hey... i was wondering if anyone knew where i could go to get my steering checked out? it's uncomfortably loose (especially in the rain... changing lanes / hitting puddles is not fun when the wheels are only loosely connected to the steering wheel...)
or if anyone has experience in this area, would you mind going on ride / driving it to see what i mean?
the car has 115000 miles so something may very well be worn out..
I'm not a Ford guy so maybe they don't do it the same on your car as mine, but if they do you need to check your inner & outer tie rod ends (they connect the steering rack to the steering knuckles). If they are worn out they can cause play, otherwise you may be looking at a complete steering rack replacement.
Most Fords I've driven have felt that way
/ducks
Good luck, I'm sure like Lusiv said, it's just something worn that is relatively easy to replace.
Well you see that's the thing. I thought it was just like that. It's certainly more loose than my Geo (which has 215000 miles on it), but it's also about 800lbs heavier...
But then I talked to other mustang owners and they said theirs are as tight as can be. I've heard of some people having to have the whole rack replaced. Is that within the capability of anyone here (I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty, but direction is nice), or would I have to pay out the butt to have someone do that?
humjaba Wrote:Well you see that's the thing. I thought it was just like that. It's certainly more loose than my Geo (which has 215000 miles on it), but it's also about 800lbs heavier...
Oh boy.
Driving my car is a two hand only job.
Scorke
evilevo11 Wrote:humjaba Wrote:Well you see that's the thing. I thought it was just like that. It's certainly more loose than my Geo (which has 215000 miles on it), but it's also about 800lbs heavier...
Oh boy.
Driving my car is a two hand only job.
Scorke
Fit or Evo?
I've heard that with Elises too. No power steering + small diameter steering wheel = twitchy
Silonius Wrote:evilevo11 Wrote:humjaba Wrote:Well you see that's the thing. I thought it was just like that. It's certainly more loose than my Geo (which has 215000 miles on it), but it's also about 800lbs heavier...
Oh boy.
Driving my car is a two hand only job.
Scorke
Fit or Evo?
I've heard that with Elises too. No power steering + small diameter steering wheel = twitchy
EVO, yeah it's a combination between the turn/lock ratio and how there is 0 slack in the steering rack, you are either going right or left, it's as if "straight ahead" is this mystical area between turning.....Fit isn't bad, but not this telepathic.
Scorke
evilevo11 Wrote:EVO, yeah it's a combination between the turn/lock ratio and how there is 0 slack in the steering rack, you are either going right or left, it's as if "straight ahead" is this mystical area between turning.....Fit isn't bad, but not this telepathic.
Scorke
I'm guessing the front toe/caster are "aggressive" too, that's the sole reason my cars always require more attention than normal.
Hraefn Wrote:evilevo11 Wrote:EVO, yeah it's a combination between the turn/lock ratio and how there is 0 slack in the steering rack, you are either going right or left, it's as if "straight ahead" is this mystical area between turning.....Fit isn't bad, but not this telepathic.
Scorke
I'm guessing the front toe/caster are "aggressive" too, that's the sole reason my cars always require more attention than normal.
Camber yes, toe/caster are nothing out of the ordinary.
Scorke
humjaba Wrote:Well you see that's the thing. I thought it was just like that. It's certainly more loose than my Geo (which has 215000 miles on it), but it's also about 800lbs heavier...
But then I talked to other mustang owners and they said theirs are as tight as can be. I've heard of some people having to have the whole rack replaced. Is that within the capability of anyone here (I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty, but direction is nice), or would I have to pay out the butt to have someone do that?
You should get a Haynes or Chilton service manual, it probably will tell you how to swap a steering rack. Before worrying about all that though, take the front wheels off (after putting it up on jacks first of course!
) and take a look at the tie rod ends. You can get replacement tie rod ends at most auto parts stores, they're pretty cheap. Only catch is that you will need to get your car aligned again after replacing them as it will change your front end toe.
The steering in my mustang is very tight, especially compared to my E30. I really don't know much about the steering system in the mustangs though so I can't be much help beyond that.
get under there and start trying to see if you can wiggle anything by hand - if you can, replace it.
typically the outer tie rods go bad on those cars, about all that ever goes bad in the rack are the power steering seals - which you'll know when that pump gets noisy and it starts puking fluid all over the underside of the car.
kbrew8991 Wrote:typically the outer tie rods go bad on those cars,
If you find the tie rod ends are OK, check the ball joints too. I had one case where the tie rod ends were OK but the ball joint was bad, still caused a bit of a loose feeling. Especially suspect anything that has a torn rubber boot.
Also look at any U-joints or splined shafts in the steering column.
115,000 miles isn't a whole lot but depending on how many potholes, curbs or generally rough roads the car has been over, parts like tie rod ends could definitely wear out faster than you would expect. I've also had a cheap replacement tie rod wear out very quickly, i.e. <30,000 mi over a couple years.
OT: Op, saw you were parked at CC today. Are you trying to move in here? I wouldnt suggest it, the management sucks and the area is going down hill. Several places have been robbed in the last few months.
Xtopher Wrote:the management sucks and the area is going down hill. Several places have been robbed in the last few months.
Hasn't it always been like that?