Steering Gremlins After Replacing Entire Front End-?????

[Stangl1fe]

Hello everyone,

I recently purchased a 04 gt vert with 140k miles. Everything engine and transmission wise is running fine.

Vehicle has never been in a collision and all parts are OE. I just replaced the front lower control arms with new balljoints from Ford, shocks and struts OE, springs, Tie Rods. Also while I was under the vehicle I removed the steering rack bushings and checked them as well.

Went to get it aligned this morning and everything numbers wise is in spec, but I am still getting a slight pull to the right. The tricky part is sometimes it doesn't pull and the road condition seems to affect it more than anything. If I go through grooves or seams in the road the front end gets squirelly like it doesn't want to stay straight.

I thought it could possible be brakes but the front wheels spin 1 time before the bearing friction catches up. It may help to mention I do notice it more when I brake and accelerate more so than cruising at 65mph.

Also checked the tires and although they aren't great, there isn't uneven wear. I am stumped.

Anybody have a similar experience or any mechanics out there care to point me in a possible direction?

 

[Mattstang04]

I don't know what size tires you have on it. But from personal experience, if you have a decent width tire (including the stock 245 tires on these Mustangs) you'll notice they love to dart around in the grooves of the interstate. I've had stock sized wheels and tires and I've run a staggered set up with 275 and 295 tires on my old GT. Didn't matter. The cars all required active steering on my part, especially on the highway. Otherwise they were often swimming in one direction or the other from falling in and out of the grooved surface of the roadway. Maybe its out of your control.

Otherwise your steering rack and inner tie rods within it may be worn. Does the steering wheel have a lot of slack in it?

 

[Stangl1fe]

Barely any slack maybe a half inch of play with wheels on ground sitting still. About 2 hours ago, I took out the bushings and crush tubes on the steering rack and apparently, someone had installed the bolts backwards with the head of the bolt facing the front of the car. I switched the bolts and lubed up the bushings, then tightened hard.

Even though the alignment specs looked good the wheels didn't look straight when the car was raised from the front. I loosened the lock nut and adjusted the inner tie rods until I thought the tires looked appropriately straight.

Took it out for a spin and it's wayyyyyy better. Still a rough riding beast but it doesn't pull constantly anymore.

Any guesses on whether the bolts facing the wrong way was the culprit, or did the shop just do a half a$$ job on the alignment, and print me a sheet with some numbers filled in.

 

[90sickfox]

Inner or outter tie rod ends can cause wandering problems. Towing a car in can help but it'll wear the outside of the tires. As a Hunter alignment specialist I've seen guys fake alignments in some ridiculous ways. Its sadly common that guys will "bump the heads" to get desirable print outs. Is your car lowered at all ? Check the wheel bearings and tie rods for play. You'd be surprised how a small amount of play can translate into the steering wheel. It shouldn't matter which direction the bolts were put in. Good luck

 

[Stangl1fe]

Not lowered everything is oe or has been replaced with oe parts. Hmm.....The bolts did seem to matter upon further inspection the way they were previously installed was causing the washer and the crush tube to touch, not allowing the bushing to do its job (i.e. metal on metal contact versus compressed with a rubber bushing).

So I lifted the front grabbed 9 and 3 and twisted. There might be a little movement before the other tire moves, which could be indicative of a inner rod being shot. Only problem is I don't really have a comparison to go by , and the youtube vids I have watched have had really bad play.

Do I check a wheel bearing the same way??

Thanks for the help guys I really appreciate it!

 

[Stangl1fe]

90sick , checked my wheel bearing and that is definitely the squirelyness I was referring to . Thank you so much, got a torque wrench and two new hub assemblies on the way from amazon.

 

[mransr]

The alignment might be "in spec", but these cars are much happier with just about as much caster as you can give them, especially if they have fatter tires. The fact that it is most noticeable when brake or accelerate also hints as a caster issue. (Also adjusting toe in by eyeball especially when the car isn't at ride height with weight on the tires, is a really bad idea )