The car (95SE w/ 63K miles) has been aligned in the
past 6 months. Tires are rotated on a regular basis
and the air pressure seems to be even.

The problem occurs when I turn to the left OR right
and the car refuses to steer back to "dead center".
After a turn, I let go of the steering wheel and the
car does not return back to straight-on steering.
What could this be? Suspension bushings wearing out?

I have H&R w/ Tokicos, on for a about 10K miles and
all hardware was replaced.

Any help would be appreciated.

PeteMo
95SE

 

It almost sounds like your upper strut bearings could be worn. Does the steering wheel have a lot of play while lets say driving on the highway? Do you seem to constantly correct your steering in order to stay straight? It surely seems though that something is worn.

 

I just had my alignment and my car drifts way to the right. I have to hold the steering wheel to the left about 5-10 degrees to keep it going straight. It's all good I'm used to it. My tires are wearing evenly.

 

It sounds like the caster is off. I would take it back to the front-end shop.

 

Caster is not adjustable on the car unless you did a mod that would allow this.

 

Thanx for the input, but the problem still stands.
Here is some more data to go with what has already
been said.

- Strut bearings are new, 10K miles on them. So
I rule them out.
- No mods to change the caster, so that may not be
the problem

What I am wondering on is whether or not tightening
of the nut on the top of the strut (in the engine bay)
tower will do anything to help this problem? Not the
group of 3 nuts that the FSTB connects to, it is the
center nut. Will this help?
Thanx!

Pete Mo
95SE

 

Have you checked: 1) That the front struts are in the correct place, that is, the left one on the driver's side, the right one on the passenger's side; 2) that the upper strut mounts have the notch facing the outside of the car; 3) that the upper strut mount rubber insert is set correctly with the upper spring end; 4) that you installed the correct strut isolators, the SE is different than other models; 5) the torque setting of the center strut nut should be done with the wheels on the ground and the weight of the car off the wheels (unladden position.)

Don't know if this will help but I had a heck of a time identifying a similar problem plus a rubber on rubber noise when I would turn the wheel at very slow speeds. Turned out to be the wrong strut isolators.

 

the exact same thing happens to my max too. when i turn the wheels stays slightly in the direction i turned from, i have to center it manually. also, when driving it also does this. sometimes on the freeway, the car will slightly pull in either direction, totally spontaneous. gotten used to it all though. btw, i have bone stock 97 gxe.

 

Yes it is possible and luckily you can do it right where it,s at. If this does not help you should raise each front tire one at a time and while it,s up try and move/wiggle the tire by holding on the top and bottom and also the fore and aft and see/feel if you have any play. You should have none. If you do maybe you can isolate it as either a loose/worn bearing or a suspension part. It could even be your steering rack joints going bad. Is their a lot of play in your steering wheel? Post back with the info.

 

my car also pulls to either side randomly, but only when driving on uneven road. It pulls pretty hard that i have to hold on to the steering wheel pretty hard all the time just in case it pulls again. It kinda feels like playing Daytona USA or similar arcade, the wheel pulls randomly. It started to happen right after i lower the car and put on 18" wheels. My friend who just got 18"s also have this problem. we both did alignments, so i am guessing is normal for 18"s? any one?