Strange front end Problem! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

***eyeball96*** · 11-22-2007, 07:18 AM

My mechanic is having difficultly diagnosing the prob with my recently acquired 94 SE Coupe!

Here's what it does! When turning right the car then pulls to the right, quite abit for a hundred yds or so, the drives straight, same thing happens after turning left, it then pulls to the left, just not quite as bad, but again only temporally, 100 yards or so!

Now The front strut mounts were recently replaced, and according to Toyota, the SE model, per vin # it didn't required mount bearings??? My mechanic shows, per his info, that it did! He thinks this may be the cause of the strange pulling!

If not he says it could be the steering rack..(major bucks) It was also suggested bad tie rods ends.

Its going to be fixed no matter what the cause, but I'd rather not have the mechanic throw a bunch of parts at it that doesn't resolve the problem!

Tomorrow, Strut mounts with bearings will be installed! I hope this fixes it, but if it doesn't what do u all suggest I do next, or does anyone have any other ideas what may be the cause of this pulling thats not mentioned above! The car is lowered BTW!

Thanks in Advance for ur ideas!!

And Happy Thanksgiving to very one!

Venom_5 · 11-22-2007, 10:38 AM

thats a strange problem ...

i wouldnt think it would be the steering rack because it happens intermittently .... but i wouldnt think it would be the tie rod ends either, for the same reason

maybe someone's had this problem before

merenjay · 11-22-2007, 11:24 AM

Here's what I found in my Chilton...

"Poor returnability of steering to center"

causes...
Lack of lubrication at balljoints or tie rod ends.
Binding in balljoints
binding in steering column
lack of lubrication in steering gear assembly.
Front wheel alignment.

Also, "wander" can be caused by a broken spring, or a loose stabilizer bar.

To me it doesn't really sound like an alignment issue. I would try and lube everything first, than start replacing things. Although it may be late for that now!

Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!

***eyeball96*** · 11-22-2007, 11:59 AM

The Car centers, as does the steering wheel, just pulls to one side or the other! for a few hundred yrds tho, then u can let go of the steering wheel and it go's straight!

Novice_cardude · 11-22-2007, 12:19 PM

I'd try lubing everything, like merenjay said. Sounds like your best (and cheapest) bet.

Strut mounts could need to be replaced, but if they're in there with no bearings, you'd know it.

Also, I can't remember if there's a equivalent to a preload on the pinion gear in the steering rack, but that might be worth looking into. With the rectangular steering system, the problem you're describing would be caused by a bad pitman arm, idler arm, or (duh dum dum) tight bearing preload, not letting the steering system even out unless there's some speed or momentum forcing the wheels straight.

***eyeball96*** · 11-22-2007, 01:56 PM

I know for sure theres no strut mount bearings in it now! They will be tomorrow tho! Thanks for the opinions guys...I'll make sure everything is lubed, that can be lubed! I've had three Gen 3/3.5 camrys, and I don't recall ever seeing a requirement to lube any front end components in the past, and I've never had this occur before, or ever seen anyone else with this problem on this site. I'll keep ya'll updated on what happens.