Random Steering Pull, Bad Struts?

[license to ill]

95 NA GT
W/ECS

I notice when I'm driving that my steering will pull one way or the other when I brake OR accelerate. I do not think its from stuck caliper pistons because its inconsistent. The pulling happens to the left and to the right.

Here is what happens. When I accelerate in a straight line, the car will pull to the right or left. When I brake after accelerating, the car pulls the opposite way that it pulled during acceleration. Now, I can make this work the opposite way too. It seems to be directly related to which ever way I had previously turned the car.

Originally, I was thinking this was due to bad struts and the body settling on the left or right side from the turn and then staying settled due to the struts having no recoil. I know for sure the struts are bad because I put on the NA lowering springs from 3SX. While I had everything apart, the struts did not recoil at all, didn’t have the money to replace them at the time.

I don’t think I noticed this with the stock springs on. Maybe because they are more compressed than lowering springs and help to keep the car riding at maximum height.

Thoughts on this, guys?

Joe

[DocWalt]

Either bad struts or a bad ball joint or tie rod end. Maybe control arm bushings.

[R/T93]

Check your lower control arm mount bolts for tightness.

Also, strut mounting bolts.

Is most likely a tie rod though, replace them, they are cheap. Your alignment is probably gone, too.

[Blackmount]

Id take it to a alignment shop first.

[license to ill]

I dont think my outer tie rods are bad. I know I replaced one for sure. I'll check the other one again but im pretty positive that I replaced both of them. I have had an alignment since i did that. Not sure if the inner tie rods could make the car pull like that. I believe my sway bar end links could be replaced. I dont know when I'll be able to fix this stuff but when I do an individual item, I'll update the thread and state the performance difference.

[ebondragon87]

Could be inner or outer tie rod ends, control arm bushings, or ball joints. Sway bar links/bushings and struts are very unlikely. My car did the same thing when my outer tie rod ends and both lower ball joints were bad.

[Nationalmilkman]

Mine does the same and its the lower control arm bushings. Not as bad with stock tires but my wide tires make it x3 worse.

[2fnloud]

how wide are your tires OP?

[IPD]

1. jack each of the front wheels up individually.

2. check for "play" both top to bottom and side to side.

3. post up results.



...as has been mentioned already, it's probably tie-rods or lower ball joints. suspension is probalby a distant 4th.

[2fnloud]

I ask about tire width because when I went from 245's to 275's, I noticed on country roads (paved) that the 275's were wider then the ruts that are worn into the road, this causes my car to tens to pull to the left or right at random times.

The first time I noticed it, I pulled over to inspect my lug nuts, I was sure some would be lose...but they were not.