Steering wheel not returning to center

[Holla]

Hi,

I've now completly rebuilded my car with regards to suspension. But after this, i seem to have problems with the steering wheel not self centering. If i turn all the way to one side ande let go while the car is moving forward, the steering wheel usually is missing about 90 degrees to be centered. If i hammer the throttle, that'll help some.

(the car is a t89 converted to s2 suspension)
What ive done:
-changed all the suspensionparts (all new or refurbished, exept the inner steering rod bushings)
-alu subframe mounts
-regular suspensionarm mounts
-Only thing missing is changing the steering rack.
-kw1 coilovers
-checked the tire pressure
-mounted the two bushings on the steeringrod when th car was on the ground and steeringwheel centered.
-4 wheel alignment (it pulls a bit to one side, but that was not an issue, i think, when i got the car back)
-rechecked that all is snug in the front suspension
-the steering joints is not twisted to one side, so that they might "tighten" when the steering is close to center.
-felt that the steering seems to move freely by jacking the car upp and "feeling around"


any good ideas? This worked fine before i changed the suspension on the car. The only thing thats the same is the steeringrack.

alignment info:
front left right
camber:-0.52 -0,50
caster :2.55 2.55
toe :0.07 0.05
total toe:0,11
"straight ahead position": 0,01

rear
camber :-1,12 -1,41
toe: 0,11 0,12
total toe: 0,22
"the direction of the axle": 0.00


any advice appreciated!

[Error404]

Sounds like the preload on the steering rack is set too high. Try lowering it slightly (its the adjustment bolt on the rack).

[Error404]

[Holla]

Thanks error, but this rack does not have this ability. There is no screw to adjust preload on the rack where its placed in your picture

might it be under the plate or did the early racks come without the ability to adjust the preload this way?

and btw. the steering doesn't seem tight, but maybe a bit more heavy than earlier. But i thought that was because of i now use tires that is 225 wide instead of 195.

[A80Avant]

Taking the opportunity of the above 2 photos, my rack seems to have some harsh knocking noises when I do this movement more so with the engine off than on. They go lower when there is least load on the steering and louder when the load is higher ie when parking the car for example.

Does that mean that my rack could also be damaged? Its a used but refurbed rack that I was told when these noises came up that could have been from a crashed vehicle.

[Error404]

Thanks error, but this rack does not have this ability. There is no screw to adjust preload on the rack where its placed in your picture

might it be under the plate or did the early racks come without the ability to adjust the preload this way?

and btw. the steering doesn't seem tight, but maybe a bit more heavy than earlier. But i thought that was because of i now use tires that is 225 wide instead of 195.

What car is it and what rack are you using? I have never seen a B3/B4 rack with no pretension adjustment.


Vas you should try giving it a tweak, it doesn't need much - if you tighten it up until the steering doesn't self-centre, then back it off a bit.

[A80Avant]

Will give it a go. Thanks

Update: no different. The same knocking noise is still there and clockwise tightening makes a whooshing noise in addition. So I backed it up and probably sticking to the original diagnosis. I'm planning to take this one apart to see the wear though.

[Holla]

What car is it and what rack are you using? I have never seen a B3/B4 rack with no pretension adjustment.


Vas you should try giving it a tweak, it doesn't need much - if you tighten it up until the steering doesn't self-centre, then back it off a bit.

The car is a 1988 mod b3. It does not have this screw
But since the self centering worked before i did the work on the car and nothing has been changed to the rack. I cant see how this might effect the self centering.

im a bit worried that the alignment is of a bit, i guess that would affect the self centering

[Holla]

Well, i have probably found the reasen for my problem. The alignment was off... even though the papers seemed right. After checking with strings, it couldnt be right, and when i test adjusted to match what the strings indicated. The self centering got way better.

Seems like i forgot to mention that it was pulling to one side. Never noticed if it was this way just after the alignment, but it didnt self center, so i guess it was. The pulling got better after the adjustment also