Skipped steering splines? Knocking something out of alignment?

[jaredmac11]

Finally (finally) got my car down on the ground after pretty comprehensive steering (steering bushings and tie rod end) and suspension (springs, struts, control arms) upgrades/replacement (amongst a ton of other stuff). I did a garage alignment myself to get things 'close enough' to push an alignment to next month for budget reasons.

Long story short, took the car around the block, all seemed good. After a few 'laps' I maybe got a bit too excited, took a turn pretty hard and noticed the steering was off after that, about 20 degrees, in order to go straight. I double and triple checked everything to be tight, especially at the steering shaft pinion/steering spline before I headed out.

So what the hell did I do?

[Somjuan]

Check that the steering rack bushings are in there right and tight. Was the wheel for sure straight when you started? And did you install the rack back already centered?

[jaredmac11]

Ill have to check again. When I dropped the rack I was careful to mark the spline but to be honest the splines are so small and narrow its totally plausible they are off.

I was careful to make sure the wheel was straight but its possible it was off. I just noticed steering was off AFTER that hard turn and it really wasnt off before. If the splines really did skip that part is likely shot so I'll see..

Unfortunately i can straighten the steering wheel and the wheels look to be straight so its hard ot tell now, Ill just have to get under it

[Erik Dlux]

When you did your alignment, did you make sure you turned both tie rod ends out the same amount? If you do just one side more than the other that will make the steering wheel off.

[jaredmac11]

Good point. I'll check that again.

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[epmedia]

Speaking of working with the front; check those front sub-frame bolts, and it's a good idea to use some thread locker on them.

[sully32]

Check that the steering rack bushings are in there right and tight. Was the wheel for sure straight when you started? And did you install the rack back already centered?

This. When I first got my '83 the rack bushings were jelly, you could do exactly the same thing - snatch the wheel one way, not centered, back the other way, back to center. Poly bushings cure this forever.

-Shawn

[jaredmac11]

So I spoke with an alignment shop and his money was on a shifting rack and pointed to the bushings as well. Unlikely the pinion skipped a spline or the steering spline..

As an fyi I put in new Eurometric poly bushing.

I don't *think* there is room for error on those bushings. There's really only one way they can go to feed the bolts thru. I'm going to check tightness but should I have not greased the bushings?

I don't know how or where the later play comes in to discussion.

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[Somjuan]

Mine shifted a bit post install, they don’t need to be greased but there’s really no harm in it. Honestly they should be fine. I’d see if he can tighten them down and do a proper alignment when you can afford it

[jaredmac11]

So I got to get under the car this morning and the rear steering rack bolts were no longer tight. Tightened up and I'll do an alignment again.

Do y'all do your own alignment out of curiosity? I tried it previously and it worked well until I knocked things out of alignment

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[jaredmac11]

So I squished the bushings, hence who it won't stay aligned. Paying the dumb tax here

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[epmedia]

Out of curiosity, did the steering wheel seem harder to turn after installing the rack bushings or re-tightening those rack bolts?

[jaredmac11]

It was way off, about 20-30 degrees so I didnt drive it much. Tire sounded like it was going through hell. But no, not really. Its just the steering was way off. But I was just driving it slow and down the road and turned it around before disassembly.