Sloppy steering feel

[FreshMeat]

Recently the steering feels kinda sloppy. When I'm driving at lower speeds and moving the steering wheel left to right if feels like im going through mud or something. At highways speeds and moving the wheel left to right it feels loose or floaty. Its kind of hard to explain but I hope you guys got the point.

Is there something wrong or is it just me?

Been driving with eibach pro-kit springs and stock shocks for ~17,000 miles

[FreshMeat]

forgot to mention 2003 GT ~31,000 miles

[zuoom]

check your tyre pressure.

wheel balancing done?

[FreshMeat]

Wheel balance and alignment was done when I installed the springs...I'll check the tire pressure tomorrow.

[vegeta4ss]

^ I know what you mean FreshMeat.

I changed my power steering fluid expecting more responsive steering and so far it feels worse on average. I even had some random leak spring up about 2 months later that was either power steering or transmission, I think it was my power steering but can't verify because it has since stopped leaking.

My tire pressure is good, as is the balance and alignment.

Let me know if you find a solution. I am beginning to think I waited so long (@128k) to change my fluid that all the flush did was loosen a bunch of trash which has affected my power steering response. <- but i'm not sure if that even makes total logical sense so I'm not banking anything on that assumption.

[anti-JDM]

what did you use to change out the steering fluid with? try doing a complete flush and if that doesn't help, check out the steering rack and pinion bushings, they might be old (unlikely).

[alpha Q]

yea, sounds like a power steering prob.

[vegeta4ss]

what did you use to change out the steering fluid with? try doing a complete flush and if that doesn't help, check out the steering rack and pinion bushings, they might be old (unlikely).

I replaced the toyota fluid with Royal purple full synthetic. I did do a complete flush (removed the line on the rack turned the wheels to empty the rack out several times, sucked everything out of the reservoir then detached it and cleaned it then reinstalled it....did I miss a step???).

I have ES R/P bushings that have been in my closet for more than 3 years. Maybe its time I finally put them on. I just hate dropping that freakin subframe and pressing out/ burning out bushings. That's why the ES fr. l.c.a. kit is sitting beside the r/p bushings in the closet:gap:

[anti-JDM]

when i did it, i had good stuff and bad stuff. I emptied the original like you did, refilled with cheap synthetic, then flushed that. then i filled up with good stuff.

[vegeta4ss]

I bought two bottles of royal purple just incase I had to do something like that. Guess it's time to do all that crap again to see if the results change.

[Transcend]

Aside from the usual tire pressure, alignment issues.

Check your suspension arms and any rods connected to the arms/strut mounting points. Make sure all the bolts connecting your suspension together is tightened.

If you still feel that the car is being sloppy, understeery and not rotating correctly please post it up.

[Throttle]

Maybe also check the steering column. Mine seems to have some play in the knuckle that just started around 45K miles. Lay under the dash on the drivers side and look up at the shaft while turning the wheel. See if the play is in that area before checking everything else.

[FreshMeat]

Its freezing out there and I've been so damn busy lately...so I'll check up on all those suggestions this weekend or next weekend and update you guys.

I hope the wheels dont fall off on me or something until then. :(

thanks for the help.

[vegeta4ss]

thanks guys, I get back to town tomorrow. I'll check out some of this stuff, esp on the steering column.

FreshMeat, I hope you sort yours out as well...

[Transcend]

Its freezing out there and I've been so damn busy lately...so I'll check up on all those suggestions this weekend or next weekend and update you guys.

I hope the wheels dont fall off on me or something until then. :(

thanks for the help.
Temperature greatly affects tire pressure: lower temp, lower psi.

[Sancho]

Should also check your power steering unit. Could be the serpentine belt is slipping or cracked/worn. Replace that because if that breaks, you are screwed! (No alternator)