Goofy steering feedback

[TAM]

I'm a newbie with Sho. Got 93 3.2 ATX all stock except new KYB struts and new catalytic converters from Sho Shop. Had cats welded into y pipe.

When I'm going around a corner or moderate curve at around 20-30 MPH the steering wheel kind of jerks back and forth roughly an inch or so. Pump seems ok (just flushed it and it is quiet) and car has new serpentine belt. Anyone know what might be going on? One mechanic said he thought swaybar ends were a little loose also. Could subframe bushings be an issue or is this way out in left field? Something in another post about SFB and goofy steering caught my eye.

 

[projectSHO89]

That was probably my post.

I've been chasing the same problem with the steering on my 89 (non-VAPS) since I got it a year ago.

The new SFBS helped tremendously, but were not a complete cure. My guess is that the old SFBs had allowed so much lateral movement of the rear of the sub-frame that the force exerted on the rear member by the rack was causing a bit of an oscillation in the steering.

The symptom is still there but entirely manageable now and is no longer a major concern.

Previously I had replaced the rack due to leaks and worn out inner tie rods but the rack did not cure the problem. I have been contemplating a pump, but the problem is no longer severe enough for me to proceed with the expense and the trouble of replacing it.

Steve

 

[SHOZ123]

My '93 does that and the general consensus is it's the pump.

<small>[ November 04, 2002, 08:25 AM: Message edited by: SHOZ123 ]</small>

 

[smcallis]

Many do it to varying degrees. Mine is bad. I second the nomination for the pump.

 

[TAM]

I just got my 93 atx back Saturday after new KYB struts were installed on all four corners and the steering feedback was greatly diminished. I also had the pump flushed a week ago. Flushing it didn't seem to help, but the new struts have had an impact on reducing the problem - in fact, I couldn't get it to do it last night or today. Hmmm......

 

[ckinart]

TAM,

I had similar problems a little while ago with my '94 MTX, but i noticed it alot more when travelling through bends on the highway at speeds of 60 mph+... anyway, for an unrelated reason, i replaced my vehicle speed sensor (VSS - which provides feedback to the variable assist power steering (VAPS) system to "stiffen" the steering at higher speeds - you may already know that, but just making sure), and my steering feedback is now completely gone... not sure if this is your problem, but it's a possibility...

by the way, another classic symptom of a failed VSS is loss of cruise control (which was also fixed in my case upon replacing the VSS)... does your cruise work? just a thought...

<small>[ November 05, 2002, 12:24 PM: Message edited by: ckinart ]</small>

 

[Mike93]

My car does the same thing with the steering. Feels like it is power steering one second and manual the next. The general consensus fro ma mechanic friend wqas a bad steering rack.

This same problem happened with a '94 Taurus wagon my dad owned last year. New steering rack fixed the problem.

I also replaced my struts and springs and noticed much improved steering, but the problem is defintely still there.

Any way to diagnose these problems any better? A few have mentioned a bad pump, how do we tell if ours is bad?

 

[projectSHO89]

The service manual diagnostic procedure calls for a power steering system analyzer (from Rotunda). With the analyzer, pump pressures and flow rates can be measured and compared to pass/fail criteria to determine the condition of the pump.

I was speaking with a mechanic at one of the larger Ford service shops in St. Louis recently and asked him about the analyzer. "We don't have one" was his response.....

Steve

 

[batchman]

Let a friend take the car a couple days ago and he pointed this out. My 93 MTX gets this at around 20mph, I don't spend any time at that speed. Finally duplicated it today, and it seems to happen even in a straight line, with either trailing throttle or coasting but not under acceleration.

I was thinking maybe CV joints until the rack comment - I know my rack is worn. I had a very definite "notch" on-center until I switched to synthetic PS fluid. Guess the rack's time may have come....

- Jeff

 

[ChitownA34DR]

I also have this "play" in my steering. I have the play and the clunky sound from the front whenever I go over smaller bumps or occelations. From the list here I need:

Subframe Bushings
Power steering
Rack

Does this sound right?

 

[TAM]

Hey Cory - thanks for the tip - I haven't used cruise control since I bought the car - I'll give it a shot. Tom

 

[Michael R. Rudel]

My '93 MTX SHO does the same thing. It now has 103k on it, and has done it since I got it at 93k. I just ignore it, the streering is otherwise fine, but my cruise works fine. I'll add a power steering pump to my list of 60k stuff this winter and let you know how itworks.

 

[kaoticSHO]

Just say no to VAPS....

I had Doug Lewis remove my VAPS system on my blown atx. I don't miss it in the least. No more crazy steering problems. In fact, I am going to get him to take it out of the 94 mtx on my next trip.

 

[SHOZ123]

I was thinking about disabling mine too. Looks like all that you need to do is cut the ground wire to the VAPS module. Helm says it's under the dash. Anyone know exactly where?

Of course I could just do this. VAPS Mod

<small>[ November 07, 2002, 11:12 AM: Message edited by: SHOZ123 ]</small>

 

[TAM]

Thanks CKINART!

You really hit a home run for me. My cruise control doesn't work, nor does my overdrive off button, and I've had the goofy steering feedback issue which lessened after I got new struts. I'm putting a new VSS in next weekend (gotta take my girl shopping this Saturday) - rather fix the car but, you know, Saturday night would be a lot less cozy.

<small>[ November 08, 2002, 10:26 PM: Message edited by: TAM ]</small>

 

[smcallis]

This problem never ceases to amuse me...and thats putting it nicely. Different people have solved this problem by replacing every different component in the P/S system. With some the rack fixed it, others it didnt. Some disabled VAPS and it was gone, others it didnt. Some replaced the pump and it fixed it, others it didn't. And of course the VSS.

Personally I've diabled VAPS and my VSS is fine. Still no fix.

SHO steering shoot

 

[ckinart]

TAM,

Like I said, I'm not sure if the VSS is your problem, but replacing mine seemed to fix my wanky steering problem (along with a few other things)... I hope it does the same for you.

As a word of caution, when I was searching the forum for info on replacing my VSS, most of the posts I read were regarding replacing the VSS in an automatic, and it sounds like it's a nightmare of a job... it was very straightforward on my MTX, but just thought you should know that it sounds like a bit of effort will be required.

Good luck.