I have been having an issue with my steering every time I make a U-turn. After making a U-turn my steering pulls to the right and is off center. To get my steering back to normal I have to make a right hand turn. I have recently replaced LCA, Wheel bearings, tie rods, and struts. I have been having this issue for a long time but have never been able to fix it. When I got my alignment my Toe, Caster, and camber are all in spec, but my SAI and Included angles are 2% over spec on the driver side. What could be broken to cause this issue?

 

I'm not trying to knock site vendors but: I had the same issue when using FCP Import's control arms. Upon turning my steering wheel would 'lock' and I would have to pull the wheel in the opposite direction to get it to re-center. Got so tired of it I called Dave B and got genuine Nissan control arms. Problem went away.

PS: it is quite possible your steering rack is starting to lose it.

 

Does it make a popping sound when you turn all the way? My car does the same thing I just gave bad strut tops did you replace those yet?

 

Check the rack mounting bushings. They may be lose causing the rack to shift slightly on full lock turns. Something is shifting from force, make sure all the front end components are tight.

 

It doesn't make any noise when making turns. I never replaced the strut mount, is there a way to tell if the strut mounts are bad?

I will take a look at the steering rack bushing to see if it is worn out. Is the steering rack bushing on the passenger side hard to replace?

 

My max jerks to the left every now and then when driving (like shifting from 2nd to 3rd) and if I take a turn a little fast, it will jerk in the middle of the turn. Ive replaced all my shocks already as well as the outer tie rods already, not sure of what it could be. Any suggestions???

 

Check to see if there is any play in your front tires. Sounds to me that it is most likely your sway bar link or LCA. Could also be your Strut mount or Wheel bearing.

 

yea im hoping for the sway bar links... ill keep you posted... thanks for the info

 

well it turns out that I need lower control arms. Its really just the bushings, which I found after market, but I cant find instructions for those, just the remove/install control arms only. On a hard budget recently and, if possible, just install the bushings. help...anyone!!!

 

Follow the control arm removal instructions. Then take to a shop to have the bushings pressed out/in. Reinstall the bushings. BTW, what's your budget?

 

$1 Bob (I mean Drew). Like $200. Ive priced each control arm at $180 each through Napa and Oriellys. But Orilleys also show just those small insulators (the ones that the bushing link arm slide into..or whatever its called) goes into, not the "winged control arm bushing that goes in the back of the control arm.

However, I am still debating on whether or not just to get the control arms.

 

Its cheaper just to replace the whole control arm than to replace the bushing. Most likely the winged bushing and ball joint are worn out that need to be replaced too. Rockauto has control arms for $59-$100. I got mine from there and they work good.

 

If you are indeed on a budget, an org vendor sells a complete kit with loaded control arms, all tierods, and a pair of sway bar links for about 140 shipped. No need to have bushings pressed out/in. They are decent quality and you can always sell the components you don't need. Here's your budget answer.

 

Yea I think I might go that route. Im gonna do one bushing kit, cause one of the them is shot to sh*t and Im gonna order the control arms through that site. Thanks for the advice!!

 

I went and just tried to replace the ball joint for the lca but cannot pop it back in with a ball joint press Idk what I'm doing wrong. On the original ball joint it has a small gap between the lca and bottom of ball joint, do I just press it in as far as it goes? Do I have to take it to a shop? Need help

 

Make sure that the ball joint is straight when pressing it in. You have to press the ball joint completely into the lower control arm.

 

I was able to fix the u-turn issue by replacing the left wheel strut mount and bearing.