I think I might be having a slight problem with the steering on my car. The "return to center" is not crisp. At moderate speeds (eg 20MPH) when I turn to the left and let go of the steering wheel, it will return almost, but not all the way, to center (within in a few degrees). But when I turn right and let go of the steering wheel it tends to continue in the turn unless I slightly turn the steering wheel toward center and then it too will return almost to center (within a few degrees). Neither of these has the "tight and quick" return to center of a modern car.
Some details. I just aligned my car:
Caster: +4.25* (within 0.25* side to side. Used shims on UCA to get added caster w/o binding the lower control arm)
Camber: -0.25* (within 0.25* side to side)
Toe: 3/16" toe-in
Other notes:
(1) After the alignment I noticed when I take the steering wheel from lock to lock the mid point of the range is not where the wheels are completely straight forward (when eyeballing it). The midpoint of the lock-to-lock range is when the steering wheel is about 10* turned to the right (~3% of a complete turn). I assume that this only slighly limits turning radius in one direction but it could be the cause of the asymmetricity in return to center performance (???)
(2) Power steering fluid is clean - replaced within ~5K miles. However, I did add some stop leak to it which did, in fact, stop a minor leak. Could this have gummed up some of the valves?
(3) In normal driving it does not feel like anything is binding (eg steering column, etc) but power steering can cover up slight binding issues.
(4) I took the car for a test drive and with hands off the steering wheel it tracks dead center on the road. No drifting to either side. The added caster really makes the steering feel "tight" like a modern day car.
Unfortunately, I don't know if it had this problem before doing the alignment. I never explicitly did a "return to center" check previously. I don't think it had the problem but I can't be sure.
So, here are some questions:
(1) Do any of you with factory power steering have a "crisp and tight" return to center - similar to what you find on modern day cars? One where went you release the wheel it pretty much snaps back to dead center even at moderate speed?
(2) Anyone have any thoughts why I might be seeing a return to center problem in one direction only?
(3) Any other quasi-random comments on this topic?
Some details. I just aligned my car:
Caster: +4.25* (within 0.25* side to side. Used shims on UCA to get added caster w/o binding the lower control arm)
Camber: -0.25* (within 0.25* side to side)
Toe: 3/16" toe-in
Other notes:
(1) After the alignment I noticed when I take the steering wheel from lock to lock the mid point of the range is not where the wheels are completely straight forward (when eyeballing it). The midpoint of the lock-to-lock range is when the steering wheel is about 10* turned to the right (~3% of a complete turn). I assume that this only slighly limits turning radius in one direction but it could be the cause of the asymmetricity in return to center performance (???)
(2) Power steering fluid is clean - replaced within ~5K miles. However, I did add some stop leak to it which did, in fact, stop a minor leak. Could this have gummed up some of the valves?
(3) In normal driving it does not feel like anything is binding (eg steering column, etc) but power steering can cover up slight binding issues.
(4) I took the car for a test drive and with hands off the steering wheel it tracks dead center on the road. No drifting to either side. The added caster really makes the steering feel "tight" like a modern day car.
Unfortunately, I don't know if it had this problem before doing the alignment. I never explicitly did a "return to center" check previously. I don't think it had the problem but I can't be sure.
So, here are some questions:
(1) Do any of you with factory power steering have a "crisp and tight" return to center - similar to what you find on modern day cars? One where went you release the wheel it pretty much snaps back to dead center even at moderate speed?
(2) Anyone have any thoughts why I might be seeing a return to center problem in one direction only?
(3) Any other quasi-random comments on this topic?