My 88tpi5.0 steering is loose. when I drive on city streets and the road has indentations groved in the road from like trucks driving over asphalt they eventually leave these indents. I kown that your steering will move some but my is pretty bad and the car will almost move into the other lane if I don't hold the steering secure. anyway I have replaced just about everything in the suspension from springs,shocks,balljoints,tierods,bushings,strutmounts,and alignments several times over the past year and still can't correct this loose feeling also, replaced with new steering box. I've been told that transam ride this way is this true. help!

 

sounds like the front end is Toe's out. Also make sure when the idler arm was replaced that it was positioned correctly...it is adjustable up and down and it will cause excessive bump-steer if it is wrong.

 

how due I adjust the idler are to make sure it is in the correct position.

 

Before you torture yourself anymore, I did read that cars with wide tires will have the wander problem you describe when driving on roads with the indent. Part of the tire want to follow the grove, but the rest of the tire won't fit, so you do not have a good contact patch. The wandering is caused by the tire jumping in and out of the grove sideways, so it will shift quite a bit as you try to counteract the tires' changing directions. Since you have replaced just about everything, do the idler arm, but take the car to a highway with no groves and test it there. It is a good excuse for a road trip anyway.

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1983 T/A LG4 w/T-tops
Rebuilt/Modified E Q-jet
Custom Dual Ram-Air
Self painted cherry red w/ restored black/grey interior
Welded Comp Eng SFC
Tokico Struts/Shocks
Hotchkis LCAs and Panhard Bar
Energy Suspension bushings all around

 

Thanks for the response Nightrider, Yeah I guess that would make sense and I will try anyway for the hell of it to do a final adjustment on the idler arm then have it wheel align again and then just live with the movement the suspension has, thanks again.

 

I got the names crossed, I meant thanks nightcruzer.

 

Thanks for the info nightcruzer, Yeah I'm originally from BKNY, parkslope area.

 

check the center link (drag link), mine was loose where the pitman arm from the power steering box connected. it made the car wander pretty bad especially when the 'crown' of the road would change like when you pass someone.....Performance Suspension Tech, www.p-s-t.com sells them for $45

 

I have the same problem. But it doesn't happen on the highway, just on really crappy roads. I have 245/50 16 front, nothing too big but it's still noticable.

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, Jon (91 RS too many mods to list)

 

Hey 88transam5.0, Circles and the Pavillion, a good night out. Oh the memories....

 

This is a simple problem of flex in the front frame of the car. You could've saved a lot of money by putting in the Wonder Bar (buy it from Global West). This will definitely tighten it up in the front for $40. This is a must mod. Next step would be STB. I've done both of these, and I really don't move around on rough pavement anymore.

Dave '91 T/A

 

My car wanders around a lot now, don't kow what caused it. It will pull to either the left or right, and it pulls hard. There is also a little play in my steering wheel that bothers me.
I did change wheels and tires recently, went from 225/50/15 on the fronts and 235/60/15 on the rear to 245/50/16 all around, but I didn't notice those problems until about a few weeks ago.
I will be installing my "Wonder" bar tonight or tomorrow.

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Zepher
'86 Pontiac Trans Am WS6, LG4 305, 5 Speed, CF DF Clutch,
Edelbrock 1406 Carb, Edelbrock Performer RPM 7101 Intake Manifold.
Edelbrock Open Element Air Cleaner: Flowmaster Exhaust, 160* Thermostat,
Grant GT Steering Wheel, MSD HEI Coil, Taylor 8mm Wires, Recaro Seats,
Alpine CD+Changer,Rockford & Soundstream Amps, Premier TS-1040C Subs, Polk Audio highs/mids.
Best ET: 14.94@91.67
WS6 Trans Am

 

I have the same car as you and its the WS6 with diamond alum wheels. I have 255/50zr16s and my car is all over the place in grooved pavement. I am saving now for the STB from edlebrock but I would like to know how to get one of these wonder bars also????
BYW it isnt that bad now but before I got an alignment it was close to undrivable on certain roads.

I guess I would say to just grit your teeth every time you pass a semi on the highway and hope the tires dont snag a bump!!
but i think the braces should help.


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88 WS6 T/A 305 TPI--
K&N,Air foil,hypertech chip, thermostat+fanswitch
free mods, dynomax exh, urethane motor+trans mounts,
SSM frame con, Bilsteins
very trick homemade ramair.

 

Have you checked the rag joint ? (the crappy link between the steering shaft & the box itself) they do eventually wear out and cause slop in the sterring even if everything is new. This is the problem with my camaro,, but I'm to lazy to fix it.

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Da Boid

- 4 out of 5 people think the 5th is an idiot

 

I agree about the Flex in the subframe. I replaced my suspension too. Even installed an AGR steering box, My car still swayed some while driving.

I installed an Edelbrock STB brace, And it goes striaght now. The towers flex pretty bad on these cars, even more with high miles. Its Something that should have been installed on the car from the Factory. It should be one of the first things to upgrade. It made a big improvement on my car.

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Black 90 IROC, L98, A4, 323 gear. SuperRamed 406 in the works!