Help with diagnosing steering pull (1 Viewer)

[BILT4ME]

I am at stock ride height, slightly lower since I have too much weight in the rear. Panhard bar is new OEM.

Will learn to live with this over time, but for now it will drive me crazy.

If you're carrying a lot of weight and you have the springs in the rear (not the airbag setup), maybe a set of Airlift airbags to bring it back up to correct ride height and level out the panhard will make enough difference to offset it.

Also, when you've had it aligned, did you do it with all your stuff in it, or was it done with the vehicle empty?

I carry a ton of crap in my 80 all the time and I know it affects how it steers. I'm guessing a 100 may be a little more sensitive to this due to the IFS.

 

[4runnerteq]

If you're carrying a lot of weight and you have the springs in the rear (not the airbag setup), maybe a set of Airlift airbags to bring it back up to correct ride height and level out the panhard will make enough difference to offset it.

Also, when you've had it aligned, did you do it with all your stuff in it, or was it done with the vehicle empty?

I carry a ton of crap in my 80 all the time and I know it affects how it steers. I'm guessing a 100 may be a little more sensitive to this due to the IFS.

True. If its loaded down all the time it needs to be loaded down when aligned.

 

[Mike NXP]

If you're carrying a lot of weight and you have the springs in the rear (not the airbag setup), maybe a set of Airlift airbags to bring it back up to correct ride height and level out the panhard will make enough difference to offset it.

Also, when you've had it aligned, did you do it with all your stuff in it, or was it done with the vehicle empty?

I carry a ton of crap in my 80 all the time and I know it affects how it steers. I'm guessing a 100 may be a little more sensitive to this due to the IFS.

Good point, I think your on to something because I don't remember it being this bad in the past. I did get it aligned with no weight. Then again I drove it after the alignment with no weight and it still had the pull.

I have a new Dobinson's coil and shock setup on order, will get it installed, realign, and report back

 

[OEMGUY0720]

I have the similar steering behavior. I have replaced the upper and lower ball joints, outer tie rods (sankei 555). The inner tie rods are okay - i lifted the front end and allowed the tires to hang, moved them left-right and found no play so it’s not the inner tie rod nor the steering rack (no leak) and the steering rack bushings that I recently replaced.

That said I am left only with the UCA and LCA bushings to rule out. Mine has 252k miles on the clock so I think that’s the culprit. I don’t have a press to do it, so thinking of either getting it done by a shop or diy and get one of those harbor freight press.

 

[Mike NXP]

I have the similar steering behavior. I have replaced the upper and lower ball joints, outer tie rods (sankei 555). The inner tie rods are okay - i lifted the front end and allowed the tires to hang, moved them left-right and found no play so it’s not the inner tie rod nor the steering rack (no leak) and the steering rack bushings that I recently replaced.

That said I am left only with the UCA and LCA bushings to rule out. Mine has 252k miles on the clock so I think that’s the culprit. I don’t have a press to do it so thinking of either getting it done by a shop to do it myself get one of those harbor freight press.

Do you, or anyone else out there, have the symptom where the wheel doesn't spring back to center? 50-70mph after a slight turn.

I don't see how any control arm bushing or suspension part would cause this to happen. Seems like this would relate to tie rods, steering rack, or something power steering related is not doing it's job. (I also have a new PS pump OEM due to a small leak and tie rods are tight )

 

[OEMGUY0720]

Like when you switch lanes at 50-70mph you mean that the steering wheel springs back to it’s straight default position? I haven’t noticed that yet, or wasn’t paying attention much on it. But at those speeds I usually have to turn it back and compensate the wheel to get that straight line direction again. Mine’s very minute, not that aggressively turning right. But from my previous stock all orig 04 100 1hdfte it wasn’t like this, that was tight it was 54k kms when I sold it.

 

[Mike NXP]

Like when you switch lanes at 50-70mph you mean that the steering wheel springs back to it’s straight default position? I haven’t noticed that yet, or wasn’t paying attention much on it. But at those speeds I usually have to turn it back and compensate the wheel to get that straight line direction again. Mine’s very minute, not that aggressively turning right. But from my previous stock all orig 04 100 1hdfte it wasn’t like this, that was tight it was 54k kms when I sold it.

To be more detailed.

Cruising long at 60mph, single lane highway. I come up on a slight bend in the road and turn the wheel a few degrees. As I left off the wheel, it just stays there, and doesn't self center.

