Steering issue

[TwoXist]

So yesterday i replaced with rack and pinion and both half shafts. Made sure to "burp" it as well. Did this several times as well. Took the car to get aligned and after the alignment i noticed a issue where if i turn left the wheel wont come back to center. It hangs left. If i make a right turn the wheel wont come back to center it will hang right. Also my turning radius seems to be off to. I checked the PS fluid and its full and have "burped" it several times since i noticed this issue and i am not getting any air. So i am at a lost now as to what could be the issue. Any ideas?

[CoreyB]

Isnt there some sort of clock spring in the steering column. To my understanding you can break it when changing the rack if you dont secure the wheel. IDK

[TwoXist]

The wheel was secured, but that is a possibility. Any other ideas?

*edit* I did some reading and it looks like if my clock spring was broken my srs light would be on. And its not, and my horn still works as well. So maybe not the clock spring.

[DocWalt]

Did you make sure the rack was centered when you installed it? Also, post up the alignment numbers for the front end.

[TwoXist]

To my knowledge the rack was, there were a few other people helping me with this.

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m294/heshiro/IMAGE_181.jpg

[DocWalt]

Check the bushings on the lower front control arms, and the upper mounts for the front struts, and then make them fix that alignment. That is... poor, to say the least. I wouldn't have even left the shop with the alignment like that.

[BjornRune]

Just an observation, but has your car taken any impact at the front, especially right side? Your front right caster is WAY off. Could be a completely worn out control arm bushing too, but if the alignment guy is thorough he should have looked into that and informed you. Easy to check.

Anyway, are you sure you got all the air out? That, or the pinion might be too tight on the rack causing it to bind slightly (which is dangerous). It is adjustable, but if you got the rack from a reputable source that should not be an issue.

[TwoXist]

I have burped it several times and i am fairly confident that all the air is out. As for the rack it is a re-manufactured rack from auto zone. As for if it has taken any impact, i don't know. When i bought it i was told it hasn't been in an accident. But that person wasn't the original owner.

[BjornRune]

How exactly did you bleed the system then? The manual says not to have the engine running, as the pump speed will be to high resulting in trapped air bubbles in the atf fluid. You are supposed to disconnetc fuel/spark and rely on the starter for pump operation. Not sure those bubbles will be enough to cause this though. You did bleed it going full lock-to-lock several times right?

[DocWalt]

You're supposed to bleed it by turning the wheel back and forth somewhere around 30 times with the engine off, then cycle it again something like 20 times with the engine on. A royal pain in the butt.

[TwoXist]

^Thats roughly what i did, i don't think i did 30 times with it off. Maybe more like 20.

[DocWalt]

That's probably fine then, and I doubt that's the issue.

[RL7]

It's definitely the rack or your power steering system. Even if you don't have power steering, the wheels naturally want to straighten out, something in the rack is preventing this. Is it more/less difficult to turn than usual?