other (I mean, it seems to react quicker when you turn to one side from the dead center of the steering)
- little to no steering recovery after tight turns like hairpins or U-turns
- steering is unprecise when driving on a perfectly and flat straight line and car is steering a lot to one side of the road when you don't touch the steering wheel (normally tire pressure is good and shock absorbers are good too, so a difference between each side can't explain that).

I completely rebuilt my steering 2 weeks ago : reman AC Delco power steering pump, reman AC Delco steering gear, new GM intermediate steering shaft, new power steering hoses, new spherical upper strut mounts from Spohn and front end rebuild kit from Moog (bought from Spohn).
The setup of my car is the following : stock shock absorbers and springs, stock rims with stock tire size (205/70R14) and it has a full Energy Suspension polyurethane bushings package (except the motor mounts and torque arm).

I am sure of what I did, things have been installed correctly.

Before I went to the shop, steering was quite good, even if it was quite worn and used. But at least, car drove straight when I didn't touch the steering wheel on a straight line, and its precision was quite good for its age.
With the old steering parts, the alignment values I used were the ones from my shop manual and it seemed they work not to bad.

Visually speaking, it looks like my front tires are almost perpendicular to the pavement, as if there was no negative camber.
Concerning the toe, it seems almost there is toe out. It doesn't look (with wheels straight) like the wheels are pointing to each other.
And finally, for the caster, the guy didn't set it because he said it was close to the correct stock values and decided not to mess with it more.

Finally I asked Spohn concerning which values they would recommend with their spherical upper strut mounts to perform well and they said they use OEM values.

So, what do you guys would recommend me ?? I want to have a very precise steering, which reacts perfectly and which responds in a similar manner whenever I turn to the right or to the left.

Thanks a lot !!

 

I am thinking the alighment shop did a **** poor job.