Same scenario around a left hand turn, the wheel springs back to center nicely as expected.

May be a useless detail but to me it seems like this may hint towards the underlying problem

 

[BILT4ME]

To be more detailed.

Cruising long at 60mph, single lane highway. I come up on a slight bend in the road and turn the wheel a few degrees. As I left off the wheel, it just stays there, and doesn't self center.

Same scenario around a left hand turn, the wheel springs back to center nicely as expected.

May be a useless detail but to me it seems like this may hint towards the underlying problem

That would make me lean towards a possible steering rack problem. Valving or sealing internally.

Possibly flush the oil in the rack? See if it helps? Don't know the history on it.

 

[OEMGUY0720]

That I haven’t honestly noticed. I will try that soon. The only time I am sure that my steering wheel springs back to straight position is on 15-20mph turns then a regular light-footed acceleration, but not sure at the speeds you mentioned.

Possible it has unwanted air in the line, maybe you can try this out:

 

[87warrior]

Do you, or anyone else out there, have the symptom where the wheel doesn't spring back to center? 50-70mph after a slight turn.

I don't see how any control arm bushing or suspension part would cause this to happen. Seems like this would relate to tie rods, steering rack, or something power steering related is not doing it's job. (I also have a new PS pump OEM due to a small leak and tie rods are tight )

My cruiser has the right hand pull, but it does not have a return to center issue. I tested this while on my lunch break today. Isn't a return to center issue typically a result of not enough castor or toe-in?

 

[Mike NXP]

My cruiser has the right hand pull, but it does not have a return to center issue. I tested this while on my lunch break today. Isn't a return to center issue typically a result of not enough castor or toe-in?

I'm not sure, but I bet someone else out there is having similar symptoms.

Above mentions focusing on power steering issues and the steering rack. My pump is new and it is relatively quiet so I wouldn't think there is air trapped, but bleeding it may be worth a try.

 

[Malleus]

FWIW, I have a 2000 LX470 with 240k on it and original suspension components. The only steering problems I've ever had were related to the rack.

 

[Mike NXP]

Could be chasing a dead end with these symptoms but check this out

Left hand slight turn, wheel springs back to center. Below that is right hand slight turn, wheel just stays limp. Don't see how this could relate to alignment or worn bushings, to me it translates to a power steering component that is failing.

New video by Mike - https://photos.app.goo.gl/WbTb1NXLTtdm3oYe7

New video by Mike - https://photos.app.goo.gl/VigWfgbsfpbYeXUn9

It is more noticeable in certain conditions but this is best I could do while filming

 

[Lonegrasshopper]

Right lane or left lane? At speed you should feel a bit of pull to the right due to the road gradient if in the right lane. Why? Drainage. Also could be a wheel and tire balancing issue.

 

[Mike NXP]

Right lane or left lane? At speed you should feel a bit of pull to the right due to the road gradient if in the right lane. Why? Drainage. Also could be a wheel and tire balancing issue.

The crown in the road is not a factor , even if I'm on the left side it will pull me up and over the crest .

Tires are brand new , balanced , aligned several times.

Still don't see how that would relate to the wheel not re centering itself like it does on left hand turns .

 

[OwnerCS]

Disc brakes or emergency brake pulling on the right side?

 

[Mike NXP]

Disc brakes or emergency brake pulling on the right side?

I was thinking that could be a possibility. But I have new oem brake pads , rotors , and all the little pieces to go with it. e-brake is adjusted properly. I checked with one of those temperature tools and the rotors are not any hotter on one side than another.

If I'm driving along and hit the brakes it feels pretty good and stays straight , no pulling when applying the brakes.

 

[AlpineAccess]

I did the tire spin test today. Lifted up, spun as equally on both sides as I could, counted number of revolutions. Did it give times each side, everything looks like it's even in terms of wheel bearing tension, brakes, and driveline.

 

[thebeedeegee]

I replaced my inner and outer tie rods last night. Truck drives straight down the road now ,maybe have to use a very slight touch of left now instead of right, but it's better. I had an appointment to get it re-aligned but it actually seems better now than when a shop aligned it. Now when I let go of the wheel it doesn't pull either way.

I do need some rack bushings though.

 

[Red Beard]

I have this same issue. I’m planning on changing out the steering rack soon so I’m hoping that will help it. Will do new outer tie rod ends as well since they’re still looking old.